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Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy

United States, Kamuela

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees $15,900 - 37,500
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 615
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1949
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Japanese, Spanish
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction

Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy is a co‑educational day and boarding school with two campuses on Hawaiʻi Island, serving kindergarten through 12th grade plus a postgraduate year. The Village Campus in Waimea houses Lower and Middle School (K–8) in open‑air classroom settings, while the Upper Campus serves the Upper School (9–12) with residence halls and a dedicated Energy Lab. The curriculum combines a Bespoke program with Advanced Placement courses, including AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Cyber Security, AP Environmental Science, and AP Psychology, and emphasizes hands‑on, inquiry‑based learning. Signature programs such as Sea Turtle Research and Island Science anchor place‑based projects across grades, culminating in capstones at 5th, 8th, and 12th grades. Facilities span performing and visual arts centers, a LEED‑certified Energy Lab, libraries, a theater, art studios, athletic venues, tennis and track facilities, and an equestrian stadium. A range of clubs, service opportunities, and outdoor programs enrich the experience.

Middle and Lower Schools (Village Campus): 65-1274 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743; Upper School (Upper Campus): 65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road, Kamuela, HI 96743

The Essentials

Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy has 615 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Two campuses in Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island. The Village Campus houses Lower and Middle School (K8) at 65-1274 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743; the Upper Campus houses the Upper School (grades 92) and postgraduate at 65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road, Kamuela, HI 96743. The U.S. Post Office designates the location as Kamuela, while locals refer to the area as Waimea.

Stages
Kindergarten through 12th grade, plus a postgraduate year. The Village Campus serves Lower and Middle School (K8). The Upper Campus serves the Upper School (grades 92 and postgraduate).

Type
Co-educational, day and boarding school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Boarding students come from the U.S. mainland and 25 nations join day students from Hawaiʻi. The school represents 25 nations; three Hawaiian islands are represented.

Country affiliation
United States

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation.

School day structure
Upper School classes run 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on an alternating block schedule (ula and Mamo days), followed by required afternoon athletics or co-curriculars from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Bus service
HPA provides buses to town on Wednesday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Roughly 50 percent of Upper School boarding students live on campus. Boarding life centers in three residence halls and one smaller house-dorm, all within a short walk of classrooms and facilities; dorms are organized into neighborhoods with a roommate (or occasionally two). Each dorm is supervised by a resident faculty team led by a dorm head, with dorm prefects supporting younger students, and two nurses on campus 24/7.

Food Options
Fresh meals are prepared from scratch at both the Village Campus and the Upper Campus. The dining halls are operated by Flik Hospitality Group and focus on locally grown ingredients with two campus gardens, allergy boards posted in each dining area, and menus developed in partnership with the school community and local sources. Weekend meals are prepared for boarding students as well, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and nutrition.

House System
The school does not operate a traditional house system. Boarding life is organized around three residence halls (Carter Hall for girls; Perry-Fiske Hall for boys; Robertson Hall as a co-ed dorm) with rooms grouped into wings/neighborhoods and guided by a dorm faculty team; a residential life curriculum provides ongoing leadership and personal-growth activities.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees.
Fees

Annual tuition at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy ranges from USD 15,900 to USD 37,500 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- Application fee: USD 100 per student for all grade-level applications (Pre-K through Grade 12, day and boarding).

Tuition (annual amounts for the 2026–2027 academic year)
- Pre‑Kindergarten (ages 3–5): USD 15,900 per year.
- Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 5), day student: USD 29,000 per year.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8), day student: USD 32,500 per year.
- Upper School (Grades 9–12), day student: USD 37,500 per year.

Boarding tuition (annual totals for the 2026–2027 academic year)
- Hawai‘i in‑state boarding (7‑day boarding; eligibility requires primary residence in Hawai‘i and a Hawai‘i Resident Tax Return): USD 68,300 per year.
- Domestic boarding (U.S. citizens or permanent residents): USD 74,800 per year.
- International boarding: USD 87,900 per year.

How boarding is billed / what the boarding tuition represents
- Boarding tuition figures are presented as an annual total that covers day school tuition plus the residential program (room, board, and standard residential services) as a combined boarding tuition amount. The amounts above are the published annual boarding tuition totals by category.

