Prospective students entering grades 9-12 and their parents can register for one of four Preview Days that will be held on October 10, November 10, December 2, and January 16 (Martin Luther King Day). All high school events begin at 8:45 a.m. and end at 11 a.m., followed by an optional 30-minute question-and-answer session. Guests will receive an in-depth look at the school's academic, athletic, visual and performing arts programs, and more. Each high school event is limited to 20 guests.

A kindergarten Preview Day will be held for prospective parents at the Upper Campus from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 24. Parents will meet with faculty and administrators, observe the kindergarten class, and learn about the school's philosophy on academic and social development during the kindergarten year.

A Preview Day for students entering grades 6-8 will be held at the Village Campus from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 8 (Election Day). School administrators, current students, and parents will provide information about the academic program and the benefits of an HPA education. Students and their families also will have an opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and learn more about HPA's Middle School curriculum and activities.

Fourth and fifth graders at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (HPA) will present How Democracy Came to the Beehive at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, October 7. The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center on the school's Upper Campus.

In this curriculum-based musical, the Queen Bee decides to leave the hive and brings in consultants from the Hawaiian forest to help the hive decide on a new governmental model. HPA's Lower School music teacher Georgia Polakova directs.

This is the first in a series of musical productions by HPA's Lower School students, and the next production by the second and third graders will be on December 2.

For more information, call 885-2501 or 885-2500.

The N Building was built as Waimea's first public schoolhouse in 1915-1916 by the Territory of Hawai'i, and served generations of Waimea children. Then, in 2004-2005, instead of tearing it down, it was relocated to Kawaihae Road next to HPA's Village Campus, restored and put on both the National and State Register of Historic Places. All are invited to a 100^th birthday party for those who attended the school, and those who enjoy art and birthday cake. Free with live entertainment, a peak at unseen treasures from the vault, guided tours of "Rhythm of the Round: The Modernism of Madge Tennent."

A significant part of the celebration will be introducing oral history research and writings by 20 Waimea Middle School students, who last school year worked with their Language Arts teacher Mrs. Leesa Robertson, and community oral historian Jan Wizinowich, to craft oral history documentation of the early days of Waimea School by interviewing 10 beloved Waimea kupuna.

Both some of the students and kupuna will be on hand for the introduction of "Small Kid Time: Waimea Schoolhouse Stories."

Community kupuna whose interviews have been documented include Alexianne Blake, June Coelho, George Cochin, Eva Kealamakia, Charlie Kimura, Lester Kimura, Pat Lewi, Leiola Michell, Leila Staniec and Janet Stevens.

Participating WMS students include Benjamin Adams, Jessica Andrews, Gibson Haines, Tayson Hirayama, Marques Kahawaii, Nenekoh Kapa, William Kim, Katiana Lalonde, Ethan Levine, Justin Lina, Mikaela Matsuoka, Jaslyn Miura, Ellie Nakano, Katelyn Ontiveros, Nahenahe Rosario, Margaret Sommerhoff, Emily Souza, Sidney Spencer, Violet Stevensonand Joshua Stuart.

The book may be available for purchase at a future date.

.

Sarah Emmons, Seungyou Kim, and Sidney Vermeulen, seniors at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy (HPA), have been named Commended Students in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Martin Ferrell, HPAʻs dean of academics, made the announcement.

The students will receive a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2017 competition for National Merit Scholarship Awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

"The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," commented a spokesperson for NMSC. "These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."

HPA's Ka Makani Players present Once Upon a Mattress, a comic retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. Once Upon a Mattress will run November 10-13 at the school's Gates Performing Arts Center. Shows begin at 7 p.m. November 10-12 and at 2 p.m. on November 13. Tickets, which only are available at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, please call 881-4002.

If you thought you knew the story of The Princess and The Pea, you might be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that Lady Larken's love for Sir Harry provided a rather compelling reason that she reach the bridal altar post haste? Or that, in fact, it wasn't the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you'll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again.

Once Upon a Mattress is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals. Music is by Mary Rodgers, daughter of famed composer Richard Rodgers. HPA theatre instructor Mary Ellen Agnew-Place is the director and music director. Tani Wright Cordova is choreographer, Jared Terpak is technical director and lighting designer, and June Kim is set designer and stage manager.

