The Academy received a donation of $10,000 from Matson,Inc., to help fund the revitalization of the school gymnasium, a project requiring $1.7 million.

To cover the costs of renovating the facility, the Academy wrote and submitted grants to various companies and foundations, including Matson, First Hawaiian Bank, Central Pacific Bank, the Pettus and Strong Foundations.

Andrea Hamilton, Director of Development, said, “We gave many companies and foundations our proposal to upgrade the gym. We told them that we needed their support to create a space for girls to develop their athletic talents, as well as hold P.E. classes and school events and functions. We want this to be a place where our girls can develop life-long fitness skills.”

The new gymnasium will include new flooring, bleachers, locker rooms and a new athletic training room, in which injured athletes can work on rehabilitation. The weight room will also be upgraded with new equipment.

With the support of companies like Matson and other foundations, the newly refurbished facility will be a place for students to improve their physical fitness and flourish on their respective athletic teams.