Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Encyclopedia
Hawaii Preparatory Academy (also known as HPA) is a coeducational, boarding, independent school
in Kamuela, Hawaii
teaching kindergarten
through the twelfth grade. Founded in 1949 by The Right Reverend Harry S. Kennedy, Episcopal Bishop of Honolulu, the school came of age under the leadership of James Monroe Taylor II, Headmaster from 1954-1974. Originally the school was located on the grounds of St. James Episcopal Church in Kamuela in buildings that were built as barracks for the United States Marines during World War II.
Currently the nationally recognized high school features three dormitories- Anna's for girls, Hartwells' for boys, and Robertson's, the co-ed and smallest of the dorms.
As a side note, Kamuela, the town where HPA is located, is usually called Waimea by the locals. Kamuela is adopted since there are three towns called Waimea in the state of Hawai'i, and Kamuela is used to distinguish locations by USPS.
HPA is now divided into a lower school, middle school and upper school. The lower and middle school together compose one campus in the ranch
region of the Big Island of Hawaii
. The upper school is located at the foot of the Kohala Mountains. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
.
The upper campus has a fully functioning weight room, pool, school library, a state-of-the-art indoor tennis facility, baseball field, gym, bookstore, as well as a brand new (2008) softball field, a newly repaired football/soccer field and a brand-new, state-of-the-art rubber track. The school also is host to one of the most challenging Cross Country Courses in the State. Along with state-of-the-art classrooms, a multi functional art building, multiple Mac equipped computer labs and a world class theater, and an Energy Lab, the only of its kind in the world. There is also a church on the property built before the school moved to its presents site.
The village campus is in the middle of the town of Waimea, and features the only school-owned professional art-gallery in the State, Isaacs Art Center
. The village campus also has boarding facilities for grades 6-8 and two soccer fields.
The school also has a successful boys cross country
team. Two male champions in the recent years include Mac Crommett (Class of '07) and Emmett Weatherford (Class of '05). Their girls cross country
team has been even more successful, winning multiple titles and producing countless champions throughout the school's history.
The HPA robotics team is the recent state champions of the 2009 Botball
competition.
The school colors are red and white. The school's mascot is Ka Makani, which is Hawaiian for "the wind". (The campus is noteworthy for the steady winds which blow around it at speeds averaging 20 MPH)
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Kamuela, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
teaching kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through the twelfth grade. Founded in 1949 by The Right Reverend Harry S. Kennedy, Episcopal Bishop of Honolulu, the school came of age under the leadership of James Monroe Taylor II, Headmaster from 1954-1974. Originally the school was located on the grounds of St. James Episcopal Church in Kamuela in buildings that were built as barracks for the United States Marines during World War II.
Currently the nationally recognized high school features three dormitories- Anna's for girls, Hartwells' for boys, and Robertson's, the co-ed and smallest of the dorms.
As a side note, Kamuela, the town where HPA is located, is usually called Waimea by the locals. Kamuela is adopted since there are three towns called Waimea in the state of Hawai'i, and Kamuela is used to distinguish locations by USPS.
HPA is now divided into a lower school, middle school and upper school. The lower and middle school together compose one campus in the ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
region of the Big Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. The upper school is located at the foot of the Kohala Mountains. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
.
The upper campus has a fully functioning weight room, pool, school library, a state-of-the-art indoor tennis facility, baseball field, gym, bookstore, as well as a brand new (2008) softball field, a newly repaired football/soccer field and a brand-new, state-of-the-art rubber track. The school also is host to one of the most challenging Cross Country Courses in the State. Along with state-of-the-art classrooms, a multi functional art building, multiple Mac equipped computer labs and a world class theater, and an Energy Lab, the only of its kind in the world. There is also a church on the property built before the school moved to its presents site.
The village campus is in the middle of the town of Waimea, and features the only school-owned professional art-gallery in the State, Isaacs Art Center
Isaacs Art Center
The Isaacs Art Center is a combination of art museum and retail gallery in Waimea on the Island of Hawaii. It is operated by and for the benefit of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy....
. The village campus also has boarding facilities for grades 6-8 and two soccer fields.
The school also has a successful boys cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
team. Two male champions in the recent years include Mac Crommett (Class of '07) and Emmett Weatherford (Class of '05). Their girls cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
team has been even more successful, winning multiple titles and producing countless champions throughout the school's history.
The HPA robotics team is the recent state champions of the 2009 Botball
Botball
Botball is an educational robotics program that focuses on engaging middle and high school aged students in team-oriented robotics competitions. Thousands of children and young adults participate in Botball’s program...
competition.
The school colors are red and white. The school's mascot is Ka Makani, which is Hawaiian for "the wind". (The campus is noteworthy for the steady winds which blow around it at speeds averaging 20 MPH)
Noteworthy alumni
- Ed CaseEd CaseEdward Espenett "Ed" Case is a Democratic politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Case, a Blue Dog Democrat, first came to prominence in Hawaii as majority leader of the Hawaii State Legislature and for his campaign for Governor of Hawaii in 2002...
, U.S. Representative - Graham SalisburyGraham SalisburyGraham Salisbury is an American author. He has written many books including Under the Blood Red Sun, his most famous novel. He lives with his family in Lake Oswego, Oregon....
, Author and musician - Jeff HubbardJeff HubbardJeff Hubbard is the 2009 IBA World Tour bodyboarder champion from Kauai, Hawaii. His brother David also won a world title in 2009: the IBA Drop Knee World Tour. Jeff won his first IBA World Title in 2006....
, Bodyboarder, 2006 World Champion - James C. KennedyJames C. KennedyJames Cox Kennedy is the chairman of Cox Enterprises, the media conglomerate founded by his grandfather, James M. Cox. According to the Forbes 400 list in 2008, he is the 49th richest person in the United States, through his $6.5 billion stake in the company....
, Chairman and CEO of COX Enterprises - Max UngerMax UngerMaxwell McCandless Unger is an NFL center for the Seattle Seahawks. He played high school football at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, Hawaii, and college football for the University of Oregon.-College career:...
, Second Round NFL Draft Pick - Daniel Te'o-NesheimDaniel Te'o-NesheimDaniel Te'o-Nesheim is an American football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington.-Personal:...
, NFL defensive end