Enrollment deposit, re‑enrollment items, and related fees
- To secure a returning student's re‑enrollment or a newly offered place, the school requires completion of an enrollment agreement and payment of an enrollment/tuition deposit. Historically the enrollment deposit used to secure placement has been USD 1,000 for day students and USD 2,500 for boarding students; families are also asked in past communications to pay an annual SMART tuition account fee (USD 50) when completing re‑enrollment. These items are required to finalize enrollment and hold a space.

Billing schedule and payment terms (summary of published items)
- Tuition is published as an annual charge by grade/program category for the 2026–2027 year. Families are required to complete an enrollment agreement and pay the tuition deposit by the school's published re‑enrollment/enrollment deadlines to secure placement; the school publishes priority and enrollment deadlines for each grade cycle.

Other mandatory or commonly encountered fees
- Financial aid processing fee: Families applying for need‑based aid use an external need‑analysis service (Clarity); that application carries a service fee handled through the Clarity platform.
- Program and activity deposits/fees: Specific programs, trips, camps, and summer academies carry separate application or program deposits and tuition (for example, summer academies list separate application and program tuition and deposit amounts). These program fees are charged in addition to school‑year tuition when applicable.
- Withdrawal/expulsion administrative fee: The school's Student & Parent Handbook includes a stated withdrawal/expulsion fee of USD 600 for those rare cases.

Refund information
- The school requires an enrollment agreement and deposit to secure a place; past school communications describe the deposit as the item to secure enrollment. The Student & Parent Handbook also lists a withdrawal/expulsion fee (USD 600). Specific term‑by‑term refund schedules or the precise refundability of enrollment deposits are not published in the public pages and materials located during this review.

Fee categories not listed as separate line items in published tuition figures
- The published annual tuition figures for day and boarding students are presented as single annual amounts. Separate line items for uniform costs, textbook charges, technology fees, health insurance charges, laundry, discretionary activity fees, or detailed boarding extras are not listed as public, stand‑alone amounts on the published tuition page. Program‑specific fees (trips, summer academies, outdoor courses) are listed where applicable.

Fee payment options
- The school's re‑enrollment and billing communications reference a tuition account system (historically families have been asked to pay a SMART tuition account fee when completing enrollment). Families complete enrollment through the school's parent portal and are required to set up their tuition account and payment arrangements there. Details about which payment methods (for example, ACH/electronic bank draft, credit card acceptance, wire transfer, or check) are accepted and any convenience fees for credit/debit cards are managed through the school's tuition/billing portal and are not published as a complete public list on the school tuition pages.

Summary of missing details discovered during review (concise)
- The public tuition pages publish annual tuition totals by program for 2026–2027 but do not publish a per‑term or per‑semester breakdown that can be cited directly.
- The school's detailed billing schedule (exact tuition due dates, the school's available payment plan options and schedule, whether the enrollment deposit is refundable and under what conditions, and the list of accepted payment instruments and any associated convenience fees) is not published in a single public policy page accessible from the admissions and tuition pages; those items are handled through the school's enrollment agreement and parent billing portal.

If you will publish these figures externally, use the annual tuition amounts and the application and boarding figures above as the school's published fees for 2026–2027; program‑level and trip/camp fees should be listed separately when relevant to a particular program.
Academics

Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy teaches Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
Kindergarten through 12th grade, plus a postgraduate year, is offered at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, with the Village Campus serving Lower and Middle School (K–8) and the Upper Campus home to the Upper School (9–12 and postgraduate). Lower School uses project-based learning across core subjects and connects to Hawai‘i Island through place-based experiences, culminating in a fifth-grade capstone. Middle School promotes independence with seven classes per semester, provides enrichment options, and leads to an eighth-grade capstone under faculty mentorship. Upper School emphasizes hands-on, inquiry-based science and technology, offering AP courses such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Cyber Security, AP Environmental Science, and AP Psychology, and featuring the Energy Lab and opportunities for independent science research and capstone courses. Signature Programs—including the Sea Turtle Research Program and Island Science—support place-based learning across grades, with capstones at the end of fifth, eighth, and twelfth grades.

