Individualized education, small class sizes, private school - Academy of the Pacific

1961 -- Honolulu Junior Academy is founded by a committee of educational and community leaders. Although many of the Founders were Quakers, the school has never had official ties with any denomination. Classes begin in two rooms at the Richards Street YWCA under Principal Kate Kortschak. Lyman Conant was first Chairman of the Board of Trustees, with Dr. Hugo Kortschak assisting in setting a strong academic foundation for the young junior high school.

1965 -- Classes move to the George Q. Cannon mansion in Nuuanu, directly behind the Korean consulate. Juniors and seniors are enrolled for the first time. The first edition of Holomua is printed. William Aiton and William Hodgins lead trustees through this period.

1971 -- The search for a permanent campus goes on as HJA moves to classrooms rented from the Community Church of Honolulu.

1975 -- Dr. Dorothy B. Douthit succeeds Janet Wyatt as president/principal. David Baker and Charles M. Cooke IV direct a new period of growth. Dr. John Henry Felix takes the helm in 1977.

1979 -- Pac-5 really becomes "Pac-6" as HJA joins the ILH. Students ask, "Why are we the Junior Academy when we graduate seniors?"

1981 -- Out goes "Junior" and in comes a proud new name -- ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC -- announced by Dr. Felix at the Twentieth Anniversary Celebration at McCoy Pavilion.

1982 -- At last, a permanent campus is in sight. Victoria Lee gives AOP her Alewa property and the Trustees vote to buy the John Mason Young estate and turn the entire knoll of Pu'u-o-Hoku into a village for learning.

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