The Ka Makani Players cast features Kristen Cole-Lanier as Princess Winnifred, Colby Camero as Prince Dauntless, Katie Gargiulo as Lady Larkin, and Tanner Riley as Sir Harry. Also featured are Shanae Butler as Queen Aggravain, Kaika Painter as The Wizard, Jacob Rouse as King Sextimus, Cameron Supplee as The Minstrel, Mako Yamamoto as The Jester, and George Donev as "Many Moons Ago" Prince and Sir Studley. Fourteen other HPA students play supporting roles and assist with production.

For more information, please call 881-4002.

Parents Weekend: Day 1, October 13

HPA welcomed more than 260 family members to the Village and Upper Campuses for Parents Weekend, an annual event that gives families a glimpse of their student's life at school. Head of School Robert McKendry kicked off the morning with Coffee Talks at the Upper School and Village Campus, where parents heard about the progress the school is making on its strategic goals.

As the day progressed, Upper and Middle School parents attended classes with their students. There, they witnessed what makes HPA so unique—caring faculty, innovative curriculum, and empowered students.

Upper School parents attended workshops that focused on everything from financing a college education by guest speaker Gerna Benz, founder of Bay College Planning/Pacific Rim College Planning; to strengthening student success by HPA's counselors, and navigating the college admission process by Maggie Lucas, undergraduate associate admissions director at New York University. The information-packed day concluded with a relaxing social, High Tea with the Head of School and the very popular Middle and Upper School Performing Arts Showcase.

As October rolls around, people around the United States start thinking about fall, pumpkin spice lattes, and Halloween, but here at HPA, parents and students alike have something else to look forward to—Parents Weekend! With class visits and presentations on Thursday, many parents flock to the campus from near and far to learn more about their children's education. However, the events don't just end there. Parents also look forward to parent teacher conferences, held on Friday and Saturday.



Whereas Thursday is a whirlwind of teachers, students, and activities, Friday offers a quiet space for parents and teachers to speak one-on-one about their child as an individual. This offers parents a more personal interaction. As one parents puts it, "Meeting the teachers up close and personal, and hearing about how they see our child is different than just reading a comment."

My parents have always looked forward to these meetings, coming home raving about how nice Mrs. Inaba is, or how impressed they were with Mr. McKenna telling them about my brother's physics class. Either way, these conferences allow my parents to put a face to the teachers I often talk about, allowing them to better understand my HPA experience.

John Arrillaga Jr., Taylor Easley, Cindy McMackin, and David Zierk have been appointed to the board of trustees at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (HPA). Scott Bradley, chairman, recently announced the appointments.

Arrillaga, a current HPA parent and Waimea resident, is a founder and partner of A & E Real Estate Holdings, a New York City-focused real estate investment firm.

Easley, an HPA alumnus and Kailua-Kona resident, is a 20-year veteran of the financial services industry and served as a financial advisor with both Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley before founding Easley & Associates in Kona. He has served on the schoolʻs investment committee since 2013.

McMackin, a current HPA parent and Kailua-Kona resident, is president and owner of Pan-Pacific Mechanical (PPM).

Zierk, a current HPA parent and Kailua-Kona resident, is co-president and managing director of MWG GP LLC, the general partner of Meritage Group LP. Zierk also serves on the Investment Committee of Phillips Exeter Academy.

Other members of the HPA board are Laurie T. Ainslie, Scott Bradley, Dr. Michael Chun, Michael K. Fujimoto, Allison Holt Gendreau, Will J. Hancock, Nona F. Hasegawa, Charles G. King, Gregory R.Mooers, Duncan MacNaughton, Richard Matsuda, Dr. Paul Nakayama, Samuel W. Pratt, William D. Pratt, Michael S. Spalding, Hannah Kihalani Springer, Dr. Peter Vitousek, Roy A. Vitousek III, and Taffi Wise.

The HPA Community Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, in the Ko Kākou Student Union, Upper Campus. Community Book Club meetings are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and participants are invited to bring a snack to share.

Lois Inman, Dyer Memorial librarian, and Jaime Johnson, Upper School English teacher, will lead the group. The current book selection is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Time Magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.