Higher Education Progression
HPA graduates enroll in four-year colleges almost universally; virtually 100 percent enroll at four-year institutions. In the past seven years, graduates have enrolled at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, The University of Chicago, Princeton, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Cornell, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Duke, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Claremont McKenna, and Washington University in St. Louis. They have also been admitted to Amherst, Boston College, Boston University, Bowdoin, Caltech, Emory, Michigan, Northeastern, NYU, Pomona, UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Counseling and peer mediation are integrated into the K-8 program. A Village Campus counselor works independently and within classrooms to support counseling, health, and wellness, visiting each classroom every other week. Mindfulness, conflict resolution, and emotional management are taught as part of sustaining physical and mental health. A full-time Learning Specialist supports teachers, students, and families with strategies that help all students achieve success. Growth is fostered not only through class instruction but also through assemblies, guest presentations, service, and other offerings, building cognitive, social, and emotional growth. The Peacemakers program provides fourth- and fifth-graders with peer mediation experience to help resolve conflicts on the playground.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Lower School has a full-time K-8 Learning Specialist on staff to assist teachers, students, and families in understanding and implementing strategies that can help all students achieve success.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English Language Learner's Academy is offered as part of Summer at HPA for Grades 6-12. The summer program lists English Language Learner's Academy among the available academies for 2026 (June 22 to July 17, 2026, with boarding on campus). In 2021, EAL courses were offered for Grades 6-12, including EAL: Listening and Speaking and EAL: Reading and Writing, taught by Cybele Stevens. EAL course descriptions show instruction in using English for communication, with grammar integrated into unit themes to support reading, writing, pronunciation, and confidence. A placement screening is administered on the first day to determine the level of instruction required.

Mental Wellbeing
From kindergarten through the college counseling process, HPA combines the drive for academic success with well-grounded, balanced living. The advisory program provides a regular forum for discussing personal growth and social learning with a trusted teacher and classmates. Two counselors and two learning specialists are here for emotional and academic support when needed. We believe in joyful learning and serious play, helping students develop lifelong physical and emotional wellbeing. The Lower School focuses on developing a sense of self and relationships with family, school, community, and the world.

Safeguarding
Upper School Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy provides guidelines for addressing incidents of bullying, discrimination, or other unacceptable behaviors. All students can submit an Online Bully/Harassment report through the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile on myHPA. Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School Handbooks provide safety expectations and reporting resources. The school maintains Safe2SpeakUp and CrisisGo tools to facilitate reporting concerns and protect student wellbeing.
Parent Experience

History
Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy was founded on March 12, 1949 when Bishop Harry Kennedy of the Episcopal Church and a group of Hawaiʻi Island citizens signed the articles of incorporation for Hawaiʻi Episcopal Academy. In 1954 James M. Taylor became headmaster bringing strong values and educational ideals that guided the school for two decades. In 1957 the school was independently incorporated and renamed Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy; 55 acres in the foothills of Waimea were purchased for a new campus with Vladimir N. Ossipoff designing core buildings. HPA acquired the Waimea Village Inn in 1976 and transformed these buildings into the Village Campus for lower and middle schools in Waimea. Today HPA serves students from Hawaiʻi and a broad global community on two campuses totaling more than 220 acres adjacent to Parker Ranch.

Community
On Hawaiʻi Island HPA embraces place based learning with the Village Campus in Waimea housing Lower and Middle Schools and the Upper Campus for the Upper School. Boarding students from the U.S. mainland and 25 nations join day students creating a multicultural school community. Hundreds of activities are offered throughout the year including snorkeling, surf lessons, hiking, camping, stargazing, and horseback riding. Theme Week and island field trips deepen engagement with the history, ecosystems, and communities around HPA.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Ohana Association is a volunteer organization of parents, friends, and community partners dedicated to supporting and enriching HPA's vision, programs, and activities that benefit all members of the school community. All HPA families automatically belong to the Ohana Association. The association hosts events and opportunities to get involved, and families can contact ohana@hpa.edu to participate.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Two campuses support HPA's K‑12 program: the Village Campus for Lower and Middle School and the Upper Campus for the Upper School. The Village Campus houses academic buildings with classrooms opening onto lanais and walkways, a Lynn Taylor Library, dedicated visual art studios, and Hale 'Īnana, a multi‑purpose facility for physical education, capstone showcases, student events, and afterschool activities. The Upper Campus contains 22 classrooms, a performing arts center, a visual arts center, science laboratories, the Energy Lab, and residence halls. Across campuses, facilities include Castle Gymnasium, Dowsett Pool, Rutgers Tennis Center, Stanford W. Shutes Track, and separate playing fields for football, soccer, and baseball, plus an equestrian stadium, dressage area, and polo field. Gates Performing Arts Center hosts productions; Isaacs Art Center preserves Hawaiian art; Ulumau Garden provides a teaching garden and outdoor learning spaces that support classroom activities.

