The Children’s Education Initiative Awards Hawai’i Preparatory Academy a $1.03 Million MultiYear Grant to Fund Tuition Assistance and Wraparound Support

Hawai’i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is honored to announce that it has received a new gift from The Children’s Education Initiative (TCEI), a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education for socioeconomically disadvantaged children. The multi-year grant will fund tuition and wraparound support for two incoming kindergarteners, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, through 8th grade. “We are incredibly excited about this new partnership and the difference it’s going to make for our HPA community and for families who want to come to HPA,” says Head of School Fred Wawner.

This grant will cover the full cost of attending HPA: tuition, fees, lunches, after school care and additional support. Over time, this support will dramatically expand opportunities, making HPA more accessible and building new systems and practices to improve socioeconomic diversity within HPA’s school community.

“This is a truly visionary gift that we hope will inspire continued momentum for financial aid support,” Wawner said. For the 2024-25 school year, HPA provided approximately $4 million in financial aid to 45% of the student body, with an average demonstrated need of 80% for recipient students. And while HPA is able to offer some additional support for students in grades 9 through 12, the new support from TCEI marks the first tuition assistance opportunity designated for HPA’s youngest students.

“HPA has always welcomed students from all walks of life, and this partnership with TCEI will enable us to reach new families who may have never considered an independent school education," says Director of Admissions Tiare Police ’86.

Lower School Principal Dora Kwong is eager to begin building the new program. “This incredible grant will open new opportunities for young students to experience the joy and curiosity that our Village Campus teachers cultivate for our students every day," she says. “We are so grateful to TCEI for this remarkable gift.”

Through this transformative partnership, HPA and TCEI are paving the way for meaningful change, not only by providing essential financial assistance but by fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity that enriches the entire school community. This multi-year commitment is a crucial step in expanding access to high-quality education for underrepresented students, enhancing both HPA’s mission and the lives of the students and families who join HPA’s ‘ohana.