Right when the clock hits 8 a.m., the final rush of boarders and day students enter their classrooms for the day to start. Depending on which of three two-hour courses they have first, they pull out their materials that will help them conquer the challenges thrown at them, whether it be their hands to mold clay or the CSI kits filled with lights and powder to uncover fingerprints. There’s almost an endless stream of activities in a student’s day at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy’s Summer Session.

Every classroom eventually takes on the aspects of a unique environment, thanks to the combined personalities of the teachers and students who use it over the years. But how many classrooms are already so unique, so rich in history, natural wonders, and educational opportunities that the location itself takes academics far beyond the average level?