Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter, Aug. 27

Aloha, HIDOE Community – 

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.

Digital Aloha Month
Yesterday, I joined Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, along with partners from the Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, the Hawai‘i State Youth Commission and the Hawai‘i State Student Council, at the State Capitol for a proclamation ceremony declaring September as Digital Aloha Month. This statewide initiative aims to encourage internet users of all ages to practice empathy, protect their mental health and take responsibility for their digital actions by following five principles of digital aloha: 

• Act with aloha;
• Listen to yourself;
• Own your impact; 
• Help when you see harm; 
• All of us together

It’s a powerful reminder that the values we live by in person should also guide how we show up online.

Lahaina HERO Awards
This week, we wrapped up the Lahaina HERO (Honoring Employees’ Resilience and Optimism) program, which provided a total of $1.53 million in financial awards to 376 employees who helped keep our Lahaina schools open after the 2023 wildfires. Eligible salaried staff received $2,500 awards, and eligible casual staff received $1,000.

While the payments mark the close of this one-time program, the true purpose was to recognize and honor the extraordinary resilience of our Lahaina school communities. Thanks to their commitment, students were able to continue their education in the wake of unimaginable challenges.

A heartfelt mahalo to Marc and Lynne Benioff for their generosity, Gov. Josh Green for his support, and to the Maui Economic Development Board for partnering with us to make this program possible.

Hoʻākea Kauai
Last Friday I attended Hoʻākea Kauaʻi, a hands-on learning experience where students and staff on Kaua‘i engaged with a fleet of traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoes (wa‘a) and its crew members. The event was hosted at Hanalei Beach Park and featured educational booths, interactive activity stations and a special “Kupa Kaula Experience,” allowing students the opportunity to ride the wa‘a. Mahalo to our many community partners for helping our students deepen their ʻāina-based learning and strengthen their HĀ connections.

Launched in 2023, the Department's Ho‘ākea initiative aims to leverage wa‘a and ‘āina as powerful learning platforms as we prepare students to be globally competitive and locally committed. Events last school year reached more than 15,000 students. Thanks to our legislative leaders, Ho‘ākea received funding to sustain and expand this work.

James B. Castle High School: Castle High School was honored to host special guest speaker @kainamakua, who portrays Kamehameha in the new series on AppleTV+  "Chief of War." Kaina shared his personal story, insights, and experiences with our students, leaving a lasting impression of inspiration.

Hilo Intermediate School: A big mahalo to the Hilo High School Taiko Club for performing for our students today! 🥁 Your energy and talent brought so much excitement to campus. A special shoutout to Mr. Nakagawa and Mr. Tahara for joining in the performance—it made the event even more memorable! #hipublicschoolsproud #TaikoClub #TaikoDrumming #FeelTheRhythm #Taiko

Kūlanihāko‘i High School Athletics: MANTA RAYS WINNNN!!! A late defensive stand preserves the 7-6 victory! The FIRST football win in Kūlanihāko’i history. Congrats to the boys, Coach Ngalu Fusimalohi and his staff. 1-0! #History #LetsGoRays

Waiāhole Elementary School students threw 314 genki balls into Kahalu‘u Lagoon to help restore the lagoon’s water quality. The genki balls are made of beneficial bacteria and include rice bran, dirt, and molasses. The genki balls will sink to the bottom and digest the sludge to help restore a healthy balance of microorganisms in the ecosystem.

Hawai‘i Island-based financial institution, CU Hawai‘i opened a new student credit union at Pāhoa High and Intermediate School. The branch will be staffed and operated by students employed by CU Hawai‘i as student member service representatives. Students will gain work experience, improve their financial literacy, and earn money through the work-based learning opportunity.

STEM students from Maui High, Maui Waena Intermediate, Lahainaluna High, and Pukalani Elementary School showed off robots they designed, built and programmed to complete tasks and challenges at the Maui Economic Development Board annual benefit dinner last weekend.

Kala‘e Parish

Occupation: Musician
What school you grad? Kapolei High School ‘08
College: Linfield College
Location: Waimea, Hawai'i

Ask Kala‘e Parish why he moved from Oʻahu to Hawai‘i Island, and he’ll probably just point you to the first few lines of his song “Island Life.” 

City lights are shining
Beautiful sight, you might say
But they don't compare to a starry sky at night 

The Native Hawaiian country singer-songwriter from West O‘ahu attended Pōhākea Elementary, Leihōkū Elementary and Friendship Christian Schools. While sports was his main focus growing up, Parish always loved music and the idea of songwriting. He wrote his first song as a sixth grader at Kapolei Middle School and later represented Kapolei High School in “Brown Bags to Stardom,” the talent showcase competition for Hawai‘i youth. As a young boy, he spent summers and spring breaks working at grandfather’s farm in Kaʻū on Hawai‘i Island. After college, he pursued music full time and moved out to Waimea, where he continues to find the inspiration for much of his songwriting.

Parish has shared the stage with top country artists including Billy Currington, Brett Young, Rascal Flatt's lead singer Gary Levox and LeAnn Rimes. His music has been featured on the big screen, including in commercial ads for YETI, Pacifico Beer and the popular Netflix series “Love is Blind.”

At the 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, he took home Album of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year for “Where I’m Going”, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (Composer Award, “Kickinʻ Back”) and a shared win with his wife, Kalena, for Christmas Album of the Year (“Kala‘e + Kalena + Kalikimaka”).

Q: Briefly describe your journey after high school.
A: After graduating from Linfield College in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in business—where I also played four years of collegiate football as a free safety—I returned home in 2013 and began performing solo and with a band across Oʻahu. In 2014, I took on full-time management of my grandfather’s farm on the Big Island. By 2018, I began developing a solo music project inspired by life in the islands. Over the past five years, that journey has led to opening for internationally recognized artists and earning multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.

Q: What are you up to these days?
A: I built a home on my property on Hawai‘i Island, where I’ve been raising cattle, horses and pigs. In my spare time, I love training horses and riding all over the island. Over the past year, I’ve been touring in support of my latest album, “Where I’m Going,” which was recently honored with six Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards including Album of the Year. I’ve been performing full-time since its release. In addition to performing, I also teach songwriting at the Kapena School of Music, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and serve as the program director for educational opportunities with the Henry Kapono Foundation.

Q: Why did you choose this career path and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I chose this career path because I’ve always had a passion for music and songwriting. When I graduated college, I knew that at some point I would want to pursue music full time. The thing I enjoy the most is performing, but I also enjoy writing songs for TV and film. 

Q: What makes you #PublicSchoolProud?
A: I think public schools often carry the stereotype of being “not as good,” especially in academics or athletics compared to private schools. But I’m a success story from a public school on the west side—proof that you can find academic success, a career, and a strong future through public education.

Q: Favorite subject in school?
A: English

Q: Favorite school lunch or breakfast?
A: Chicken sandwich

Q: What type of extracurricular activities were you involved in?
A: Football, wrestling and track and field.

Q: Name of a teacher or mentor you’d like to thank?
A: Mrs. Wray, Mrs. O, Mrs. Ifuku, Mrs. Walker. These were all my business academy teachers at Kapolei High School who believed in me and inspired me to be an entrepreneur. 

Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: The only person you need to believe in you is yourself.