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Feb. 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.
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Aloha, HIDOE Community –
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.
HIDOE launches DonorsChoose spring campaign for classroom teachers
With the help of a generous donation from Marc and Lynne Benioff to Hawai‘i public schools, the Department is proud to again provide our hard-working teachers with an exciting funding opportunity that launched today. Our classroom teachers statewide were notified this morning that as part of our spring campaign the Department will donate $750 to each qualifying DonorsChoose project, while funds last.
Over the past three years the Department has partnered with DonorsChoose, an education-focused crowdfunding platform, to support teacher-driven projects aimed at positively impacting student learning and engagement. The initiative began as we were emerging from the pandemic and implementing strategies to help address mental health development and social-emotional needs while accelerating overall achievement. Together, with matching funds from a generous donor, by the end of this school year we will have invested a combined $13 million in teacher-driven projects over the past three years.
The impact has been wide-reaching and meaningful. More than 8,500 projects have been funded to date and nearly all HIDOE schools have participated (97%). More than half of the funded projects have been from Title I schools where the majority of students are from low-income households.
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Okinawan students visit Hawaiʻi
I was thrilled to speak to Chinen Junior High School students visiting from Okinawa this week. When sharing what problems they want to solve, their responses really resonated. They want to experience life in other cultures, but are working on ideas to preserve their cultural history, improve their local economy and establish recycling programs in their community. Essentially, they are striving to be globally competitive and locally committed, like we are here. They'll be sharing ideas with our students at Moanalua, Mililani and Leilehua High schools. Mahalo to the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education, the Hawaiʻi United Okinawan Association and host families from our high schools for making this exchange possible.
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#LoveTeaching week
Today marks the start of #LoveTeaching week, when educators across the country are celebrating and memorializing why they #LoveTeaching for themselves and their students. Teachers will be featured in Ho‘oha‘aheo’s Community Query section and on our social media as they answer a different prompt each day.
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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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Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i
Pepeluali (February) is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian Language Month. We’ll be sharing a new word or phrase each week in February on our social media platforms. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn to see more!
This week’s phrase is: kanakē. Click the link to watch a video on pronunciation and use of the phrase in conversation.
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West Maui Updates
We will be providing relevant information on Lāhainā schools in this space,
including updates on health and safety, construction and more.
Lāhaināluna High Super Bowl LVIII experience
Coaches and team captains from the Lāhaināluna High football team received a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Las Vegas, where they were recognized and had the honor of being on the field at the 2024 Super Bowl LVIII as honorary coin toss captains. Just before the big game, parts of the NFL Films video highlighting how the Lāhaināluna football team brought the community together was aired on national television.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers update
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a time lapse of flipping the light switches to confirm they are on and working at the temporary school site in Lāhainā for King Kamehameha III Elementary. USACE completed the placement of 336 modular units that make up 38 buildings and anticipates the temporary site to be handed over at the end of the month for furnishing and telecommunication equipment by the Department of Education.
Wipe tests
The Department continues to conduct bi-weekly wipe sampling in Lāhainā classrooms to test for any particles settling on surfaces. There is a delay in processing for the results of the Feb. 5 wipe test. The last wipe test on Jan. 22 found no actionable levels of lead or arsenic, similar to previous samplings. Past results can be found here.
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Important Dates
- Feb. 14-21 - Love Teaching Week
- Feb. 19 - Presidents’ Day (state holiday)
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Community Query
Valentine’s Day marks the start of #LoveTeaching week – a week-long campaign designed to celebrate teaching, leading and learning in a way that unites and invigorates educators all around the world. We’ll be featuring our 2024 Complex Area Teachers of the Year answering daily prompts starting with the Wisdom Wednesday prompt below. We’ll be posting more responses on our social media platforms throughout #LoveTeaching week.
What was the piece of advice you received from a teacher you looked up to in your early years.
“The best advice I received was to never stop being reflective, and no matter how ‘good’ you get, you can always improve. That advice has allowed me to keep growing, learning and maintaining a passion for the teaching profession.”
Laurie Chang, Ali‘iolani Elementary
Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area Teacher of the Year
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“Lisa Moynihan taught me that every child has a story, and it's our job as teachers to help them write their next chapter. This reminder has inspired me to connect with each child that walks into my classroom. It’s not just about teaching academics; it's about nurturing potential and fostering growth in every child, regardless of their circumstances.”
Donna Soriano, Wai‘anae Elementary
Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area Teacher of the Year
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“You cannot reach everyone. It doesn't mean you don't try.”
Ariel Villanueva, ‘Ewa Makai Middle School
Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area Teacher of the Year |
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HIDOE Headlines
A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.
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 » The Department is celebrating 21 teachers statewide who have earned their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification – a recognition for meeting the highest standards of teaching. Hawai‘i ranks 12th in the nation for the percentage of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT), and boasts one of the fastest growing populations of NBCT educators.
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 » Waipahu High teacher Kevin Sledge and student Alaine Edwards appeared on Hawai‘i News Now to promote the school’s first ever Black Cultural Festival which will be held on Feb. 24 in the school cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event will feature Black-owned businesses, food from all across the African diaspora, entertainment and educational booths.
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 » In the latest episode of PBS Hawai‘i’s HIKI NŌ, discover the talent of Hawai‘i’s New Wave of Storytellers and go behind the scenes as they experience the second annual SHOOTS Summit Hawai‘i 2024, a statewide student media conference and contest.
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HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Keith Hayashi
Superintendent
Heidi Armstrong
Deputy Superintendent
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Curt Otaguro
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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Annie Kalama
Student Support Services
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Michael Otsuji
Information Technology Services
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Teri Ushijima
Curriculum and Instructional Design
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Ho‘oha‘aheo
PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD
Nanea Kalani
Executive Editor
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Chanel Honda
Managing Editor
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Sara Miyazono
Creative Director
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Derek Inoshita
Contributing Writer
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Krislyn Yano
Contributing Writer
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Kimberly Yuen
Contributing Writer
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