La Pietra: Hawaii School for Girls, also referred to as La Pietra or Hawaii School for Girls, is a private school for girls in grades 6–12 located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Founded in 1964 by Lorraine Cooke, it moved to the current La Pietra campus in 1969. Barbara Cox Anthony chaired the school's board of trustees until her death in 2007. The school is at the foot of Diamond Head. The main building was designed by Chicago architect, David Adler and was modeled after an Italian villa in Florence, Italy of the same name.
The site was near or partially on an ancient Hawaiian heiau (temple) called Papaʻenaʻena. Referred to by early writers as "Leahi" (the Hawaiian name for Diamond Head) heiau, it was quadrangular, about 80 ft (24 m) across with ocean facing terraces leading into the structure and several altars located near the back wall. Papaʻenaʻena was arguably built by Maui King Kahekili to commemorate his conquest of Oʻahu. This heiau was destroyed by Kanaia about 1856 and its stones were carted off to Waikiki for use as rock walls and driveways. Papaʻenaʻena figured Kamehameha I's conquest of the Hawaiian Islands. In 1804, when Kamehameha was on his way to invade Kauai he halted at Oʻahu with an army of 8000 men. An epidemic killed more than two-thirds of his army. During the epidemic Kamehameha, upon the advice of his priests, instituted a ten-day kapu (restriction) and sacrificed three humans and many hogs and edible plants. The men sacrificed were accused of eating tabu coconuts. Kamehameha also is reported to have sacrificed his nephew, Kanihonui, who broke the tabu with Kamehameha's Queen, Kaʻahumanu, at Papaʻenaʻena.[1] " It overlooked what is today First Break, the beginning of Kalehuawehe, a surfing course famous for hundreds of years. Kahuna at Papa’ena’ena flew a kite at the heiau to inform surfers that the waves were up."[2]
Founding
During the Mahele (when formal land titles were used for the first time) this site was given by the Kingdom of Hawaii to the future King Lunalilo. After the king's death this site was sold to James Campbell, in 1883. Walter F. Dillingham bought the land from Campbell and built a home for his bride, Louise Gaylord. Dillingham was the son of Benjamin Dillingham, of Oahu Railway and Land Company. The Dillinghams were married in Florence, Italy, at Villa La Pietra, the 600-year-old villa of Louise's aunt Hortense Mitchell Acton. After selecting the Diamond Head site as their home, Louise Dillingham and her husband hired Chicago architect David Adler to draw up plans for a villa that would draw its inspiration from Villa La Pietra in Florence, but not copy it. When completed in 1922 for $400,000 the main building included five bedrooms. These rooms, 47 years later, became the classrooms of the school. For 40 years La Pietra was the social center of Honolulu. The Dillinghams hosted many notable visitors, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Walt Disney.[3]
The portion which is now the school was left by Dillingham to Punahou School. Unable to use the building, Punahou was anxious to sell it. After a period in which there were few interested buyers (Punahou was asking $1 million for the estate), Lorraine Day Cooke (wife of Richard Aexander Cooke Jr., who was grandson of Charles Montague Cooke and great-grandson of Amos Starr Cooke, co-founder of Castle & Cooke) and Mrs. Garner Anthony raised the funds. They had started a Hawaii School for Girls at Central Union Church. Plans were developed by architect John Tatom and his assistant Tom Fanning. Work to convert the estate into a school was done by parent volunteers and the Dillingham's Hawaiian Dredging Company. Hawaii School for Girls moved into the site at the start of the 1969-1970 school year. In 1976 a new six-classroom building was constructed on the site of the old swimming pool. This building, designed by Leo Wou, was intended to mirror the architecture of the Dillingham villa.
La Pietra is just a few hundred yards above Honolulu's Kapiʻolani Park. As swamp land in a desert, the land became a park specifically because it wasn't considered suitable for anything else. It is one of the few places on Oahu where rain rarely falls. Because La Pietra has limited space for athletics, Kapiʻolani Park is used for physical education classes and training for soccer and cross country running teams.
