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Counseling

The Counseling Department provides services that promote physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development of each student. Counselors work closely with staff, faculty, administration and parents to review and support the development of each student. Counselors oversee the educational program of each student at HBA, offering academic support, guidance and personal counseling, career exploration and college preparation.

Academics

Our counselors work closely with our faculty and parents to discover specific needs and learning styles for students with academic difficulties. Through evaluation of classroom performance, test scores, observation and consultation with the student’s teacher(s), the counselor makes recommendations to the student, parent, teacher(s) and principal. The counselor provides support to the student through counseling and works with the teacher and parents to insure that the students receive the necessary assistance.

Personal

Guidance and personal counseling are available to students at all grade levels.

College

Our high school counselors provide our students with extensive resources as they seek out the right college to attend after high school. In the last several years, 100 percent of HBA graduates have been accepted to colleges in Hawaii and the mainland.

Our counselors challenge our students to consider a wide range of options for their future education. The counselors hold individual meetings with students, parents, and larger group meetings where families can learn about the college admission process.

Additionally, HBA has been the proud host of the Christian College Fair, which provides students and parents the opportunity to meet admissions representatives from dozens of Christian universities on the mainland.

Meet Our Staff

Danford Chang
Director of Counseling
College & Career Counselor

High School, Counseling Office
Email: dchang@hba.net

Education: University of Hawaii-Manoa, B.S.; Chaminade University, MSCP

Jennifer (Marshall) Garriss ’90
Academic Personal Counselor 9-12

High School
Email: jgarriss@hba.net

Education: Purdue University, B.S., M.S.Ed.

Tara Gruspe
College and Career Counselor 9-12

High School
Email: tgruspe@hba.net

Education: University of Hawaii-Manoa, B.A.;
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A.C.E.; University of the Southwest, M.S. Ed.

Debbie Han
Academic Personal Counselor 9-12

High School
Email: dhan@hba.net

Education: University of Hawaii-Manoa, B.Ed.; M.Ed.

Carolyn Kim
Academic/Resource Counselor

Middle School
Email: nokazaki@hba.net

Education: Chaminade University, B.A., MSCP

Noelani Okawara
School Counselor JK-6

Elementary School
Email: nokawara@hba.net

Education: University of Washington, B.A.; Chaminade University, M.S.

Melody Schmutz
School Counselor JK-6

Elementary School
Email: mschmutz@hba.net

Education: Austin Peay State University, BSW; The University Of Texas at El Paso, MSW

Counseling Offices

Elementary School

(808) 524-5477

Middle School

(808) 595-6302

High School

(808) 595-6304