Our History

Established in 1964, La Pietra – Hawai‘i School for Girls was the vision of a small group of forward thinking-women. They believed that girls in Hawaii would thrive in a school built just for them.

Nearly 60 years later, La Pietra continues to be a place where young women flourish in a supportive community valuing each girl’s journey toward purpose, passion, confidence, and success that they themselves define.

Housed in what was once the Tuscan-villa inspired family home of Walter Dillingham, we at La Pietra treasure the balance of old-world Classicism and the natural, vibrant beauty of our island that coalesce on our campus. La Pietra, the original name of the villa our campus was designed after, translates to “the stone.” Our mission is to be the foundation of every student's journey and to educate young women to lead a life of purpose.

Lorraine Day Cooke, Barbara Cox Anthony, and the tireless Board of Trustees opened the Hawai‘i School for Girls (HSG) in 1964 at Central Union Church. It consisted of nine founding teachers, 55 girls, and Headmaster Joseph Pynchon. After purchasing the Dillingham Estate in 1969, HSG relocated to its current location. Mrs. Anthony joined the school’s board of trustees, where she served many years as Board Chair. Under the strong leadership of Mrs. Anthony and Mr. Pynchon, La Pietra flourished. It remains the island’s only secular independent girls’ school.

Over the years, various enhancements were made to the campus. A six-classroom building named in honor of Mrs. Cooke was dedicated in January 1977. The athletic complex, completed in 1987, was named in honor of Mrs. Anthony in 2008. Bachman Science Center was built in 1997. In 2014, the school completed a 16-classroom renovation. The classroom renovation project transformed traditional classrooms into 21st-century learning spaces that maintain their close-knit aura.

La Pietra - Hawaii School for Girls is an independent, college preparatory school for girls grades 6 through 12. The student-teacher ratio is 5 to 1, assuring full attention to every girl. La Pietra - Hawai‘i School for Girls is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school is a charter member of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).