Vision and Values

Raising women of purpose, on purpose

At La Pietra – Hawai‘i School for Girls, our mission is to educate young women to lead a life of purpose.

Now more than ever, the way we prepare young women to engage with the world matters. When we give young women the space and support to find their purpose — and, more importantly, ignite it — there’s absolutely nothing they can’t do. At La Pietra, that’s been our aim for nearly 60 years. And we’re only just getting started.

A La Pietra education believes that passion and self-confidence are as important as ability, that curiosity and creativity are as important as critical thinking, and identity is as important as success.

As a legacy partner of the Wahine Forum for over a decade, La Pietra and its student ambassadors participate in the forum by engaging with guests, introducing speakers, and even performing in front of an audience of hundreds.

La Pietra's annual Special Guest Day event invites students with special needs to campus for a day full of fun! Each student is paired with a visiting buddy for the entire day.

Every year, all grade levels participate in Class Service Day. Service activities range from beach cleanups, community outreach, and other giving projects like making cards, sketchbooks, and other donations.

Our community is small on purpose. From Big Sister/Little Sister events and National Honors Society peer tutoring to Student Council Mental Health Awareness Week and Student Art Showcases, we believe in supporting every member of our school with the respect, praise, and space they need to become the best version of themself.

Kahiau

A core value of a La Pietra education is the Hawaiian concept kahiau, or “selfless giving.” We strive to ensure all students work to help others without the expectation of return or reward. This generosity of spirit becomes a way of life for girls during their time as a La Pietra student and beyond.

Kahiau can be seen at campus events such as Special Guest Day and during our Big/Little Sister gatherings. Whether it's as big as helping community leaders navigate a changing world, or as simple as reminding fellow classmates about tomorrow's homework assignments, selfless giving is what keeps La Pietra an accepting, tight-knit community.

The La Pietra Girl

A La Pietra girl isn’t ordinary. She’s a confident decision-maker, a well-reasoned debater. She takes initiative and seeks out new opportunities. Even at age 12, she is already becoming a young woman of purpose.

Melissa Kim

To be educated in a place where solutions come from each other, where women lift up other young women, and to have the knowledge that we as a gender matter, that we are empowered to make a difference, these beliefs continue to help me to be who I want to be today, and I wish that all girls could be lucky enough to experience and know this.
– Melissa Kim, ’09