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May 7
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.
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Aloha, HIDOE Community –
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.
2025 Legislative Session Summary
The 2025 legislative session brought good news for our public schools, and for everyone who supports them. I want to thank our legislators, Gov. Josh Green, our staff and community members who helped champion public education over the past several months. Because of our collective effort, we secured funding and policy changes that will make a real impact for our schools.
This session, nearly 1,000 education-related bills were introduced. In the end, 28 bills and three concurrent resolutions passed that directly affect the Department. I’m proud to share that we received support for many of our top priorities, especially around the budget. Here are just a few highlights from this session:
- Funding for core operations and priorities including summer learning, student meals, skilled nursing services, school security, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects (HB 300)
- Free school meals expanded for students who qualify for reduced-price lunch, and next year for families whose income is up to 300% of the federal poverty level (SB 1300)
- New resources to grow internships and workforce readiness programs (HB 430)
- $2 million toward a new middle school in Central Maui and $2 million for workforce housing in Mililani (HB 329)
- Easier local food purchasing for schools and alignment with farm-to-school goals (HB 1293 & HB 110)
- Support for school athletics with funding to recognize surfing as an official sport (HB 133)
- $4 million for continued support of the Hoʻākea Program
- More flexibility in school transportation and medication administration by trained staff (SB 532 & HB 862)
Pele Awards
Congratulations to all of the students who won awards in the 2025 Pele Awards High School Competition! The Pele Awards is an annual competition that recognizes excellence in advertising and design in Hawai‘i for the past calendar year. Out of 675 entries from Hawai‘i high schools, there were 275 winners and 17 judge’s choice awards. Students showcased their creativity through posters, TV commercials, apparel designs, logos, photography, movie trailers and more. The 2025 High School Division Best of Show/Robert Ewing Judge’s Choice Award went to Waipahu High School’s Lathan Guzman, who produced a Nike commercial titled “Just Do It.” Check out his winning project, explore other student winners, and hear from the judges themselves about why these entries stood out in this video clip. For a full list of student winners, see here.
Teacher Appreciation Week
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! I want to express a heartfelt mahalo to all the teachers and educators who support our students every day in and out of the classroom. I’m so grateful for the energy, creativity and care you bring to our classrooms every day. From creating meaningful lessons to being encouraging role models, mahalo for inspiring our students to aim high and to believe in themselves.
How are you celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week? Share your photos with us at newsletter@k12.hi.us and we may repost them on our social media accounts!
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Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week
 The Campbell High School girls flag football team emptied their water cooler over head coach Will Naboa after capturing the inaugural state championship title in a thrilling 6-0 win over Leilehua High School at Mililani High School’s John Kauinana Stadium on May 3. Campbell senior quarterback Maya Gonsalves scored the only touchdown of the game on a 33-yard run in the first quarter and skipped out on her prom night to be at the game. “I didn’t want to leave what we’ve been working on this entire season for one night,” Gonsalves told Spectrum OC16’s Jimmy Bender. “So I chose to stick with my team and get the win.”
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!
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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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 Mākaha Elementary
» Our very own Mākaha Surfers ‘Ukulele Crew was invited to perform at the Get Lit: Lei of Literacy event hosted by the Nānākuli-Wai'anae Complex and the Nānākuli Public Library! They were supported by their amazing families, community, and Mākaha Elementary School faculty.
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 Waimea Elementary
» Happy Principal’s Day to our Principal Ms. Pickles! The flowers and giant kale were grown in our very own school garden and were given as a gift to Ms. Pickles by Ms. Sam and the second grade gardeners! Thank you Ms. Pickles for everything you do for our school and our students!
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 Henry J. Kaiser High
» Highlights from our 2024-2025 May Day event, the first since 2008. Again, so grateful and thankful for all of the love and aloha that made this day possible. Until next year…A Hui Hou! Shoutout and Mahalo to our Alumna Malia Marquez, who composed the Maunalua ‘Oli.
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Important Dates & Upcoming Events
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Hawai‘i public schools have some unique and unforgettable mascots – ranging from fierce warriors and natural phenomena to beloved creatures, both real and mythical. Can you guess which school and mascot this logo represents?
- Pāhoa High & Intermediate Daggers
- ʻAiea High Nā Aliʻi
- Molokai High Farmers
- Kapaʻa High Warriors
Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.
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Student Voice: From the desk of grateful students
By Jamie Ortiz, Konawaena High School and Viane Nicole Ines, Farrington High School
 From top left clockwise: Molokai High senior Rose Marie Cockett and office assistant Marge Bento, Wai‘anae High senior Joelle Angelica Evasco and her Student Activities Coordinator Linda Jury, Pāhoa High and Intermediate School senior Alayna Kadarusman and her English teacher Roberta Shiratori and Waipahu High junior Lotus Yasuda with her Student Activities Coordinator Joy Takara in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week.
When we think about the concept of a teacher, we might imagine someone guiding students through the curriculum, clad in professionalism and surrounded by chalkboards and textbooks. Yet, to define a teacher solely by their instructional role is to overlook the depth of their impact. Teachers are the architects of possibility; they cultivate curiosity, foster resilience, and shape the moral and intellectual framework of the future generation. Their influence extends far beyond academics. During the hours we spend in classrooms, educators challenge us to think critically, encourage us to lead with empathy, and model the values that anchor strong communities. In a rapidly changing world, teachers remain a steady force, nurturing growth in our knowledge, but, more importantly, our character.
Across our public schools, countless students have shared their appreciation for the educators who have shaped their lives in profound ways.
