Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is deeply grateful for the generous support of alumnus Jim Kennedy ’66, whose recent gift has provided critical improvements to the Upper Campus. His commitment to the school has once again ensured that HPA’s beloved learning spaces will continue to inspire and nurture students for years to come.
Kennedy, a long-time champion and supporter for both green initiatives and capital improvements at HPA, has consistently demonstrated his aloha and dedication to HPA. His dedication makes it possible for current and future generations of students to benefit from this remarkable place – a place that has shaped leaders, nurtured innovation, and fostered deep connections with one another and with the land.
With Kennedy’s investment, HPA has successfully replaced the roofs on key academic buildings, including the John Edwards Dyer Memorial Library, as well as the social studies, modern languages, science, and math classrooms — with Castle Gymnasium soon to follow. The project addresses deferred maintenance challenges and significantly improves the resilience of these facilities, safeguarding them against trade winds, tropical sun, and Kipuʻupuʻu rain, so that students and faculty can continue their work in secure and comfortable spaces.
Built to endure for at least 30 years, these new roofs provide more than just protection—they are a testament to HPA’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. By investing in infrastructure that enhances energy efficiency and long-term resilience, Kennedy’s generosity helps move HPA toward an increasingly self-sustaining future. It also seeds the ground for future efficiency upgrades and planned expansion of our solar array. His gift reinforces the school’s vision to harmonize modern advancements with responsible environmental stewardship, creating campus facilities that are both functional and forward-thinking.
Beyond their practical benefits, these renovations also preserve the architectural vision of Vladimir Ossipoff, whose mid-century modern, open design has long been a defining feature of HPA’s campus. By blending new materials with the timeless aesthetic of the original structures, the project respects the school’s rich heritage even as it anticipates the future.
As HPA looks toward its next 75 years, supported by a comprehensive campus master plan, investments in essential infrastructure serve as the backbone for future growth and innovation. Kennedy’s foresight and generosity extends far beyond physical improvements—it strengthens the school’s ability to provide an exceptional and enduring learning environment for generations to come.
Kennedy is an avid outdoorsman, conservationist, successful businessman, and philanthropist. A former competitive cyclist, he is a past Masters National, Pan American and World Champion in 3000-meter pursuit. Jim Kennedy’s steadfast support of HPA highlights the vital role alumni play in shaping the future of their alma mater. Kennedy embodies the spirit of Ka Makani. His contributions to HPA have an immediate, practical, impact while also ensuring that the school remains a dynamic place of learning, exploration, and connection. For this, the entire HPA ‘ohana extends its deepest mahalo.