May 14

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.

Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week

Waiākeawaena Elementary School fourth grader Victoria Harmeling poses proudly next to her poem titled "The Lonely Tree" on display at the Hilo Public Library on May 2. Students in Leah Matsuura’s class wrote a "six-room" poem based on their observations of the world around them, which was centered around this year’s National Poetry Month theme: “This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.” The library display features poetry and artwork by students of the Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area and will be up throughout the month of May.

“The time outdoors, looking for inspiration in the space around us, was a much needed reset each day. Sharing their work with the Hilo community was definitely a bonus!” said Matsuura.

The Lonely Tree by Victoria Harmeling

Rain trickles down
I smell mildew
The air turns cold
Mist hangs in the air
I think to myself
“When will this rain stop?”

Credit: Melissa Harmeling / Waiākeawaena 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!

Holomua Elementary

» It was a magical day as our students presented their first performance of the Frozen play for some of our track classes! They did an awesome job preparing for their official public opening next week. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication! 🎭❄️

Kealakehe Intermediate

» Our Hawks celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander month! Kealakehe Intermediate School students share what they’re most proud of about their Micronesian, Filipino, Hawaiian and Japanese cultures.

Nā Hōkū ‘O Moanalua

We asked a handful of students on campus to name a teacher they appreciate and explain why. 🍎 From our Nā Hōkū o Moanalua staff, we want to thank ALL of our amazing teachers this Teacher Appreciation Week! Thanks for all you do! 🙌💙

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

• May: Children’s Mental Health Month
  
  
• May 15: Board of Education Human Resources Committee and General Business Meeting
  
  
• May 20-29: Board of Education Community Engagement Meetings (various locations statewide)
  
  
• May 26: Memorial Day (schools and offices closed)
  
  
• May 30: End of Quarter 4, last day for students

In 2016, the Hawai‘i State Board of Education approved a name change for Hale Kula Elementary School. While the school bears a new name, the school song still proudly includes this line: “Hale Kula no ka ʻoi, ʻea ʻea.” What’s the school’s name today?

1. Hoʻokele Elementary
2. Daniel K. Inouye Elementary
3. 1SG Samuel K. Solomon Elementary
4. Kula Elementary 

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

Student Voice: Bridging climate and community with Hawai‘i’s first youth transportation council

By Luke Gee, Kealakehe High School

The inaugural Hawaiʻi Youth Transportation Council gathered for its first meeting on Jan. 3 with a planting ceremony at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Photo courtesy: Carah Kadota / Bowers and Kubota

He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka. The land is chief; man is servant.

As vice chairperson of the Hawaiʻi Youth Transportation Council, I know these words are more than just ʻōlelo noʻeau — they represent our kuleana to care for our ʻāina. 

Living in Hawaiʻi, we understand the importance of protecting our land on all fronts. Recent years have brought the issue of climate into a sharp focus as we’ve witnessed coastal erosion eating away at our shorelines and devastating wildfires changing communities forever. Meanwhile, many of us find transportation a significant setback in our daily lives. From public transit to climate activism, the Hawaiʻi Youth Transportation Council approaches these issues with the mindset of preserving our islands for generations to come. 

Our Origins: Youth Leading the Way
The Hawaiʻi Youth Transportation Council was formed from the Navahine vs. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) settlement, a legal case highlighting the need for youth participation in transportation and climate issues. Our council was established as a working leadership group advising the HDOT on climate mitigation and adaptation commitments and programs. Working directly with HDOT, we bring perspectives that are often missing from the discussion. 

Luke Nohea Gee is a sophomore at Kealakehe High School and the vice chairperson of the Hawai‘i Youth Transportation Council. He also serves on the Hawai‘i State Student Council. He is involved with the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, Key Club, and the Model United Nations clubs at his school. He is working toward earning his associate's degree in liberal arts from Hawai‘i Community College before graduating from high school. In his free time, he enjoys running in cross country and lion dancing with the Yau Gong Chinese Lion Dance team.

