April 30

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. School bus updates As we plan ahead for next school year, we are taking steps to try to avoid disruptions in student transportation services. Here’s what to expect for next year: Route Prioritization: As in previous years, priority for school bus service will be given to elementary students and students receiving special education services. Applications for bus service open Monday, July 14. Public Transit Expansion: Our free county bus pass program, EXPRESS, will expand to eligible middle and intermediate school students starting Aug. 1, in addition to continuing eligibility for high school students statewide. New Carpool Pilot: A carpool pilot project will launch in Mililani (Central O‘ahu) and Kekaulike (Upcountry Maui) complexes to help families coordinate school drop-offs and pick-ups. Driver Recruitment Progress: Since the start of the current school year, our school bus contractors have reinstated 125 of 138 previously suspended routes, restoring service for approximately 3,500 students. Eleven drivers are still being actively recruited to restore the remaining impacted routes. We are continuing to work closely with Gov. Josh Green, the county mayors and school bus contractors through the summer to monitor staffing and ensure a smooth start to the next school year. School Principals’ Day Tomorrow, for School Principals’ Day, I’d like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible leadership of our school principals across all of our 258 public schools. Our principals are more than just administrators — they are visionary leaders, tireless advocates for students and staff, and the heart of each school community. I’d also like to give a special recognition to the following principals who have received top awards this year: Principal Lorelei Aiwohi of Kaimukī High School and Principal Jacquelyn McCandless of Maui Waena Intermediate School as Hawai‘i’s two 2025 Principals of the Year and Gavin Tsue of Palisades Elementary School as Hawai‘i’s 2025 National Distinguished Principal. Babā Yim of Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Ānuenue was recently awarded with the 2025 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award, along with semi-finalists Kimberly Anthony-Maeda of Kailua High and Noreen Kunitomo of Hōnaunau Elementary. Mahalo to all of our outstanding principals for your leadership and your dedication to helping every student succeed!

Fifteen HIDOE principals – one from each complex area – were honored as the 2025 nominees for the annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award at Island Insurance on March 8. Photo credit: Kimi Takazawa / HIDOE Communications Branch

Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week

From left to right, Koloa Elementary School kindergarteners Luna Angell, Kekai Kali Balai, Laila Carreira and Mattison Hart weaved their way through the snake run in the school’s sixth annual Duckathlon fundraiser on Feb. 28. The Duckathlon is a 10-station obstacle course combined with body weight exercises to promote physical fitness while raising money for the school. Students completed the course over a 30-minute period and successfully raised $46,878!

Credit: Pristine Jacobsmeyer / Koloa Elementary School parent

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!

#HIPublicSchoolsProud

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

Lanakila Elementary School

» Mahalo for joining us for Lanakila Elementary’s 100th Year Hō’ike Celebration! After an amazing performance, our students had a blast enjoying games, activities and sweet treats like cotton candy, popcorn, and shave ice. Thank you to the community partners, parents, teachers and staff who made such a wonderful day possible. 💚💛🎂 #100YearsStrong #hipublicschoolsproud #lanakilaelementary #lanakilaleaders

Hāna High & Elementary School

»Our very first Hāna School Futures Fair kicked off with inspiring seminars where students in grades 6–12 heard from professionals across a wide range of careers — from hands-on trades to creative arts and community leadership, each panel gave students a window into what their futures could look like! Mahalo to our panelists for sharing their stories and sparking new possibilities. Dream big, Dragons! 🚀🌺🐉

Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School

» Students from Honoka‘a’s Academies joined other students from West Hawai‘i at ClimbHI’s Career Exploration Fair. The event was held at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Hotel where our students got to see all facets of the hospitality industry and meet alumni succeeding in their careers. Participating in career fairs is one way we are helping students to envision their future and give them hope to pursue their dreams.

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

• May: Children’s Mental Health Month
  
  
• May 1: School Principals’ Day
  
  
• May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
  
  
• May 7: School Nurse Day
  
  
• May 15: Board of Education Human Resources Committee and General Business Meeting
  
  
• May 26: Memorial Day (schools and offices closed)
  
  
• May 30: End of Quarter 4, last day for students

It’s gonna be May! Schools across the state will be hosting May Day celebrations featuring cultural performances from our talented students. Although not an official state holiday, which of our school namesakes originally proclaimed May 1 of each year as "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi" in 1929? 