Set in pre-colonial Nigeria in the 1890s, the novel tells two intertwining stories, both centering on Okonkwo, a "strong man" of an Ibo village. The first, a powerful fable of the conflict between the individual and society, traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world. The second, as modern as the first is ancient, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world with the arrival of European missionaries.

For more information, contact Jaime Johnson at jjohnson@hpa.edu.

About 25 Waimea students have something to say about their world and they are bravely willing to share it with family, friends, teachers and the community from the big stage at Kahilu Theatre at 6 p.m., Tues., Oct. 25. These are students from all parts of Waimea who attend Waimea Middle School and Hawai'i Preparatory Academy – both middle and high school. These young adults, along with all of the students in their grade levels, will have spent the previous few days working with Spoken Word Poet Myrlin Hepworth, a rising star in mainland slam poetry circles.

Students quickly connect with Hepworth, who is twenty-something, and who seems like an older brother with two lives – one as a poet-performer and hip hop artist, the other as a young man of Hispanic ancestry with his own painful stories of growing up – stories that for many students are surprisingly familiar about bullying, self-doubt, loss, loneliness, deep sadness. Hepworth, after learning about Spoken Word poetry, discovered that it not only helped him become stronger and more self-confident, but that he could use it to help other young adults learn to use and love words and performance to share their stories and become stronger too. Armed now with a Bachelor's degree and teaching experience, Hepworth travels the country helping young adults put in practice his three rules: (1) Be Brave! (2) Be Respectful! (3) Your Voice Matters!

Hepworth is something of a pied piper for young adults. He is able to reach students even with just a few hours of class time and even when English isn't their first language. His visit to Waimea Middle School (WMS) this past Spring was so powerfully embraced by students that he was invited back this week by teachers and administrators to spend the week with every one of Waimea Middle School's 250 students to create Spoken Word poems, and, in the process, inspire greater interest in reading, writing and self-expression.

WMS reached out to several Waimea schools offering to share Myrlin's time, and Hawai'i Preparatory Academy jumped in, so both HPA middle and high school students are spending class time with Myrlin and several will be invited to share their Spoken Word poems along with several WMS students at a family-community presentation Oct. 25 at Kahilu Theatre. The entire community is invited to this family-friendly presentation; there is no charge. Doors to Kahilu Theatre will open at 5:45 p.m. and seating is first come.

Helping underwrite this learning experience are Waimea Middle School, Hawai'i Community Foundation, Hawai'i Preparatory Academy and Kahilu Theatre Foundation.

On October 19 and 20, 2016 HPA welcomed 35 students from Kokutaiji High School as part of its OurWorld study abroad program. Kokutaiji High School, located in Hiroshima, was founded in 1815 and hosted 13 HPA students in March during their visit to Japan.

Michael Hanano '17 was one of the HPA students who spent two nights and three days with a family in Hiroshima during his 11-day Ourworld trip. On Thursday, he enthusiastically greeted the student who graciously hosted him in Japan, Yuta.

The Japanese students, who are on the "super science" or STEM track, experienced HPA by shadowing an HPA student ambassador in the morning and attending classes with their new friends, enjoying a local favorite "bento roll for lunch," hearing about HPA's partnerships that create unique learning opportunities in science and technology, and touring the campus. The tour included a visit to the Energy Lab, where the visitors utilized the cutting edge technology HPA students use every day—they jumped into the virtual world via Oculus Rift, and listened as HPA students talked about the independent science research they are doing in the Energy Lab.

At the end of a busy day, the students took some time to reflect and share their thoughts about their visit.

Through a translator, Yuta shared, "I didn't realize it would be so very different from my school. It is very spacious, and I was amazed that different subjects are taught in different buildings."

Shun, another Japanese student, remarked, "I was fascinated by the stagecraft. In Japan, our art options are pottery or painting."

Rino said, "As a super science student, I was amazed by what students are doing with Sea Turtle Research."

This year, HPAʻs OurWorld trip to Japan will run from March 10 to 25, and will include home stays with students from Kokutaiji High School.

Learn more about HPA's Ourworld program

Bringing attention to two healthcare battles, several dozen HPA students devoted Sunday morning, October 16 to raising awareness about and financial support for breast cancer and ALS research. Led by senior Taryn Bonham, the volunteers played a vital role in the terrific success of the 6^th Annual Bieni Kohler-Johnson 5K Fun Run and Dog Walk, including event planning, manning registration tables, and serving as course marshals.

