What HAWAII PREPARATORY ACADEMY does

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is a co-educational, college-preparatory K-12 day and boarding school located in Kamuela (Waimea) on Hawai'i Island, founded in 1949 and currently operating in its 75th anniversary academic year (2024-2025). The school serves pre-kindergarten through grade 12 plus a postgraduate year across two campuses (Upper Campus and Village Campus), with approximately 600 total students and roughly 200 campus residents. Around 50% of Upper School students live on campus across multiple dormitories, drawing from Hawai'i, the U.S. mainland, and international locations including Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.

The school's academic offering centers on 16 Advanced Placement courses, personalized college counseling, and a portfolio of signature programs that include the award-winning Energy Lab (a sustainability research facility with PV solar arrays currently supplying 18% of campus power), the long-running Sea Turtle Research Program (over 2,000 student participants, in collaboration with NOAA, including international presentations), the Outdoor Program (leveraging 11 of 13 world climate zones, three active volcanoes, and marine ecosystems), Hawaiian Studies & Language, Capstone independent research courses, the Island Service Program, and the newly revitalized Engineering Shed supporting MATE ROV robotics. Recent partnerships include a 2025 collaboration with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance through which six Hawai'i high school students produced the first-ever draft genome of the critically endangered palila bird. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees that includes Stanford ecologist Peter Vitousek '67 and NFL Super Bowl champion Max Unger '04.

HPA operates as a private, independent nonprofit educational institution under a tuition-driven revenue model supplemented by donations, with boarding tuition and day tuition both set on annual subscription basis (rates not publicly disclosed), additional revenue from the Summer at HPA enrichment program for grades K-12, and significant philanthropy — notably a multi-year $1.03 million grant from The Children's Education Initiative for tuition assistance and sustained gifts from alumnus Jim Kennedy '66 supporting capital improvements and sustainability initiatives. The school is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), and operates a student information system through Blackbaud's myHPA portal.

Name

HAWAII PREPARATORY ACADEMY

Legal name

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy

Website

https://hpa.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy is a nonprofit, co-educational K-12 day and boarding school on Hawai'i Island, serving approximately 600 students from pre-kindergarten through postgraduate year with 16 AP courses and signature programs including the Energy Lab, Sea Turtle Research (NOAA), and international genomic research collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• College preparatory education
• Boarding school programs
• K-12 private education
• Place-based learning
• Independent school

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamuela

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: HPA generates primary revenue from tuition fees for its college-preparatory day and boarding programs serving grades K-12 plus postgraduate year. Tuition varies by grade level and whether students are day or boarding students.
2. Boarding Fees: Approximately 50% of Upper School students live on campus in dormitories (Carter Hall, Perry-Fiske Hall, Robertson Hall), generating additional boarding revenue beyond day tuition.
3. Summer Programs: The school operates Summer at HPA programs including enrichment camps for grades K-12, providing additional revenue during off-season periods.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Annual giving programs including the HPA Fund, Alu Mai scholarship donations, planned giving, and capital improvement gifts from alumni and supporters like Jim Kennedy '66.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HPA is a co-educational K-12 college-preparatory day and boarding school on Hawaii Island, offering Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12 plus postgraduate year) divisions. The school combines 16 Advanced Placement courses with signature programs including the Energy Lab for sustainability research, Sea Turtle Research Program with NOAA partnership, Capstone Courses, Outdoor Program, and Hawaiian Studies & Language. Approximately 50% of Upper School students board on campus across multiple dormitories, with personalized college counseling supporting placements at top universities.

