Ua ʻŌhiʻa Lani

Big congratulations to Parker School seniors Zoe ’26 and Iolani ’26, whose work with Gemini Observatory’s Project Hōkūlani is making headlines! This summer, Zoe and Iolani were two of four Hawaiʻi Island interns who selected a new deep-space target for the Gemini North Telescope and gave the final image its name: Ua ʻŌhiʻa Lani — Heavenly ʻŌhiʻa Rains — inspired by the story of ʻŌhiʻa and Lehua.

Makahiki ‘Aha Pule ʻĀina Holo relay run

Parker School once again joined the annual ‘Aha Pule ʻĀina Holo, a four-day ceremonial relay around Hawaiʻi Island that honors tradition and strengthens community.

CHAMPIONS!!

Our Varsity Girls Volleyball Team made history last night by beating HPA to win the BIIF Division II Championship Title and finish the season UNDEFEATED at 16-0!
Not only is this an incredible accomplishment, but it also marks the FIRST BIIF DII Volleyball Championship in school history. What a moment for our athletes, coaches, and school!

Upper School students in our Makers and Marketing Class got to work with a real client—and complete a job from start to finish! Working in our new SMART Center Design Lab, students created custom Mayor Max keychains and magnets for Phyllis Mueller, who cares for Mayor Max @MayorMax1, the beloved dog Mayor of Idyllwild, CA. This partnership gave our students hands-on experience with design, production, and client collaboration—while also supporting Mayor Max’s incredible charity work.

Here’s a look at the recent blessing of our new Lower School playground, led by Kumu Keala Ching. With oli, food, and the warmth of community, we welcomed this new joyful space for our keiki in Grades K-5 to play, learn, and grow. Newly reimagined, this outdoor play area encourages curiosity and play-based learning and includes slides, bridges, mounds, tunnels, tree stump steppers, climbing wall, riding track, tetherball, integrated gardens, and an amphitheater with seats for outdoor learning.

Hawaiʻi nei at Puanui

This week our 3rd graders enjoyed a beautiful day in Hawaiʻi nei at Puanui! Students learned about the Kohala Field System and how Hawaiians sustainably grew ʻuala (sweet potato) and kō (sugar cane) together, climbed the puʻu to observe weather patterns, and listened to incredible moʻolelo (stories) of Hawaiʻi Island and Maui shared by Auntie Kehau.

Paniolo Parade

Parker School was proud to be a part of this past Saturday’s Paniolo Parade! Our small but mighty unit brought smiles, school spirit, and maroon pride to Waimea’s streets. Mahalo to everyone who came out to celebrate our community’s paniolo heritage — what a wonderful tradition!

BEHIND THE BULL

One of our longest-standing traditions is the mysterious “stealing of the Bull” where the senior class sneaks our beloved mascot off campus to transform it into their own. The tradition begins each year with a secret summer steal, followed by many coats of paint to turn it into a new character, then a big reveal at our annual Fall BBQ, and ends with the Bull settling into Kahilu Hall, where it joins the lineup of every class’s creation before it.

A big mahalo to Optometrist Janet Mitchell P’36,’38 and kindergarten parent, for visiting our kindergarten class recently! Dr. Mitchell shared with students how our eyes work and how to keep them safe, bringing learning to life with hands-on activities. Students got to explore a model eye, experiment with magnifying glasses and 3D glasses, and even try on kid-sized frames — sparking lots of curiosity (and giggles!). We are so grateful to Dr. Mitchell and our amazing parent community who help make learning engaging and fun at Parker School.

Artist in Residence

We are thrilled to welcome our new Artist in Residence, Calley O’Neill! Calley is the visionary behind the Mālama ʻĀina mural currently under creation at the Kona International Airport—a 321-foot masterpiece rooted in Hawaiian values and environmental stewardship. Calley’s new on-campus studio will provide our students and teachers with unique opportunities to experience and engage with her and connect art with learning and storytelling. This new partnership reflects our mission and Strategic Plan to inspire lifelong learners and deepen connections to Hawai‘i’s culture and environment.

History was made again!

History was made again! We hosted our FIRST-EVER home game in the brand-new Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium inside The SMART Center! Our JV and Varsity girls volleyball teams came out strong against Konawaena—with Varsity winning in 3 sets! The gym was packed, the crowd was loud, and the energy was absolutely electric. The Bulls brought the house alive, and we couldn’t have asked for a more unforgettable way to kick off this new era.

Fall BBQ

Our annual Fall BBQ was extra special this year as it became the very first event held in our brand-new SMART Center gym! Over 800 students, parents, and friends gathered to kick off the new school year—connecting with old friends, meeting new families, and exploring our incredible new facility.

A Historic Day for Parker School!

We officially opened the doors to The SMART Center—our new 21,000 sq. ft. facility designed to spark creativity, collaboration, and innovation for all K–12 students! This $19M project is the largest in Parker’s 50-year history.

Designed for students to dive into hands-on learning across multiple disciplines, The SMART Center has dedicated spaces for Sports, Mathematics, Arts, Recreation, and Technology—the pillars behind its name as well as a nod to sixth-generation Parker Ranch philanthropist, Richard Smart. All students will use this new facility, which includes two tech classrooms, a design lab and workshop, a dance studio, a fitness center, a kitchen, and Parker’s first-ever gymnasium. The Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium will host athletic competitions, student pep rallies, and milestone celebrations, such as graduation, on campus for the first time.

And just like that…the 2025–26 school year is underway—and it’s not just any year, it’s our 50th anniversary! From our littlest Bulls to our soon-to-be graduates, campus is buzzing with excitement, laughter, and new beginnings. Here’s to a year of learning, memories, and celebrating five incredible decades of Parker pride!

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program

We are launching a new Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program to provide high-quality early learning for children ages 2 to 5 while addressing the growing need for childcare in Waimea. Beginning with a 12-student pilot program on or by August 2026, the school plans to expand to 48 students by 2028 to better support local families, faculty, and staff. Rooted in a play-based, nature-integrated curriculum, the program is designed to complement existing early learning efforts in the community. We are launching this program not to compete, but to complement and support existing early learning efforts in the community, ensuring more families have access to early education, including our faculty and staff. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026, this initiative reflects our mission and commitment to lifelong learning and strengthening community partnerships. Click here to learn more or join the interest list here.