HIDOE Headlines

A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.

» Hawai‘i’s fourth and eighth graders ranked second in the U.S. in reading recovery and fourth in math recovery from 2019 to 2024, based on an analysis of National Assessment of Educational Progress results. The school leaders of three Title I schools, Kīpapa Elementary, Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, and Washington Middle, shared how they are making improvements, including expanded assessments, tutoring, and after-school and summer learning.

» A three-peat for Kohala High School! For the third year in a row, students in the alternative learning program, Na‘au ʻŌiwi, won the annual Kalo Challenge held at the Wahiawā Value Added Product Development Center. The Kalo Challenge is the finale of a yearlong project where at-promise students from across the state learn about planting and cultivating taro and then turn their harvest into an innovative culinary dish.

» The RoboVoyagers, Kaimukī Middle School’s aerial drone team, stopped by Hawai‘i News Now’s Sunrise to talk about their recent wins in all five major categories at the West Regional Aerial Drone Tournament in San Jose, Calif., and their love for drone piloting.

Alumni Spotlight

Globally competitive, locally committed

Bradlee Sako Occupation: Family Physician What school you grad? Leilehua High School ‘01 College: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Medical School: John A. Burns School of Medicine Location: Mililani, HI Wahiawā native Dr. Bradlee Sako earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and went on to medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. He moved to Washington state to complete his family medicine residency and then spent one year at the University of Nevada at Reno for a fellowship in sports medicine. In 2014 Dr. Sako returned home, where he currently serves as a family physician at the Queen’s Health Care Center in Mililani. He also serves as a volunteer faculty member at the Hawai'i Homeless Outreach Medical Education project and as a sideline physician for the Leilehua High School football team. Q: What are you up to these days? A: I work as a family medicine and sports medicine physician at the Queen’s Health Care Clinic in Mililani. Q: Why did you choose this career path and what do you enjoy most about it? A: I wanted to find a career that would allow me to stay within my community and to remain actively engaged with it. Q: What makes you #PublicSchoolProud? A: So many of the people that I now care for were either my classmates or my teachers, or their family members. I cannot think of a better way to pay back the people who supported me. Q: Favorite subject in school? A: It was a three-way tie between biology, English and U.S. History. Q: What type of extracurricular activities were you involved in? A: Tennis, band, Future Farmers of America. Q: Name of a teacher or mentor you’d like to thank? A: I don't think that would be fair because I had so many teachers who inspired me throughout my years of school. I can give a shout-out to Karen Yamamoto who asked me to consider medicine at the end of my junior year. Q: What advice do you have for students? A: Anything really worth doing is not going to be easy or quick. Enjoy that journey.

Are you or do you know someone who exemplifies the Hawai'i State Department of Education's mission to prepare all graduates to be globally competitive and locally committed? We are looking for individuals who graduated from a Hawai'i public school and are passionate about their communities. Please fill out this form for a chance to be featured as a future alumni spotlight.

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.

Student Services Coordinator Teacher, Kauluwela Elementary (Oʻahu)
CLSD Preschool Literacy Coach Teacher, Mōkapu Elementary (Oʻahu)
Alternative Learning Programs, Supports, and Services Teacher, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko‘i-Maui Complex Area (Maui)
English Language Arts Teacher, Kapa‘a Middle (Kaua‘i)
Grade 7 Mathematics Workshop Teacher, Hilo Intermediate (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:  2. Daniel K. Inouye Elementary. The campus is located in Wahiawā on the Schofield Barracks Army Installation, the home base for the late senator’s combat unit during World War II. As Chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Sen. Inouye established the initial funding for the Public Schools on Military Installations Priority Program and Hale Kula Elementary was the first school in Hawai‘i to be awarded the funding.

HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Keith Hayashi

Superintendent

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS

Ho‘oha‘aheo

PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD

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