Hawaiian Studies at La Pietra
School heads
Joseph Pynchon was founding headmaster at La Pietra from its inception in 1964 until his retirement at the end of the 1990-1991 school year. He joined La Pietra from ʻIolani School, where he was chairman of the English Department. Born in Boston, he served in Italy and India with the American Field Service in World War II. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis., and a master's of education degree from Harvard University. He was a freelance and features writer for Boston daily and weekly newspapers and magazines, as well as for education journals.[4] La Pietra's first headmaster died January 2, 2008.
Nancy White, La Pietra's third Head of School, retired in June 2007 after twelve years. White began her teaching career at Kamehameha Schools in 1962.[5] She also taught at MidPacific Institute, a private school on O'ahu.
Nancy White was replaced by Mahina Eleneki Hugo, La Pietra's middle school dean. She was the fourth headmistress of the school. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's in education in private school leadership from the University of Hawaii.
Mahina Hugo was replaced by Dr. Joshua Watson. Prior to joining La Pietra, Dr. Watson served as the Assistant Principal for Student Life at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu. Dr. Watson serves as the current Head of School. [6]
References
^"Tales of Temples," in All About Hawaii, 1904 University of Michigan Press
^. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls.
"La Pietra - Hawaii School For Girls". school web site. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
April 01, 2023
pietra, italian, estate, villa, hawaii, school, girls, also, referred, hawaii, school, girls, private, school, girls, grades, located, honolulu, hawaii, founded, 1964, lorraine, cooke, moved, current, campus, 1969, barbara, anthony, chaired, school, board, tru. For the Italian estate see Villa La Pietra La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls also referred to as La Pietra or Hawaii School for Girls is a private school for girls in grades 6 12 located in Honolulu Hawaii Founded in 1964 by Lorraine Cooke it moved to the current La Pietra campus in 1969 Barbara Cox Anthony chaired the school s board of trustees until her death in 2007 The school is at the foot of Diamond Head The main building was designed by Chicago architect David Adler and was modeled after an Italian villa in Florence Italy of the same name La Pietra Hawaii School For GirlsAddress2933 Poni Moi RoadHonolulu Hawaiʻi 96815United StatesInformationTypePrivate College prep DayFounded1964Head of schoolJoshua WatsonGenderGirlsEnrollment162Average class size10Student to teacher ratio7 1Campus typeUrbanColor s Royal and Powder BlueAthletics conferenceILHMascotLady PanthersAccreditationWASCAffiliationsNCGSWebsitewww lapietra edu Contents 1 History 1 1 Heiau site 1 2 Founding 2 Kapiʻolani Park 3 School heads 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditHeiau site Edit The site was near or partially on an ancient Hawaiian heiau temple called Papaʻenaʻena Referred to by early writers as Leahi the Hawaiian name for Diamond Head heiau it was quadrangular about 80 ft 24 m across with ocean facing terraces leading into the structure and several altars located near the back wall Papaʻenaʻena was arguably built by Maui King Kahekili to commemorate his conquest of Oʻahu This heiau was destroyed by Kanaia about 1856 and its stones were carted off to Waikiki for use as rock walls and driveways Papaʻenaʻena figured Kamehameha I s conquest of the Hawaiian Islands In 1804 when Kamehameha was on his way to invade Kauai he halted at Oʻahu with an army of 8000 men An epidemic killed more than two thirds of his army During the epidemic Kamehameha upon the advice of his priests instituted a ten day kapu restriction and sacrificed three humans and many hogs and edible plants The men sacrificed were accused of eating tabu coconuts Kamehameha also is reported to have sacrificed his nephew Kanihonui who broke the tabu with Kamehameha s Queen Kaʻahumanu at Papaʻenaʻena 1 It overlooked what is today First Break the beginning of Kalehuawehe a surfing course famous for hundreds of years Kahuna at Papa ena ena flew a kite at the heiau to inform surfers that the waves were up 2 Founding Edit During the Mahele when formal land titles were used for the first time this site was given by the Kingdom of Hawaii to the future King Lunalilo