Hawaii Preparatory Academy

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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.