Island Pacific Academy is a private, independent, co-educational, college-preparatory school serving grades K-12, with a current enrollment of approximately 500 students. Located in Kapolei, Hawaii, IPA was founded in 2004 and enrolled its first students in September 2004. IPA is an International Baccalaureate World School authorized to offer the Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12. IPA's educational program is grounded in its mission to provide an environment where students come first, values matter, and community counts. Students are immersed in a culture that lives up to the school motto, “Where Values Matter.” Core values practiced by students, faculty, staff, and families – the power of human kindness, generosity of spirit, and recognition of each individual’s value – help students develop strength of character. IPA's team name is the Navigators. The school motto is "I Mua Me Ka Ha'aheo", which translates from Hawaiian as "Go Forward with Confidence".
Campus
Approximately 80 faculty/staff and 500 students work and learn in two buildings, one for the Elementary division and one for the Secondary division, located on three acres in Kapolei.
Elementary Division
The Elementary building encompasses on two floors, and includes a science room, music room, world languages room, technology lab, and visual arts studio as well as academic classrooms, all with wireless internet connectivity. The lower school opened its doors to students on September 13, 2004. The building supports students in kindergarten to grade 5.
Secondary Division
The Secondary building has approximately on three floors. In addition to classrooms and the main office complex, it includes two art studios, a ceramics studio, recording studio, music classroom, a multi-purpose room used as a cafeteria and auditorium, Middle School science lab, three Upper School science labs, and a student center. All classrooms have wireless internet connectivity. In 2019, IPA installed a photovoltaic panel array over its lower level parking lot in a shift to clean energy.
History
ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY enrolled its first students in September 2004, under the leadership of the Founding Headmaster, Dr. Daniel White. In 2004 and 2006 the school completed construction of its two large and well-equipped classroom and office buildings. In 2009, Island Pacific Academy Foundation purchased the three-acre property at 909 Haumea Street from an affiliate of the James Campbell Company. IPA graduated its first class of 45 seniors in May 2010. In 2015, it sold the property to an affiliate of Watumull Properties Corp, WPC Haumea LLC.
Academics
Elementary Division
The Elementary School academic program stresses inquiry-based learning and the curriculum includes art, music, design technology, world languages, computer science, and PE. Of special note is the SEED program in which all students from Kindergarten through grade 5 participate. This program engages students in hands-on engineering activities as they work together to apply STEM knowledge to real-world problems.
Secondary Division
The Middle School curriculum includes courses in Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, English, Design Technology, PE, Arts, and World Languages. Grade 6 students take a trimester each of Japanese, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and Spanish. In grades 7 and 8, students select one of the three languages to take as a full-year class. In the Upper School, students take courses in Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English Literature, American History, World History, and Anthropology. Students choose ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Japanese, or Spanish as their World Language. Design Technology courses include Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Photography & Film Making, Graphic Design, Jewelry Making, and Publishing. Advanced Placement courses are also offered.
Authorized International Baccalaureate World School, offering the Diploma Programme for grades 11 and 12
Athletics
ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY is a member of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. IPA student-athletes compete on 41 teams in 13 sports at the intermediate, junior varsity, and varsity levels. Sports include air riflery, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. IPA is also a member of Pac-Five, an athletic consortium of small independent schools that join together to field teams for the ILH. IPA student-athletes participate on Pac-Five teams in baseball, football, soccer, and softball. More than 60% of students in grades 7-12 participate in the athletics program, with 50% female student-athletes and 50% male student-athletes. Many students participate in more than one sport.
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities include student government, Interact Club, Math League, Literary Club, Global Issues Network, Navigator Robotics, and theatre productions. Eligible students may become members of six honor societies in grades 10-12: National Honor Society, Japanese National Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, National Arts Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and International Thespian Society.