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Jamie Ortiz is a senior at Konawaena High School and serves as the corresponding secretary for the Hawaiʻi State Student Council. Striving to uplift student voices, he is also the class president and Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) president. With his extracurricular activities, Jamie molds his passions of the arts and service, with a strong sense of leadership and initiative. He hopes to use his passions to build a platform for others and effectively intensify the voices of his communities.
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Viane Nicole Ines is a senior at Governor W.R. Farrington High School and serves as the 2024-25 secretary of the Hawaiʻi State Student Council. She will be graduating with both her high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Honolulu Community College, earned through Farrington’s Project Early College program. She also serves as vice president of the Associated Student Body and chairperson of Farrington’s Students Speaking Out Club. Her goal is to use her leadership and education to uplift others and amplify the voices of her community, creating a lasting impact through advocacy and service. |
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HIDOE Headlines
A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.
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 » In Hawaiʻi, where the values of aloha, respect, and inclusivity are deeply rooted in our communities, we have a special responsibility to uphold the promise that our public schools are sanctuaries of learning, not places of fear or discrimination, writes Board of Education chair Roy Takumi in a community voice piece for Civil Beat.
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 » Kaunakakai Elementary School fifth grade teacher Kawika Gonzales and his students created a video game version of the Hawaiian sport ʻulu maika to bridge culture and technology. “I'm hoping that we can use ʻulu maika to learn about other things. Computer science and culture will strengthen each other,” he told Hawai‘i Public Radio.
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 » On this episode of HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawaiʻi, students celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with an eclectic array of stories about educators in the islands from Waiʻanae High, Campbell High, ‘Ewa Makai Middle, Moanalua High, Lahainaluna High and more.
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Staff Spotlight
Erin Rayl
Title: Complex Area School Registered Nurse
Job site: Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area
Years in the HIDOE: 4.5 years
Years in the position: 8 months
Q: Briefly describe your career path.
A: I attended Northern Arizona University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After graduation, I worked as a Registered Nurse in both urgent care and long-term care before entering school nursing as a registered nurse with Hawai‘i Keiki. When the HIDOE posted Registered Nurse positions, I knew that I wanted to apply to become a part of the School Health Section to contribute more to help improve the health and well-being of our students across the state.
Q: How did you get into this role?
A: I was originally taking the prerequisite science classes to become a pharmacist when I first considered nursing. Since the prerequisites to become a registered nurse and a pharmacist are pretty much the same, I was able to easily switch programs. Plus, I have always loved working with people, and I am always down for everything science and health care-related, so I thought, why not give nursing a try?!
Q: What are your primary duties?
A: My primary duties are to support our School Health Assistants (SHAs) and health rooms, to provide health-related education to students and/or staff as needed, to act as a point of contact for health-related questions, and to assist with immunization reporting to reduce student exclusions. However, there are so many different tasks that I can do in my current position, so each day is always different and exciting.
Q: Favorite part about the job?
A: My favorite part of my job (besides getting to greet kiddos on the campuses that I visit) are the relationships that I have formed with the other amazing HIDOE school nurses. They are endlessly supportive, funny, and make even the most hectic days seem like a breeze.
Q: Most challenging part about your position?
A: The most challenging part of this position is trying to fit everything that I want to accomplish into the work week. Along with my primary duties, there are so many additional tasks that I want to complete in order to help out our SHAs and make our health rooms a better place for our students. I have been a part of the Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area since I started as a school nurse, and I have loved every minute of it. My complex area truly cares about our students, and we all work hard to ensure that each student receives the best education and care that we are able to provide them with.
Q: What advice do you have for people considering this position?
A: For anyone considering becoming a registered nurse, I say to do it! Even if the HIDOE and pediatrics are not your field of choice, there are so many different fields that a Registered Nurse can go into. Nurses can truly make a difference in people’s lives, and the amazing feeling that you receive from helping others is honestly one of the biggest rewards of this role. As an added bonus, you will be able to call out all of the inaccuracies in any medical show or movie you watch and can impress your friends and family for life.
Q: How does your role support student success?
A: My job supports our students by providing them with health-related education, by assisting their families to connect with any health-related services that would be beneficial to them, and by showing them daily encouragement and unconditional support. As a school nurse, I also help to educate our staff on how to care for students with Emergency Action Plans, how to administer emergency medications, and how to be better prepared in case of an emergency by performing CPR and using an AED. Those staff can then take the education provided to them and pass it on to our students via thorough, appropriate and evidenced-based care. School nurses will always refer to other health care professionals as needed and are the biggest advocates for the physical, emotional and social well-being of our students. We want all of our students to receive any and all services that could benefit them and help them to be healthy and ready to learn each and every day.
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 Photo credit: Kimberly Yuen / HIDOE Communications Branch
Happy School Nurse Day! The registered nurses from all complex areas gathered at the HIDOE Diamond Head Annex building for their semiannual meeting on May 1.
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Public School Pop Quiz! Answer: 4. Kapa‘a High School Warriors. There are 16 other HIDOE schools with Warriors as their mascot, including the variations such as the Wave Warriors of Konawaena Middle School, the Ocean Warriors of Ka‘a‘awa Elementary, the Ali‘i Warriors of Prince David Kawānanakoa Middle and the Rainbow Warriors/Wahine of Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue. |
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HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Keith Hayashi
Superintendent
Heidi Armstrong
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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Kinau Gardner
Student Support Services
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Amy Peckinpaugh
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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Contributors
Chanel Honda
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Derek Inoshita
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Stan Lee
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Sara Miyazono
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Kimi Takazawa
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Krislyn Yano Moore
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1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813 | Phone: 808-784-6200 Fax: 808-586-3234
Share your story ideas, questions and feedback to newsletter@k12.hi.us
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