Hawaii Baptist Academy

Hidden gem tucked in the corner off of Pali Hwy. Nephew attends HBA in his Freshman year. Parking is tight and limited and if you’re not there early enough before school gets out you’ll be driving in circles. Be careful as kids are coming from every angle on campus and you’ll find yourself driving at least 5mph before heading out of the parking lot. Neighbors to the Philippine Consulate and easy on and off ramp to enter/​exit from the School.

Hawaii Baptist Academy (HBA) is nestled in Nu’uanu Valley on the big bend in the road off the Pali Highway just behind the Filipino Consulate. The entrance to the middle & high schools are on the Wyllie Street overpass. The HBA elementary campus is just off Nu’uanu between Bates and Kuakini streets. All three campuses round out a very nice K-​12 education.
HBA is a Christian private school affiliated with the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. Enrollment is just over 1,100 students for all grade levels K-​12 with tuition in the $ 12,000/yr range.
The middle school is the crowning gem of the three campuses being built and opened in 2005. It is one of the first LEEDS certified schools in Hawaii, designed by Group 70. There are many very nifty energy saving, green amenities throughout. A few to note, a 25,000 gallon water catchment system filled by rain gutters and drainage used for landscaping, auto on-​off motion sensor lights, and lockers made from recycled plastic milk jugs. All classrooms at the middle school have state of the art technology with dvd players, digital projectors, and elmo’s (not the tickle me red guy, but the digital visual presenter). HBA is slowly converting and updated their high school campus so that the technology will match the middle school.
The campuses are meticulously landscaped with beautiful tropical foliage, trees, and flowers. Nu’uanu stream runs down the east side of the campus giving a very tranquil feel to views from classrooms at the middle school and from the Betsy Fleming building on the high school campus.
Campus climate for students…
I love that students at the school form very strong bonds in most cases will last a lifetime. At graduation they have a special medal recognizing students who have attended the school for 13 years, from kindergarten through 12^th grade. Students come back year after year to visit the campus, teachers, and fellow students.
For a medium sized school in the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, HBA is jam packed with activities for students and has many championship teams in sports and academics. If HBA does not offer a particular sport or activity, football for example, HBA students join PAC-​5 a conglomeration of 19 of the smaller private schools.
There is food service offered on all three campuses and the elementary school has a very nice after school program for their students… perfect for working parents.
HBA has weekly chapel at all three campuses and invites inspirational speakers, visiting missionaries from around the world, Christian music groups, and performers giving their student body wide exposure to different aspects of Christianity. Campus by far are the most fun at HBA, students 7 – 12 attend camp annually. Each camp has a theme to help students grow in their faith and walk with the Lord.
I would recommend HBA to anyone looking for more than just a great school, but a place for a child to grow in their walk with the Lord.
Disclosure: I taught middle school Earth science at HBA for 5 years and loved every minute I spent with my students. Ironically, I was asked to make a choice between a mission trip taking in water purification systems to Uganda, Africa and missing the first day of school. I choose a life long dream… Africa. I would not trade those 20+ days in Uganda for anything. I would do it all over again.