The First Decade Comes To an End

In 1959, Hawaii Baptist Academy celebrated its 10th anniversary with a keen awareness of God’s faithfulness and presence guiding the school, from its uncertain conception to its actualization. Beginning with a call from God to missionaries and the Southern Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board to start a Christian school in Hawaii, the first decade of the school’s history was marked by both ups and downs: the evolution of a campus in Makiki, the sharing of the HBA story to churches on the mainland by missionary teachers, inspired leadership from the McCormicks and others, an steady increase in enrollment as well as tuition, a high turnover of teachers, funding difficulties, and the start of many school traditions, some of which still exist today. By the end of the first decade, enrollment was 340 students, and 80 people had been graduated from the school.

But perhaps most noteworthy is the professions of faith made by many students. According to The Power of Your Love: A History of Hawaii Baptist Academy First 50 Years, HBA’s history book of the first 50 years, there were 88 professions of faith in Christ during 1957-58 … and again in 1958-59, [it was reported that] approximately 25% of the students made professions of faith during Religious Emphasis Week.”

So with one decade behind the school in 1959, HBA looked forward to the future with renewed commitment to serving the youth of Hawaii, winning souls for Jesus Christ, and providing quality education across the curriculum to its students. The start of the second decade will soon bring with it new challenges and new commitments, but the unmistakable common thread will be the distinctive hand of God directing its course.