Sept. 4

Editorial Mission: As the Department's primary publication, we aim to live up to the meaning of ha‘aheo – to cherish with pride – by bolstering and sustaining pride in public education and touting the successes happening across our system.

Aloha, HIDOE Community –  Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow With September being Attendance Awareness Month, I’m excited about our multi-year campaign aimed at boosting student attendance at schools. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to develop strong academic foundations, build confidence and self-esteem, prepare for higher education and careers, and contribute positively to society. The pandemic impacted attendance rates across the country, and Hawai‘i saw absenteeism double from pre-COVID numbers. Aligned with our six-year Strategic Plan goal of all students desiring and attending school regularly, this campaign outlines a multi-faceted approach to increase regular attendance, defined as students attending 90% or more of instructional days. Last school year, 73% of students attended school regularly. The campaign's slogan “Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow,” which was chosen by public vote, will serve as the unifying message. Follow the Department's social media channels for bright spot examples of schools that have found successful strategies around increasing attendance and engagement. Hoʻākea sails to Maui I’m also excited that “Ho'ākea: Mauka to Makai Navigating our Future” will be offered to Maui students and teachers for the first time from Sept. 18 to 20 at Hanaka‘ōʻō Beach Park in Lahaina. The workshop, in partnership with the Kānehunāmoku Voyaging Academy, honors the rich history and traditions of Hawaiian voyaging by providing hands-on learning experiences that perpetuate foundational values and perspectives of navigation, engaging youth in caring for our communities and preparing them for a globally competitive future. Students from Lahainaluna High, Lahaina Intermediate, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, King Kamehameha III Elementary, Lokelani Intermediate, Kalama Intermediate and King Kekaulike High will get a chance to learn about the different Polynesian waʻa, paddling techniques, knot tying and other traditional navigational skills.  The Maui event follows successful Hō‘akea events in Windward and Leeward Oʻahu and will be followed by planned Hō‘akea events for Hilo, Kona and Kauaʻi in collaboration with schools and waʻa and community partners.

Ho'ākea: Mauka to Makai Navigating our Future was held on March 8 at Kualoa Regional Park for Windward O‘ahu students.

#HIPublicSchoolsProud

Social media highlights of the most engaging posts of the week. 
Use the #HIPublicSchoolsProud hashtag for a chance to be featured!

Holomua Elementary

» 🌟 A huge Mahalo to all our amazing students from our Social Service Clubs: JPO, Enrichment, and Student Council for their dedication to traffic safety through our partnership with HPD! 🚦 Special thanks to Sergeant Jon Ishikawa and his team for coming out to support our students and school. Together, we’re making a difference! 💙 #TrafficSafety #MahaloHPD #CommunityStrong

Hanalei Elementary

» What is soil and what exactly is in it? Our 4th graders are figuring out that answer with this fun Science lesson! 🧪 #futurescientist #dirtlife

Kahakai Elementary

» We welcomed Superintendent Hayashi and CAS Snelling to Kahakai. Our Aloha ambassadors welcomed them as they arrived and they got to see many of our wonderful classrooms on campus. Superintendent was impressed with the learning that was happening and the Aloha seen in all! We can’t wait to have them back again.

Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week

Sakai Elementary School sixth grader Rino Fujieda, left, and Noelani Elementary fifth grader Ellie Hokutan, right, exchange books during an assembly on Monday, Aug. 25 to welcome 10 Sakai Elementary students from the Ibaraki prefecture in Japan to Noelani Elementary’s campus for the first time since they became sister schools in 2021.

Credit: Kimberly Yuen / HIDOE Communications Branch

Submit your public school-related image from this school year for a chance to be featured as next week’s Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week!

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

• September: Attendance Awareness Month
• September: Hawaiian History Month
• September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month starts

Queen Liliu‘okalani, Queen Emma, King Kamehameha V, King Kalākaua, King Lunalilo, and Princess Bernice Pauahi were all alumni of which HIDOE school that was originally named the Chiefs’ Children’s School in 1839?

1. Pauoa Elementary
2. Kauluwela Elementary
3. Ali‘iolani Elementary
4. Royal School

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

HIDOE Headlines

A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.

» Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream, a program focused on developing children’s reading literacy, will be expanding to Lahaina for the first time to Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena and King Kamehameha III Elementary schools.

» Molokai High’s football team made their Maui Interscholastic League 11-player football debut Saturday night at Sue Cooley Stadium against Lahainaluna.

» PBS Hawai‘i invited recent Hawai‘i high school graduates who will be first-time voters as panelists to a televised town hall event to share their thoughts on the upcoming election and why voting is important to them.

Work With Us!

• School Administrative Service Assistant I, II, III, Likelike Elementary (O‘ahu)
• Program Specialist III, IV, V (School Dietitian), School Food Services Branch (O‘ahu)
• PE Teacher/Fitness Center Coordinator, Kapa‘a Middle (Kaua‘i)
• Grade 6-12 Kula Kaiapuni Teacher, Hāna High & Elementary School (Maui)
• School Health Assistant II, Kealakehe Intermediate (Hawai‘i Island)

For more career opportunities in the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, please visit hawaiischooljobs.com

Staff Spotlight

Gina Rocha Title: School Administrative Services Assistant Jobsite: Kohala High School Years in the HIDOE: 28 years Years in role: 18 years   Q: What are your primary duties? A: My primary duties include but are not limited to: administrative support, office management, supervision, record keeping and reports. Q: Favorite part about the job?  A: I enjoy maintaining an efficient administrative office so daily operations run smoothly each school day for faculty, students and visitors. Q: Most challenging part about your position? A: Meeting various monthly deadlines, audits and processing out-of-state travel paperwork can be challenging sometimes Q: What advice do you have for people considering this role? A: If you are considering this role, you will need to be able to work in a fast-paced environment and be a multi-tasker. Q: How do you feel your job supports students? A: Creating a safe and caring environment for students is an important role as an administrator assistant.

Public School Pop Quiz! Answer: 4. Royal School

HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Keith Hayashi

Superintendent

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS

Ho‘oha‘aheo

PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD

Contributors

1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813 | Phone: (808) 784-6200 | Fax: (808) 586-3234

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