History

In the early 1900's Yemyo Imamura, the second Bishop of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i (HHMH), first wrote about developing a Buddhist private school. A pioneer who perceived a harmony between Buddhist and democratic principles, Imamura believed that the Buddha's teachings of peace should be transmitted in the U.S. through education.

In 2001, with encouragement from then HHMH Bishop Chikai Yosemori, plans were created for an independent college preparatory Buddhist high school. Its purpose would be to nurture generations of intelligent, self-aware leaders with the courage, skills, and compassion to create a peaceful world. A generous $1.5 million donation from the Nishi Hongwanji headquarters in Japan made it possible to renovate two buildings to house classroom and office facilities. In the fall of 2003, PBA opened its doors to the first class of fourteen students.

Since then PBA has graduated five classes of students, all of whom have gone on to college and university. PBA is fully accredited by the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Currently, sixty-four students are enrolled at PBA in grades nine through twelve.