Bonham, whose mother was diagnosed with ALS in September 2015, is no stranger to the power of community engagement in fighting the dreaded disease. Last May she organized a school-wide run to raise awareness of ALS, and she was excited to have lead the effort to get HPA students more involved in the Bieni Fun Run.

"I learned that through volunteering, I am able to make a big difference. Our event brought attention to the effects of ALS and breast cancer, I feel good knowing we are helping people."

Service learning is a critical element in HPA's curriculum and is focused on enabling students to expand their ideals by exposing them to the impact of efforts to improve the world around them.

"I am just getting started," Bonham continues. "It was so rewarding to see this huge event actually happen, and I would like to participate in that kind of accomplishment again."

One hundred forty-four runners, walkers, and friendly canines participated in thus year's run, which honors the memory of HPA class of 1983 alumna Bieni Kohler-Johnson, who lost her courageous battle with breast cancer in 2009. At this year's run, Head of School Robert McKendry honored Liz and Mark Noetzel, who established the event soon after Bieni's passing and who have managed it ever since.

Video Courtesy of Rhonda Pollard and her dog Pepper

The event raised more than $8,000 for the Bieni Kohler-Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, the ALS Association Golden West Chapter, and the North Hawaii Community Hospital Cancer Center. Participants ranged 6 decades in ages, and top honors, in order of completion, went to:

Men: Kanoa Blake, Braden Kojima, and Cameron Stuart

Women: Jamie Johnson, Sophia Wawner, Makana Blake

5K Dog Walker: Daniel Cordova Genaro and "Mister"

2K Dog Walker: Lisa Olivarez and "M"

Cutest Doggie Video: Rhonda Pollard and Pepper

Learn More about the Bieni Kohler-Johnson 5K Fun Run and Dog Walk

Video produced by HPA student Tristan Sienkiewicz '17

With three heats divided by grade levels, the morning began with K-1 students who swam two lengths of Dowsett pool, biked one lap around a grassy course, and ran one lap around the the Stanford W. Shutes Track.

"I feel good, " said Kamala'a Petrie, HPA first grader, at the end of last his leg. "I liked the biking the best."

At 9:45 a.m., students in grades 2-3 began swimming four lengths of the pool, biking two laps, and running two laps around the track. The fourth and fifth graders followed, swimming four lengths of the pool, biking three laps, and running three times around the track.

Every competitor received a winner's certificate upon completion, along with a high-five from Betsy Tranquili, the Lower School physical education teacher, who organized the event.

Photography by Bob Fewell

Congratulations to the HPA girls and boys cross country teams on the completion of a successful season! The boys team placed second in Division II and the girls placed sixth in Division I. Thank you to all the teams, coaches, faculty and staff that participated in and assisted with this year's HHSAA state championship meet!

Facing a room full of onlookers, one by one 39 contestants from grades 5-8 stepped forward from a single line to receive their word during the spelling bee on November 7, 2016. Holding a microphone, some students chose to immediately start spelling, some paused to ask for a definition and others asked for the word to be used in a sentence. In the end, it did not matter whether it was the ring of the dreaded bell, or the raising of the welcomed green flag by middle school science teacher Kelly Archer, cheers erupted from the crowd for each brave participant.

With two minutes left in the school day and six contestants remaining, the voice of the official pronouncer, middle school math teacher Dagan Bernstein, rang out in the dining hall--"silhouetted", "recusant", "potentialities", "gesticulations", "Patagonia", "interminableness." By the end of this round, there were three contestants left.

Eighth grader Ethaniel Wilson survived five rounds and correctly spelled "eucalyptus" to win HPA's competition. While classmate Nicholas Barrick successfully tackled "moiety" to become the runner-up. They both advanced to the Hawai'i Island District Spelling Bee.

The winner of the district competition will represent Hawai'i Island at the 2017 Kamaaina Kids State Spelling that will be held at 6 p.m. on March 16 on Oahu.

HPA offers middle school students the opportunity to explore and develop their interests and talents through a wide variety of activities and special events--The spelling bee is one of these opportunities. Learn more about the Middle School experience at HPA.

The Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy Middle School Handbell Choir, under the direction of Georgia Poláková, will offer a series of free public performances to welcome the holiday season:

• Saturday, November 19, noon, Prince Kuhio Mall, Hilo
• Friday, December 2, 5 p.m., Parker Ranch Tree Lighting at Puʻu Opelu, Waimea
• Saturday, December 3, 9:30 a.m., Waimea Farmers Market, Parker School, Waimea
• Sunday, December 4, 11 a.m., Parker Ranch Shopping Center Food Court, Waimea
• Saturday, December 10, 9:30 a.m., Waimea Farmers Market, Pukalani Stables, Waimea; 4 p.m., Queensʻ Marketplace, Waikoloa; and 6 p.m., Hilton Waikoloa Village

The handbell choir, offered as a Middle School elective, has been part of the HPA Middle School experience since 1985. The choir consists of 19 students who play for seven weeks, usually performing after only four weeks of rehearsal. This year, the choir acquired three octaves of handbell chimes and mallets, which will be featured for the first time in the holiday performances.

"The handchimes and mallets have enhanced our music program tremendously," said Poláková. "They add different dimensions and texture to the music by layering and/or featuring the unique sounds, while adding variety and new challenges for the students. We are quite excited to perform this season with our new chimes and mallets!

"What I like best about the handbell choir is the group dynamics that must happen to have a successful performing handbell choir," added Poláková. "The members must be positive and supportive of their fellow handbell players. There must be unity among the group or the music just doesn't come together. It's quite exciting to see the students' faces when they realize they can contribute to the group and bring forth beautiful music."

The Middle School Handbell Choir's first CD, A Ka Makani Christmas, is available for $10 at all HPA Handbell Choir performances, at the HPA Student Store, HPA Village Campus office, and Isaacs Art Center. All proceeds benefit the HPA Middle School Handbell Choir.

For more information about the group's holiday performances, call 885-2500 or 885-2501.

The first phase includes covered play courts, playground, multipurpose field with spectator seating and lighting, and parking...a wonderful addition to the Waimea community and Hawaiʻi Island!

The Hawaii Preparatory Academy Community Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, in the Ko Kakou Student Union, Upper Campus. Community Book Club meetings are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and participants are invited to bring a snack to share.

Lois Inman, Dyer Memorial librarian, and Jaime Johnson, Upper School English teacher, will lead the group. The current book selection is Commonwealth by bestselling author Ann Patchett. She is also the winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize.

Commonwealth tells the story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families lives. The Keating and Cousins children forge a lasting bond based on a shared disillusionment with their parents while spending summers together in Virginia.

The Village Campus was magically transformed into a gingerbread wonderland on November 30, as the school held its Holiday Lighting Festival at 5 p.m. and officially welcomed the holiday season. The event was presented by the HPA ʻOhana Associationʻs Village Campus Committee.

Hundreds of Lower and Middle School students and their families packed the beautifully-decorated dining room and enjoyed performances by the Middle School Handbell Choir and Dagan Bernsteinʻs after school ʻukulele group.

At about 5:45 p.m., everyone moved outside to watch the HPA cheerleadersʻ holiday performance on the front lawn and admire the holiday lights.

"I think theyʻre really cool," said fourth grader Mahea Puckett of all the lights.

"Fantastic!" chimed her friend Charlotte Kassis.

"I think the lights make the holiday spirit brighter for the whole school," added classmate Lily Hodges.

"I think itʻs lightened up the spirit of Christmas!" said Fischer Wawner, another enthusiastic classmate.

Village Campus Committee members—MJ Allison, Annette Hodges, Crystal Pagano, Elle Phillips, Lisa Salazar—and many other parent volunteers also provided an amazing Holiday Lighting Festival spread that included chili and rice, cheese nachos, pizza, mini muffins, fruit platters, cookies, brownies, and a variety of other mouth-watering confections.

Families enjoyed making holiday crafts together and having their pictures taken at the photo booth by Will Savage ʻ18, complete with Christmas tree and holiday props. Upper School science teacher Stephanie McDowell and Middle School student Bear Wawner won the holiday baskets donated by the McMackin family.

The evening concluded with lively holiday caroling led by Middle School students.

"This is really nice," said Ilene Grossman, who was enjoying the evening with her daughter, Liana Doppmann. "It feels like a big HPA ʻohana; the lights and decorations are beautiful; a nice way to start the holidays!"