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Oct. 2
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.
Editor's Note: The newsletter will be taking a publication recess over fall break and resume weekly editions on Oct. 16.
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Aloha, HIDOE Community –
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.
Rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary
We continue to explore options for a permanent location to rebuild the fire-damaged King Kamehameha III Elementary School. The Department held two community feedback sessions in Lahaina over the summer to share three sites under consideration for a permanent location to rebuild the campus that was consumed in the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires.
The sites being considered each presented challenges and the location that appeared most promising – near the school's temporary site at Pulelehua – was least preferred by stakeholders. The original Front Street campus site, on the other hand, was most preferred by stakeholders, but it has proven unfeasible due to factors beyond our control, including the discovery of iwi kupuna, the parcel being too small for rebuilding, and environmental development requirements. We are in the process of returning the site to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the County of Maui.
We are currently gathering information to assess the potential of another site near Lahaina Town. While we don’t have permission from the landowner to discuss this option yet, we plan to hold a community meeting once we can share more details on what is being considered.
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 A temporary campus for King Kamehameha III Elementary School was contructed in 95 days by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pulelehua and opened to students in April.
Bus updates
Four more suspended bus routes in Central Oʻahu and East Hawaiʻi Island have been reinstated this week, restoring service for more than 70 student bus riders at three schools. A total of 100 routes – or 72% of suspended routes – have been restored and we are actively working to reinstate the remaining 38 suspended bus routes.
Gov. Josh Green has extended through the end of November emergency provisions that will enable us to continue addressing the school bus driver shortage. We appreciate the Governor's responsiveness in helping ensure students can safely travel to and from school.
Wear orange for Unity Day!
As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, Unity Day promotes a visible message of “wear and share orange” and “building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.” Hawai‘i’s Unity Day motto is “Unite for Kindness, Acceptance, and Aloha.”
Please join us in this national movement for inclusive, nurturing learning environments for all by wearing orange on Wednesday, Oct. 16. As a show of solidarity in support of safe, kind, and inclusive schools and communities, we are providing Unity Day bracelets for all students and Unity Day pins for staff.
Share your photos with us by tagging @hawaiipublicschools on Instagram or @HIDOE808 on Facebook or by using the hashtags #UnityDay808 and #AlohainAction!
 (Clockwise from top) Photos from last year’s Unity Day from the Kailua-Kalāheo Complex Area, Hilo High School and Koko Head Elementary.
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National Principals Month
In honor of October also being National Principals Month, we are sharing videos from ED Talks Hawai‘i featuring award-winning school principals on their unique leadership styles.
In this video, Ke‘elikolani Middle School Principal Joe Passantino shares how schools can cultivate a learning-centric culture that empowers employees to continuously grow and reach new levels of performance. By implementing strategies to encourage curiosity, provide learning opportunities, and celebrate knowledge sharing, schools can unlock the vast potential of their workforce and drive sustainable success. He was named 2024 Principal of the Year by the Hawai‘i Association of Secondary School Administrators.
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Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week
Ma‘ema‘e Elementary School kindergarteners Manoa Ibarra, Austin Li and Ransom Wong strike a pose with Honolulu Fire Department firefighter Lokahi Kanahele during a field trip to the Nu‘uanu Fire Station on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Students practiced fire safety drills, toured the fire truck and even got to use the water hose!
Credit: Jace Tamayei / Ma‘ema‘e Elementary School
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!
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#HIPublicSchoolsProud
Social media highlights of the most engaging posts of the week.
Use the #HIPublicSchoolsProud hashtag for a chance to be featured!
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 Lānaʻi High School
» LHES students met with 90 students from across the state at the HI Youth Summit at the East-West Center on O‘ahu.
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 Kāhala Elementary School
» We are pleased to announce that Kāhala has started a JPO! We are so excited to partner with HPD to help keep our school safe and help teach our students about how to be a leader! Here are some highlights from our first week! #PONOSQUAD
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Important Dates & Upcoming Events
- October: National Principals Month
- October: Filipino American History Month
- October: National Bullying Prevention Month
- October: Cybersecurity Awareness Month
- Oct. 4: End of Quarter 1
- Oct. 7-11: Fall Break
- Oct. 16: Unity Day
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 Fall has arrived with the return of a migratory shorebird that summers in Alaska and Siberia and flies thousands of miles to spend fall, winter and spring in Hawai‘i and the Pacific. It’s also the mascot of Kapālama, ʻĀhuimanu, Lincoln, Enchanted Lake and Chiefess Kapiʻolani elementary schools. What is this amazing bird?
- Kōlea (Pacific Golden Plover)
- Manu-o-Kū (White Fairy Tern)
- Koaʻe kea (White-tailed Tropicbird)
- ‘Iwa (Great Frigatebird)
Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.
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HIDOE Headlines
A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.
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 » Congratulations to Kalāheo High School’s Hoʻokamaʻaina Committee members Donna Kam, Tara Gumapac and Resha Ramolete who were recognized at the Governor’s award ceremony for outstanding state employees on Sept. 24 for being named HIDOE’s 2023 Team of the Year!
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 » Āliamanu Middle School, Wheeler Middle School and Kahalu‘u Elementary were selected to receive a brand new fitness center as part of the 2024 Don’t Quit campaign and the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils.
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Staff Spotlight
Keith “Kane” Rodrigues
Title: Head Custodian
Jobsite: ‘Ewa Beach Elementary
Years in the HIDOE: Nine years
Years in role: 3.5 years
Q: Briefly describe your career path.
A: I wanted to be a chef but a few years ago I ended up in a supervisor role at a retail store. From there, I ended up as a custodian in the Campbell-Kapolei Complex. A few years later, I ended up as the head custodian. My career has taken me down many paths to the one I finally love.
Q: What are your primary duties?
A: To make sure all custodians have supplies, tools and anything that is needed to get their job done right and safely. I also help to find substitutes when other custodians are out on vacation. There are also a lot of duties that are not in my job description, but that is why I feel that I am a good team player – I do it for the kids.
Q: Favorite part about the job?
A: Seeing the students. They can make a bad day turn into a good one.
Q: What advice do you have for people considering this role?
A: Make sure you are able to work well with others, able to multitask and be a good team player.
Q: How do you feel your job supports students?
A: I help the kids have a clean and safe environment to learn.
Keith “Kane” Rodrigues was named the 2023 HIDOE Employee of the Year.
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Public School Pop Quiz! Answer: 1. Kōlea (Pacific Golden Plover) |
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HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Keith Hayashi
Superintendent
Heidi Armstrong
Deputy Superintendent
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Randolph Moore
Deputy Superintendent
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Tammi Oyadomari-Chun
Deputy Superintendent
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ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS
Sean Bacon
Talent Management
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Brian Hallett
Fiscal Services
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Audrey Hidano
Facilities and Operations
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Elizabeth Higashi
Strategy, Innovation and Performance
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Annie Kalama
Student Support Services
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Michael Otsuji
Information Technology Services
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Teri Ushijima
Curriculum and Instructional Design
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Ho‘oha‘aheo
PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD
Nanea Ching
Executive Editor
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Kimberly Yuen
Managing Editor
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Chanel Honda
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Derek Inoshita
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Sara Miyazono
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Kimi Takazawa
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1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813 | Phone: (808) 784-6200 Fax: (808) 586-3234
Share your story ideas and feedback to newsletter@k12.hi.us
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