After the king s death this site was sold to James Campbell in 1883 Walter F Dillingham bought the land from Campbell and built a home for his bride Louise Gaylord Dillingham was the son of Benjamin Dillingham of Oahu Railway and Land Company The Dillinghams were married in Florence Italy at Villa La Pietra the 600 year old villa of Louise s aunt Hortense Mitchell Acton After selecting the Diamond Head site as their home Louise Dillingham and her husband hired Chicago architect David Adler to draw up plans for a villa that would draw its inspiration from Villa La Pietra in Florence but not copy it When completed in 1922 for 400 000 the main building included five bedrooms These rooms 47 years later became the classrooms of the school For 40 years La Pietra was the social center of Honolulu The Dillinghams hosted many notable visitors including President Franklin D Roosevelt and Walt Disney 3 The portion which is now the school was left by Dillingham to Punahou School Unable to use the building Punahou was anxious to sell it After a period in which there were few interested buyers Punahou was asking 1 million for the estate Lorraine Day Cooke wife of Richard Aexander Cooke Jr who was grandson of Charles Montague Cooke and great grandson of Amos Starr Cooke co founder of Castle amp Cooke and Mrs Garner Anthony raised the funds They had started a Hawaii School for Girls at Central Union Church Plans were developed by architect John Tatom and his assistant Tom Fanning Work to convert the estate into a school was done by parent volunteers and the Dillingham s Hawaiian Dredging Company Hawaii School for Girls moved into the site at the start of the 1969 1970 school year In 1976 a new six classroom building was constructed on the site of the old swimming pool This building designed by Leo Wou was intended to mirror the architecture of the Dillingham villa The school is located at 2933 Poni Moi Road 21 15 40 N 157 48 57 W 21 26111 N 157 81583 W 21 26111 157 81583 Coordinates 21 15 40 N 157 48 57 W 21 26111 N 157 81583 W 21 26111 157 81583 Kapiʻolani Park EditLa Pietra is just a few hundred yards above Honolulu s Kapiʻolani Park As swamp land in a desert the land became a park specifically because it wasn t considered suitable for anything else It is one of the few places on Oahu where rain rarely falls Because La Pietra has limited space for athletics Kapiʻolani Park is used for physical education classes and training for soccer and cross country running teams Hawaiian Studies at La PietraSchool heads EditJoseph Pynchon was founding headmaster at La Pietra from its inception in 1964 until his retirement at the end of the 1990 1991 school year He joined La Pietra from ʻIolani School where he was chairman of the English Department Born in Boston he served in Italy and India with the American Field Service in World War II He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Carroll College in Waukesha Wis and a master s of education degree from Harvard University He was a freelance and features writer for Boston daily and weekly newspapers and magazines as well as for education journals 4 La Pietra s first headmaster died January 2 2008 Nancy White La Pietra s third Head of School retired in June 2007 after twelve years White began her teaching career at Kamehameha Schools in 1962 5 She also taught at MidPacific Institute a private school on O ahu Nancy White was replaced by Mahina Eleneki Hugo La Pietra s middle school dean She was the fourth headmistress of the school She earned a bachelor s degree in sociology and a master s in education in private school leadership from the University of Hawaii Mahina Hugo was replaced by Dr Joshua Watson Prior to joining La Pietra Dr Watson served as the Assistant Principal for Student Life at Mid Pacific Institute in Honolulu Dr Watson serves as the current Head of School 6 References Edit Tales of Temples in All About Hawaii 1904 University of Michigan Press Downwindproductions com Waikiki Historic Places J Gilmar Historic Hawai i News November 1983 Honolulu Star Bulletin Wed June 4 2008 Pacific Business News June 1 2007 Dr Josh Watson Named New Head of School April 21 2017 Archived from the original on October 6 2017 Retrieved March 2 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls La Pietra Hawaii School For Girls school web site Retrieved June 8 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La Pietra amp oldid 1100933418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
