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Aug. 5, 2026
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: We’re excited to bring you the first issue of Ho‘oha‘aheo for this school year. It will arrive in your inbox every Wednesday, except when schools are on break. Have a great school year ahead and we look forward to continuing to highlight the amazing accomplishments of Hawai‘i’s public school system!
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Aloha, HIDOE Community –
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.
Welcome back!
Watch Superintendent Hayashi's welcome back message to students, staff and families, filmed from his alma mater, Kaimukī High School, earlier this week.
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HIDOE students shine in national CTSO competitions
Congratulations to the Career and Technical Education students who represented Hawaiʻi at their respective Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) national conferences over the summer! They exemplified what it means to be globally competitive and locally committed, earning national recognition while competing against top students from across the country and around the world. See the full list of Hawai‘i winners from the 2026 CTSO Conferences for Hawaiʻi DECA, Educators Rising Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi FCCLA, Hawaiʻi HOSA, and SkillsUSA Hawaiʻi. |
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 Molokai High students Kealaula Pali, Mark Ragonton and Kruze Lani at the Educators Rising National Competitions in Oregon.
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 Waipahu Intermediate School at the FCCLA National Conference in Washington, D.C.
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Ho‘oha‘aheo Photo of the Week
 Educational officers including principals, vice principals and athletic directors along with state office and complex area leaders gathered at Kualoa Ranch on July 8 for the annual Educational Leadership Institute (ELI), bringing together 1,300 public school leaders to connect and prepare for the new school year. This year’s theme, “Ne‘epapa: Rooted in Aloha, Driven By Purpose,” highlighted the importance of ʻāina and place in education. Following opening remarks by Superintendent Keith Hayashi, participants took part in 27 huaka‘i (excursions) across Windward Oʻahu, exploring how place-based learning, relationships and shared experiences can strengthen leadership to better serve students and communities.
From top left going clockwise, Wahiawā Middle School Vice Principal Mark Gervacio, Maunaloa Elementary School Principal Kimberly Ka'ai, Waiāhole Elementary School Principal Alexandra Obra and Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino Vice Principal Yuki Lyons-Yglesias harvested moi kalo, pulled weeds, ku‘i kalo and later washed off in the stream at He Hawai'i Au Farms, a family-owned and operated wetland lo‘i in Waiāhole, O‘ahu.
Credit: Christopher Rhoades / HIDOE Leadership Institute
Send us 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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Public School Pop Quiz!
The Hawaiʻi State Board of Education adopted its first-ever statewide cell phone policy, which took effect this school year and establishes consistent expectations for student cell phone use during the school day. Which of the following statements accurately reflects the policy?
a. Elementary and middle school students are not allowed to use cell phones during school hours
b. High school students are prohibited from using cell phones during instructional time
c. Each high school establishes rules for student cell phone use outside of class time
d. All of the above
Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.
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#HIPublicSchoolsProud
Wailuku Elementary School: WILDCATS BACK IN THE HOUSE! 🐾🔥 Campus was way too quiet without you! The keiki are back, the halls are buzzing, and VP Allen and Principal Arapoff are ready to get this year started. Teachers and staff have worked super hard to get ready for a very special year here at Wailuku El. 🌱 Ready or not, here we grow! Let's go Wildcats! 🎒✨
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Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School: We love our military partners. The 3/25 Aviation Regiment and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade sent a welcome party to cheer the kids back to school. What an awesome first start!
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Wai‘anae High School Searider Productions: Mahalo to Searider Productions and Waiʻanae High School alumnus Max Holloway for his generous donation of $10,000 to our program! We are also grateful for the opportunity he gave our alumni, teachers, and students to provide media coverage at the inaugural Max Holloway Golf Tournament last week. Your continued support means so much to our program and future generations of Seariders! 🤙🏽
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Use the #HIPublicSchoolsProud hashtag for a chance to be featured!
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HIDOE Headlines
The O‘ahu school resource officer (SRO) pilot program that brought retired Honolulu Police Department officers to serve as mentors at Kaimukī High School, Kapolei High School and Waiʻanae High School has expanded to include Nānākuli High & Intermediate School, the first school on O‘ahu to serve both intermediate and high school students.
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Ha‘aheo Elementary School reopened its campus in Wainaku after a three-year construction upgrade. The addition of three new buildings has significantly expanded facility space with classrooms, a cafeteria/multipurpose building and a library/computer lab, while existing buildings have been renovated and repurposed.
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David Stant, the new football coach for Kahuku High & Intermediate School sat down with Hawai‘i News Now’s Mark Carpenter to talk about his football career, what it takes to build a championship team and the honor of leading one of the most storied programs in Hawai‘i high school football history.
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Find your community, create your community
By J. Elise Hannigan, Kea‘au High School
 Kea‘au High School held its faculty and staff retreat at Wailoa Art Center on July 30. Photo courtesy: Kailina Lewis / Kea‘au High School
As we stand on the brink of a brand-new school year, there is a familiar energy in the air. We feel the mix of anticipation, excitement, and nerves as we prepare our spaces and plan for the months ahead.
Welcome back. Whether you are stepping into a school building for your first year or your fortieth, your presence here matters.
As the 2026 Hawai‘i State Teacher of the Year, this past year has been a profound, humbling journey. Through this role, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling across our islands and across the country; attending conferences, leading professional development, and connecting with educators around Hawai‘i and around the world. From rural island classrooms to bustling conference halls, I have listened to our stories, shared in our triumphs, and witnessed the relentless dedication that drives our profession.
Looking back on this year, people often ask me about the highlights of this experience. While the speaking and learning opportunities were incredible, the single greatest gift the Teacher of the Year program has given me is an amazing community of people to connect with.
J. Elise Hannigan is the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and is the Freshmen Academy Coordinator at Kea‘au High School. She previously served as an English educator, teaching a wide range of grade levels and subjects from ninth-grade inclusion classes to AP English Literature for seniors.
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Important dates & upcoming events
- Aug. 13 - Board of Education Special Meeting, Student Achievement Committee Meeting, Finance and Infrastructure Committee Meeting
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Aug. 21 - Statehood Day (Schools and state offices closed)
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This newsletter was produced by the Hawai'i State Department of Education's Communications Branch.
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Nanea Ching
Executive Editor
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Kimberly Yuen
Managing Editor
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Share your story ideas, events, questions and feedback to newsletter@k12.hi.us
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1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: 808-784-6200
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