Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy Featured School: Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy
Kamuela, HI
Hawaii Preparatory Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory, day and boarding school. On Hawai'i Island, you will live and learn within spectacular landscapes, vital ecosystems, and a mix of world cultures. At Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, we embrace these unique resources to create research partnerships, signature programs, and exceptional learning opportunities that make HPA a school like no other. HPA is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 application season! We are accepting applications now through our priority deadline of February 10, 2024.  After that, we will move into the rolling application phase.  Hawai'i Preparatory Academy is a top rated, private, boarding school. It has 572 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. Tuition is $64,800 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 95% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. The school is located in the beautiful, rural setting of Waimea on the northern side of the spectacular island of Hawaii, which National Geographic named one of the best places in the world to live. At HPA, our location allows us to offer a high school education like no other. We combine a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum with the chance to design and conduct your own real-world research, arts, or community projects. Through capstone classes, 16 Advanced Placement courses, our award-winning Energy Lab, immersive local learning, and other signature programs, we support and empower you to hone skills, build confidence, and create an impressive body of work for college and later life. Students are given the opportunity to do cutting edge research in independent projects such as brain research, genetics, astronomy, and geology; and HPA partnerships with organizations like Stanford University, Cornell, Keck Observatory, and NASA expose students to more "real world" research and a strategic advantage when applying to universities. HPA offers two, three-week summer school for students ages eleven through seventeen with mostly enrichment courses including SAT prep, math, science, English, ESL, and the arts.

Cranbrook Schools - Review #6

Read more details about Cranbrook Schools on their 2025 profile page.
Cranbrook Schools
5

About the Author:

Years Attended Boarding School:
2014-2016
Sports and Activities:
Basketball-Captain Rowing-Captain Track Cabinet Student Council RA in the Kingswood Girls Dorms
College Enrolled:
University of Michigan
Home Town, State:
Marquette, MI

Reflections and Advice:

1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
In addition to the high school on Cranbrook, we additionally had an art college that allowed us to observe and experience a multitude of art every day adding to the Cranbrook experience. Consequently, the 500 acre campus is filled with history and value that you wouldn't receive at another high school. Also, Cranbrook has students from all around the world, allowing for its students to experience many cultures every day.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
I made the best friends and met the most incredible people. I have grown up so much from attending Cranbrook and truly have learned to appreciate the beauty in everything. The most important thing I learned at Cranbrook was how important my family is and to truly appreciate them and all they do for me. Additionally, how amazing it is to be surrounded by such a large support system of teachers and staff and students that want to see you succeed and become the best version of yourself. I thank Cranbrook and owe them everything for my success.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
I would have gone to boarding school starting my freshman year, I loved Cranbrook so much that I wish I would have been able to spend all four years on campus. My advice for anyone attending Cranbrook is to really enjoy the moments you have the and appreciate the people you meet, because there is no place like Cranbrook. It is truly the most incredible gift to attend Cranbrook and I am forever grateful for my parents for allowing me to attend such an amazing school.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
I honesty don't think I can choose one thing I loved most about Cranbrook. The entire experience was amazing and I will never be able to thank everyone who helped me along the way enough for everything Cranbrook has given me. It is honestly a once in a lifetime experience.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Just enjoy your time at Cranbrook. No amount of time there will be long enough. Appreciate every challenging moment that pushes you outside your comfort zone and makes you a better version of you.

Academics:

1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
I loved the the academics offered students a rigorous, yet interesting schedule. The days were built on a block schedule; therefore, all our days were not the same and were based on more of a "college-like" schedule, allowing students to better prepare for college. Additionally, most of the teachers at Cranbrook are Doctors and have extensive knowledge on the topics we are covering. The student to teacher ratio is small making it easier for each student to have more one on one time. The classes were difficult with a pretty large work load, in order to prepare students for college, I can honestly say that the amount of work is in some cases equal or more than the workload I have at the University of Michigan. All of my classes were very diverse. Despite the extremely competitive environment at Cranbrook, there is no other school that has students more willing to help one another out.

Athletics:

1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
Our athletics program were very well managed. They offered every sport possible from fencing to football, lacrosse to swimming and rowing to track. Most of our sports teams would place within the state every year. The coaches are incredibly dedicated and supportive of its players, as well as the athletic department as a whole. There is a mandatory athletic requirement, but this can be filled with other things such as plays or an intense dedication to a club in the case sports really aren't a students things.

Art, Music, and Theatre:

1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
The Visual Arts, Music and Theatre program and Cranbrook are amazing. Our school has multiple theaters on campus, an art museum, and a whole art building that contains the band, orchestra and choir rooms, many different art rooms including, but not limited to: a ceramics studio, a weaving studio with 40+ looms, a metal smith room, painting and drawing rooms. The teaching and facilities are so incredible and dedicated to furthering a students knowledge of the arts. The hallways are filled with students art and put it on display. The school is so committed to the arts and constantly works to further them.

Extracurricular Opportunities:

1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
The extracurricular opportunities were endless and if what you were looking for wasn't there you could start a club for it. Super diverse. Clubs include: debate, cabinet, big brother big sister, Model UN etc.

Dorm Life:

1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
The dorms at Cranbrook were separated by gender: girls on one campus, boys on another. Rooms were doubles and singles. Singles and doubles with conjoined jack and jill bathrooms, some with own bathrooms. We had kitchenettes with food and drinks that were available 24/7. Dorm rooms were based on grade and leadership positions within dorms. RAs got first room pick, then seniors and so on. You were able to pick your roommate.

Dining:

1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
The dining halls were large and the food was amazing. The staff worked to personalize the meals for the students. Dining halls were daily, 7-9 breakfast, lunch 11-1, dinner 5-8. No assigned seating.

Social and Town Life:

1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
The town had many restaurants, malls, movies and places to go. It was a quick ride from Cranbrook to Birmingham.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
Everyone was inclusive and excepting of the different cultures on campus.

Daily Schedule:

Weekday
7:00 AM
Sign in
8:00 AM
1st period
9:00 AM
2nd
10:00 AM
3rd
11:00 AM
4th
12:00 AM
lunch
1:00 PM
5, 6
3:00 PM
Sport Practice
6:30 PM
Dinner, shower
8:00 PM
homework, bed
Weekend
9:00 AM
wake up, breakfast
10:00 AM
workout
12:00 AM
lunch
1:00 PM
study
5:00 AM
dinner
6:00 AM
study
8:00 AM
hangout with friends
12:00 PM
curfew
Read more details about Cranbrook Schools on their 2025 profile page.

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description
Cranbrook Schools Alumni #1
Class of 2017
5.00 5/27/2020
Concordia University
Extremely diverse educational community that encourages students to get involved. The school has a very well-rounded educational team that makes you feel home whilst providing with an excellent academic schedule. All the teachers and staff. . .
Cranbrook Schools Alumni #2
Class of 2016
5.00 2/24/2018
Yale University
Definitely its renowned Harkness discussion. The principal is based off the idea that the students are of such a high intellect that they are able to teach each other, and thus the teacher of the. . .
Cranbrook Schools Alumni #3
Class of 2014
5.00 2/1/2018
Tufts
For me, living and working on a boarding school campus that was surrounded in nature made Cranbrook a very special place. Everyday was like finding a new adventure to embark on - from the small. . .
Show more reviews (7 reviews)

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 810 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $56,600
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $41,800
  • Acceptance rate: 38%
  • Average class size: 16 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 31 / Apr. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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