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HBA's Story is God's Story
Since 1949, Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy has been more than a school. It has been a testament to God's faithfulness.
What began with the vision of Southern Baptist missionaries and 36 students has grown into a thriving Christ-centered community serving more than 1,100 students from preschool through high school across four campuses. Every chapter of HBA's story reflects God's provision, from miraculous beginnings and unexpected opportunities to campus expansions and generations of lives transformed through Christian education.
While our campuses have grown and our programs have expanded, our purpose has remained the same: Christ for Every Nation.
We invite you to discover how God has faithfully guided Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy for more than seven decades and continues to write the next chapter of our story.
A Story of Faith
The story of Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy began with a simple but powerful vision: Christ for Every Nation.
In the early 1940s, Southern Baptist missionaries answered God's call to establish a Christian school in Hawaiʻi. Their prayers led them to a property in Makiki, where former army barracks were relocated and transformed into classrooms through the faithful efforts of volunteers.
When HBA opened its doors in 1949 under the leadership of Hugh and Mary McCormick, just 36 students were enrolled. Within a year, enrollment had more than tripled. By 1953, the school had expanded through Grade 12, and the McCormicks recognized that HBA was not only serving Christian families but also becoming a mission field where students could encounter the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
A Story of God's Provision
Throughout HBA's history, God has faithfully opened doors that once seemed impossible. The late 1950s and 1960s presented significant challenges, but through God’s grace, the school was about to witness even more remarkable miracles of expansion.
One of the greatest miracles was the acquisition of the land for the Nuuanu campus. In 1971, HBA secured a 13.6-acre estate in Nuuanu, after a miraculous turn of events at the auction. HBA acquired the property for just $553,000, paving the way for construction of the Pali campus. Today, this land is home to the Dan Kong Middle School, Stan Sagert High School, the Bessie Flemming Building, the Hilda Shiraki Building that is home to the Dan Liu Gymnasium.
The miracles continued as HBA expanded to the Leeward Coast. From 1986 to 1998, HBA operated an elementary school in West Oahu, made possible by the generous lead gift from John and Donna Stanford. In honor of the Stanfords, HBA named the building in memory of John’s parents, W.T. and Melba Stanford. Our Leeward outreach brought education and the gospel message to more than 1,000 children and their families.
In 1987, another significant miracle occurred with the acquisition of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts Convent School as HBA’s elementary campus. The process required Vatican approval, a process that was steeped in prayer and faith. The Sisters and HBA’s committee believed this was God’s plan, and the sale of the property allowed them to fulfill their mission while enabling HBA to continue its commitment to Christian education.
Over the years, HBA has continued to grow, focusing on early education at our Richard Bento Elementary Campus in 2020. In 2022, we expanded further with the opening of our Early Learning Center at GracePoint in Mililani, echoing our commitment to extend our reach and impact.
A Story of Faithful Leadership
Throughout HBA's history, God has faithfully provided leaders to guide the school through seasons of growth, challenge, and transformation. Each president has built upon the foundation laid by those before them, helping shape HBA into the Christ-centered community it is today.
Colonel Stanley Sagert (1970–1987)
A decorated military aviator,
called to save the school
A Story Still Being Written
Hugh and Mary McCormick were HBA’s original innovators. They saw what did not exist and had the courageous faith to pursue it. Their vision was not innovation for its own sake, but innovation rooted in mission, guided by prayer, and undertaken in obedience to God.
That same calling continues today. As believers in Christ, we too are called to respond in faith and obedience. Through the service of our leaders, educators, staff members, volunteers, and others throughout the HBA ʻohana, we share in this missional purpose, investing in the lives of our students and carrying forward the mission God entrusted to HBA.
For more than seven decades, God has used Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy to touch the lives of thousands of students and their families. As we look forward to the decades ahead, we are resolved to never lose sight of the vision entrusted to us. We faithfully carry this torch forward, with courage to innovate while remaining firmly rooted in our mission.
The story of Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy is still being written. We give all glory to God for what he has done, and we move forward with gratitude and faith, praying that His gracious hand and favor will continue to guide HBA for generations to come.
Christ for Every Nation.