Sports Facilities
Castle Gymnasium includes volleyball and basketball courts, a wrestling room, locker rooms, and an athletic training room. The Nakamaru Fitness Center serves fitness and training needs with treadmills, stationary bikes, and multi‑purpose weight machines. Dowsett Pool is a heated outdoor 12‑lane, 25‑yard pool with diving boards and a pool manager for lap times and classes. Rutgers Tennis Center provides four indoor courts, a ball machine, and a pro shop. The Stanford W. Shutes Track surrounds the football and soccer fields and hosts many track meets, and separate fields support football, soccer, and baseball, with an equestrian stadium, dressage area, and polo field.

Academic Facilities
The Upper Campus contains 22 classrooms, a performing arts center, a visual arts center, science laboratories, three residence halls, and the Energy Lab. The Energy Lab is LEED certified and zero‑net energy, with a large collaboration and fabrication area for student‑driven research. The John Dyer Memorial Library on the Upper Campus overlooks campus and houses Hawaiiana literature and art, with library classrooms and the college counseling office housed there. The Village Campus preserves an open‑air classroom feel in its academic buildings and houses the Lynn Taylor Library, while Lower and Middle School arts spaces include dedicated visual art studios and music classrooms. Gates Performing Arts Center on the Upper Campus hosts productions and supports arts programs, complemented by Isaacs Art Center on the Village Campus, which preserves Hawaiian art for study and community programs.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Arts and performance spaces support student life across campuses. Gates Performing Arts Center on the Upper Campus hosts about 10 productions annually for Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, with the Davenport Music Center supporting music instruction and rehearsals. Gerry Clark Art Center and Isaacs Art Center provide visual arts spaces and Hawaiian art programming, with Isaacs also running a community arts program. Ko Kākou Hale serves as a multi‑purpose student union for clubs and social activities, while Hale 'Īnana is a flexible space for physical education, capstone showcases, and afterschool enrichment. Ulumau Garden offers a teaching garden for interdisciplinary projects and outdoor learning.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
A broad range of student-run clubs supports academic and intellectual growth. Examples include Math Club, Coding Club, Speech Club, and Model United Nations. The club offerings vary by year and students can start their own clubs with school support. These activities supplement coursework by fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and opportunities to engage in competitions and debate.

Arts & Creative
Arts offerings cover Theatre, Visual Arts, Digital Media, and Music, with the Isaacs Art Center housing student artwork. Performing arts electives typically include musical theatre, acting, ukulele ensemble, handbells, music technology, podcasts and public speaking, and debate and student news. The HPA Musicians Collective provides performance opportunities, and on-campus arts experiences extend through theatre and choral events.

Cultural & Language
Cultural and language clubs include Japan Club, Chinese Culture Club, Spanish Club, and PAAC (Pacific and Asian Affairs Council), with Model UN also enriching cross-cultural engagement. Students participate in language- and culture-focused activities and events that complement classroom learning. The school also celebrates Hawaiian culture through events like makahiki games and Merrie Monarch Festival, and observes International Day at HPA.

Social & Hobbies
A variety of social and hobby clubs are offered, including Ultimate Frisbee Club, Mixed Martial Arts Club, Zumba Club, and other student-led groups. Weekends feature activities such as movie nights, game nights, open gym and pool, dances, and open mic at the Lava Lounge. Local field trips and recreational pursuits include snorkeling, surfing, mountain biking, and other island adventures, alongside on-campus social events and performances.