Product overview

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is a comprehensive K-12 co-educational day and boarding school offering a college-preparatory curriculum with integrated signature programs. The school operates three academic divisions (Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12 plus postgraduate) and provides boarding for approximately 50% of Upper School students. Core academic offerings include 16 AP courses, supported by the award-winning Energy Lab for sustainability research and Capstone Courses for independent student projects. Signature programs include Sea Turtle Research (with NOAA partnership), Outdoor Program, Hawaiian Studies & Language, Island Service, and Campus Gardens. Student life features 22 athletic teams across 16 sports, comprehensive arts (Theatre, Visual Arts, Digital Media, Music), and Summer at HPA programs. College counseling provides personalized guidance with strong placement outcomes at top universities. The school operates myHPA, a Blackbaud-powered student portal for grades, schedules, and communication. HPA's sustainability commitment is formalized through the 'Mālama Kaiāulu' framework with goals of 100% renewable energy and zero waste by 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School (K-5) K-5 day student program focused on building foundational academic skills through hands-on, place-based learning. Students attend garden classes, develop a love for learning, and explore subjects including math, science, reading, and Hawaiian studies.
• Middle School (Grades 6-8) College-preparatory program for grades 6-8 emphasizing community building, academic rigor, and signature programs including Hawaiian Studies, Outdoor Program, Sea Turtle Research, and Capstone projects.
• Upper School (Grades 9-12 + Postgraduate) College-preparatory program for grades 9-12 offering 16 Advanced Placement courses, rigorous academics, 22 athletic teams, and comprehensive arts programs. Includes day and boarding options plus postgraduate year.
• Boarding Program Residential life program serving approximately 50% of Upper School students across multiple dormitories with structured residential life curriculum. Boarders come from across the U.S. and internationally (including Nigeria, Asia, Europe, and Latin America).
• Summer at HPA Summer programs including academic enrichment camps and credit-bearing courses for grades K-12. Offers Hawaiian learning adventures for both HPA students and external participants.
• College Counseling Personalized college counseling program beginning before senior year. Team helps students navigate course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, applications, and final decisions. Students placed at institutions including Stanford, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, NYU, and 50+ other universities.
• Upper School Athletics Program 22 athletic teams across 16 different sports competing in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) and Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA). Includes competitive teams, equestrian program, and required afternoon co-curriculars.
• myHPA Portal Secure online platform powered by Blackbaud serving as central hub for student information, schedules, grades, forms, and school communication. Used by families to track student progress and access school resources.
• Pre-Kindergarten Program Early childhood education program for ages 4-5 at HPA's Village Campus, providing first formal school experience through the Lower School division.
• Arts Programs Comprehensive arts education including Theatre, Visual Arts, Digital Media, Music, and the Isaacs Art Center. Students produce plays, artworks, albums, and participate in annual art auctions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six Class of 2026 members named U.S. Presidential Scholars candidates, representing 35% of all Big Island candidates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Landmark collaboration between HPA students and scientists from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Conservation Genetics Division. Six Hawai'i high school students, including HPA's Kimo Uyehara '25, produced the first-ever draft genome of the critically endangered palila bird. Students used DNA from the Frozen Zoo biobank and learned advanced laboratory techniques including micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, and nanopore sequencing.
• Iolani SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative partnership through the 'Āina Informatics Network for genomic research. Students from 'Iolani, Kealakehe High School, and HPA worked together on the palila genome project alongside San Diego Zoo scientists. 'Iolani provided leadership through Dr. Yvonne Chan and funding support.
• Kealakehe High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Three-school collaboration through the 'Āina Informatics Network for conservation genomics research. Four students from Kealakehe participated in producing the first-ever draft genome of the palila bird as part of capstone projects.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019HPA's Sea Turtle Research Program has operated for years in collaboration with NOAA research scientists. Over 2,000 HPA students have participated in turtle research efforts. HPA student-faculty teams have presented at international symposiums alongside NOAA researchers.
• Republic of VanuatuminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Multi-year place-based learning expedition partnership with Vanuatu for sea turtle research. HPA teams traveled to Moso Island to tag and study hawksbill turtles, foster community awareness of conservation, and promote continued study of sea turtles by local Ni-Vanuatu communities.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorOthers · 1 January 2018Trade association membership. HPA shares aggregate student data with NAIS and DASL for statistical analysis and benchmarking.
• The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)minorOthers · 1 January 2018Industry association for boarding schools. HPA participates in TABS programs and shares aggregate data for benchmarking.
• Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)minorOthers · 1 January 2018Regional trade association for independent schools in Hawaii. HPA participates in HAIS programs and advocacy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lawrenceville School: Elite U.S. boarding school with strong college counseling and signature house system. Comparable to HPA as a premium boarding destination for families globally.
• Deerfield Academy: Premier U.S. boarding school known for rigorous college-prep academics. Comparable to HPA in serving international boarding students and competing for top college placements.
• Phillips Exeter Academy: Elite U.S. boarding school with substantially larger endowment and applicant pool. Competes with HPA for international boarding families seeking top-tier US college-prep credentials.
• Choate Rosemary Hall: Elite U.S. boarding school with global applicant pool. Comparable to HPA in international boarding recruitment and top-tier college placement outcomes.

Direct peers

• ʻIolani School: Elite private K-12 co-educational day school in Honolulu. HPA is an active research partner with ʻIolani through the ʻĀina Informatics Network, and both compete for top Hawaii college-prep families.
• Tabor Academy: Independent boarding school with marine science and place-based experiential programs comparable to HPA's Energy Lab and Sea Turtle Research focus.
• Punahou School: Elite private K-12 day school in Honolulu and HPA's primary Hawaii competitor for college-preparatory families. Both serve Hawaii's top-tier private school market with strong college placement outcomes.
• Mid-Pacific Institute: Hawaii private K-12 college-preparatory school serving Honolulu families. Operates boarding program and competes with HPA for international and local college-prep students.

Regional players

• Hawaii Baptist Academy: Hawaii private K-12 college-preparatory school. Comparable in academic mission and Hawaii footprint, though faith-based versus HPA's nonsectarian positioning.

Emerging players

• The Madeira School: Independent boarding school with experiential and co-curricular program emphasis. Comparable niche positioning to HPA in experiential college-prep education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hawaiiprep
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hpaedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiiprep
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiiprep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-preparatory-academy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HAWAII PREPARATORY ACADEMY