In the early 1900s, Yemyo Imamura, the second Bishop of the Honpa HongwanjiMission 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 United States through education.

In 2001, with critical leadership 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 strengthen their communities through peace practice. A generous $1.5 million donation from Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha (the Nishi Hongwanji headquarters in Kyoto, Japan) made it possible to renovate two buildings to house classroom and office facilities.