1. Governor Wallace R. Farrington
2. Mayor Joseph J. Fern 
3. Governor Sanford B. Dole
4. Governor Samuel Wilder King

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

What's For School Lunch?

This month, cafeterias statewide were offered the opportunity to serve ʻulu (breadfruit) banana bread for breakfast using local ʻulu flour, supplied by the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative. 

While ʻulu — in its fruit form — debuted in Hawaiʻi public school meals during the 2017-18 school year with a local-style kalua pork burrito and was then featured during the 2019-20 school year with ʻulu beef stew, this is the first time that ʻulu flour is being incorporated into school meals. An estimated 240 pounds of ʻulu flour grown by local Hawaiʻi farmers was distributed to 90 participating schools, serving over 11,000 students. Local bananas, as available, were also used in the recipe. 

The fruit is naturally gluten-free, low fat, and contains all of the essential amino acids, fiber, vitamins A, B, and C, as well as phosphorus and iron. In addition to being dried and milled into flour — a potential substitute for all-purpose wheat flour — the versatile fruit can also be baked, boiled, roasted or fried to substitute potatoes, which are often imported to Hawai’i. 

To see how you can integrate ʻulu into your meals at home, check out the recipe below. Mahalo to Kaiser High School’s school food services manager, Christian Lee-Tomita, and baker, Edison Ching, who were instrumental in developing the recipe for this ʻulu banana bread.

Ingredients (yields 12-16 slices):

• 1 tsp salt 
• ¾  tsp baking soda 
• 1⅔ cups all purpose flour or whole wheat flour 
• ⅓ cup ‘ulu flour 
• ⅔ cup of milk 
• 1 stick of softened butter 
• 1 cup of sugar 
• 1 cup of mashed ripe banana (approximately 2 large bananas or 3 medium bananas)
• 1 tsp of vinegar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Peel and mash bananas, set aside.
3. Combine all dry ingredients and sift. 
4. Cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Add mashed bananas.
6. Slowly mix vinegar, milk, vanilla, and eggs into the creamed butter and banana mixture until combined.
7. Spray the cake pan with food release spray or line it with parchment paper. 
8. Portion batter into two loaf pans, fill ⅔ of the pan with batter.
9. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center comes out clean.
10. Cool completely uncovered before slicing.

Mahalo to Helemano Elementary School’s cafe helpers Ana Perreira and Jane Pascua; school food services manager, Devie Nakamura; and baker, Julie Kazama (pictured left to right) for inviting us into their kitchen and to Helemano Elementary students, staff and parents for welcoming us into their cafeteria. 

Photos credit: William Guanzon / HIDOE Communications Branch

“What’s For School Lunch?” is a monthly column coordinated by the School Food Services Branch that features new and exciting school meal initiatives.

HIDOE Headlines

A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.

» Keʻelikōlani Middle School teacher Rod Maghsoudlou has provided ongoing support and one-on-one mentorship to his students, even providing them with college scholarships if they maintained their grades. His goal is to give scholarships to 50 students before he retires. “For me, if I don’t do this, it’s a sin. If I don’t pay it back, how selfish of me,” he told Civil Beat columnist Lee Cataluna.

» Mililani High School alum Dillon Gabriel unveiled his latest contributions to his alma mater last week: an upgraded training facility, weight room and recovery room outfitted with state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Two days later, Gabriel was selected as the 94th overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. 

» Superintendent Keith Hayashi stopped by Hawai‘i News Now’s Spotlight Now this week to talk about teacher retention, how federal changes are impacting public education in the state, student cell phone usage in schools and more.

Work With Us!

Federal workers or contractors impacted by the federal cuts are encouraged to explore employment opportunities with Hawai‘i public schools. Sign up for personalized notifications here.

Japanese Language Teacher, Kainalu Elementary (Oʻahu)
State Office Technology Coordinator Teacher, Office of Curriculum & Instructional Design (Oʻahu)
Grade 9-12 Inclusion Special Education Teacher, King Kekaulike High (Maui)
Grade K-2 School Counselor, Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary (Kaua‘i)
Grade 9-12 Video Production & Creative Media Teacher, Konawaena High (Hawai‘i Island)

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

Public School Pop Quiz! Answer: 1. Gov. Wallace R. Farrington proclaimed May Day as a public day of celebration to be observed "by all true friends of Hawaiʻi."

HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Keith Hayashi

Superintendent

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS

Ho‘oha‘aheo

PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD

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