Community & Service
Service learning is a core component, with opportunities to engage in environmental restoration, tutoring, soup kitchens, animal rescue, and beach cleanups. Students partner with island residents and organizations to address cultural and ecological needs. HPA collaborates with multiple community groups, including Pōhāhā i Ka Lani, Nā Kālai Wa'a, Habitat for Humanity, and Waimea Food Pantry.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership roles are available through student government, dorm prefect positions, and student ambassadors. Middle and Upper School students can participate in Youth and Government and Model UN to develop leadership and civic engagement. The student leadership pathway is complemented by structured classrooms and programs that promote initiative and responsibility.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The afternoon program ends with interscholastic sports, yoga, and sustainable gardening, supporting a balanced day. The outdoor program offers weekly hikes, weekend trips, wilderness medicine training, and island-based adventures. Weekends on campus include open gym, campus events, and opportunities to snorkel, surf, or hike, contributing to physical and mental well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
HPA teaches Hawaiian, Japanese, and Spanish. In the Upper School, four years of Hawaiian language are offered, taught by Kumu Ka‘ai Spencer, with a comprehensive sequence that develops language proficiency and cultural understanding. Hawaiian studies are taught by Kumu Pualani Lincoln-Maielua and begin with a required introductory semester for all incoming ninth graders, offering courses on Hawaiian language, history, cosmology, and traditional practices. International Day and other language-related activities reflect the school's language and cultural emphasis.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Learn about HPA and determine your child's placement. HPA offers Lower (K–5), Middle (6–8), Upper (9–12), and Pre-K options, with both day and boarding arrangements, including international students. Start by requesting information, visiting campus, or exploring the Virtual Admission Center to understand the opportunities and fit. 2) Begin the online application and gather required materials. The application for the upcoming academic year is posted online and the complete file (including required forms and any requested supplements) is needed for review. If a deadline passes, the file moves to rolling admission based on space availability. 3) Complete the evaluation process, including testing where applicable. For grades 6–11, SSAT submission is optional; for grade 12 and postgraduate applicants, options include PSAT/SAT/ACT/PLAN/EXPLORE or psycho-educational testing; test results are weighed in the context of the overall application. Interviews may be scheduled at the Admission Office's discretion. 4) Receive decisions and respond by the published timelines. Early decisions for boarding are communicated before January 15; Kindergarten decisions around March 1; Day admissions around March 4; Boarding decisions on March 9; all decisions are sent via email. If late, applications enter rolling review based on space. 5) Consider financial aid and special scholarships if needed. HPA offers need-based financial aid, with about 40% of students receiving assistance and average grants around 39% of tuition; families apply through the Clarity platform and may be eligible for additional scholarships, some of which require separate applications. 6) If admitted, complete any enrollment steps by the applicable deadline and stay in touch with the Admissions Office for next steps. If not admitted, families may reengage in the admissions process in a subsequent year.

Scholarships
Special scholarships exist in addition to need-based financial aid. To qualify for aid, families follow HPA's regular financial aid process through the Clarity platform; some scholarships require an additional HPA application. Available named scholarships include: the HPA Seed Scholarship (two full kindergarten scholarships, renewable through 8th grade and then 9–12), Pauahi Foundation H6blili Scholarship (tuition assistance for rising 6th or 9th graders facing financial barriers), the Kūlia Scholarship (Upper School, merit and need-based, typically $3,500–$10,000; 10–20 awards annually), the HPA Faculty Big Island Scholarship (4,000, for eligible Hawaii Island residents), the Ho6bmau Scholarship (Continuing With Knowledge; usually 5,000–10,000), and the Kupaianaha Scholarship (open to new students 6–12; character-based). Deadlines and eligibility details are provided within each scholarship listing; some deadlines have passed for the current year, with information for the next year to be announced." } # end of response

Waitlist
The wait pool size varies year to year. If a grade space is not offered to an acceptable applicant, a space may be offered to a candidate in the enrollment wait pool. The wait pool remains until a space becomes available; if no space opens, the pool is dissolved at the start of the school year. Families may reengage in the admission process in the fall for the following school year, which requires starting a new application and submitting updated grade reports if requested. All decisions are communicated by email.
School Events
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