The story of Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui began with a small but growing Seventh-day Adventist church in Haʻikū, Maui. As the congregation expanded, the church relocated to Pāʻia, where Maui Mission School was established to provide a Christ-centered education for the children of the community.
In 1935, under the leadership of Mr. Nakamoto, members of the Pāʻia Seventh-day Adventist Church came together to build a one-room schoolhouse complete with a small kitchen and play area. The school opened with approximately ten students in grades 2–8. Students often enjoyed walking to nearby Baldwin Beach Park for recreation, while a modest teacher’s residence was built across from the school, featuring an outdoor kitchen and bathroom.
The school’s first teacher, Miss Estes, was remembered for her unwavering compassion and servant-hearted leadership. She placed the needs of her students above her own and laid the foundation for the caring environment that continues to define our school today. By 1941, enrollment had grown to approximately forty students, with children traveling from both Pāʻia and Wailuku to attend.
Throughout its history, Maui Mission School has remained steadfast through times of hardship, including World War II and natural disasters. During the war, students participated in safety drills and even wore gas masks as a precaution.
One of the school’s most treasured stories comes from the devastating tsunami of April 1, 1946. George Phillips, a student at the time, waited for his school bus that morning, unaware that the island had been struck by a massive tidal wave. His mother, Lucy Phillips, faithfully made her way to the church in Pāʻia, where she served as the church custodian. When she arrived, she was stunned to discover that the church building had been swept completely off its foundation. Looking across the landscape, she eventually spotted the church resting in the middle of a sugarcane field. Undeterred by the destruction, Lucy carried her cleaning supplies into the field and faithfully completed her work. Remarkably, the school building remained standing, and all of the students were safe at home.
In 1953, the school relocated to its current campus in Kahului, where it shares its property with the Kahului Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over the years, the school’s supporting community has grown to include three Seventh-day Adventist churches serving families across Maui—in Kahului, Kīhei, and Lāhainā.
While our name has evolved from Maui Mission School to Maui Adventist School, and today to Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui, our mission has remained unchanged. For generations, we have been committed to recognizing the God-given value of every student by leading them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through academic excellence, Christ-centered education, and a caring school community.
Today, Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui continues to prepare students to meet the challenges of life with faith, character, purpose, and a heart for service—equipping them to make a positive impact in their communities and in the world to come.The story of Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui began with a small but growing Seventh-day Adventist church in Haʻikū, Maui. As the congregation expanded, the church relocated to Pāʻia, where Maui Mission School was established to provide a Christ-centered education for the children of the community.
In 1935, under the leadership of Mr. Nakamoto, members of the Pāʻia Seventh-day Adventist Church came together to build a one-room schoolhouse complete with a small kitchen and play area. The school opened with approximately ten students in grades 2–8. Students often enjoyed walking to nearby Baldwin Beach Park for recreation, while a modest teacher’s residence was built across from the school, featuring an outdoor kitchen and bathroom.
The school’s first teacher, Miss Estes, was remembered for her unwavering compassion and servant-hearted leadership. She placed her students’ needs above her own and laid the foundation for the caring environment that continues to define our school today. By 1941, enrollment had grown to approximately forty students, with children traveling from both Pāʻia and Wailuku to attend.
Throughout its history, Maui Mission School has remained steadfast through times of hardship, including World War II and natural disasters. During the war, students participated in safety drills and even wore gas masks as a precaution.
One of the school’s most treasured stories comes from the devastating tsunami of April 1, 1946. George Phillips, a student at the time, waited for his school bus that morning, unaware that the island had been struck by a massive tidal wave. His mother, Lucy Phillips, faithfully made her way to the church in Pāʻia, where she served as the church custodian. When she arrived, she was stunned to discover that the church building had been swept completely off its foundation. Looking across the landscape, she eventually spotted the church resting in the middle of a sugarcane field. Undeterred by the destruction, Lucy carried her cleaning supplies into the field and faithfully completed her work. Remarkably, the school building remained standing, and all of the students were safe at home.
In 1953, the school relocated to its current campus in Kahului, where it shares its property with the Kahului Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over the years, the school’s supporting community has grown to include three Seventh-day Adventist churches serving families across Maui—in Kahului, Kīhei, and Lāhainā.
While our name has evolved from Maui Mission School to Maui Adventist School, and today to Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui, our mission has remained unchanged. For generations, we have been committed to recognizing the God-given value of every student by leading them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through academic excellence, Christ-centered education, and a caring school community.
Today, Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui continues to prepare students to meet the challenges of life with faith, character, purpose, and a heart for service—equipping them to make a positive impact in their communities and in the world to come.