In one of the largest private efforts in recent history to ease Hawaii’s chronic shortage of schoolteachers, full-tuition scholarships for 150 people to become teachers through an online bachelor’s degree program were announced Wednesday under a partnership between Kamehameha Schools and Chaminade University. Read more
A newly minted quarter in the hand might seem, to some, just 25 shiny cents to spend. Read more
A bill to greatly expand access to preschool for Hawaii children by making more and larger state subsidies available, and by allowing families with children as young as 3 to apply, has passed its last major hurdle at the state Legislature. Read more
In an unprecedented court-style hearing Thursday, the state Board of Education reversed a decision by the state Public Charter School Commission to close the Wahiawa charter school Kamalani Academy. Read more
The administrative hearing, held in a moot-court classroom at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson Law School, centered on Kamalani’s appeal of a February decision by the commission to deny the school a five-year contract renewal. Read more
Hawaii public school teachers late Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to approve what their union has called their strongest contract ever, with pay raises totaling approximately 14.5% over four years, raising income for the average teacher by around $10,000. Read more
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A former executive director of the state Public Charter School Commission has admitted to violating state conflicts of interest law and financial disclosure law, and will pay a $5,000 administrative fine, in a settlement with the state Ethics Commission. Read more
Fern Elementary School Principal Glen Miyasato has been named Hawaii’s 2023 National Distinguished Principal by the Hawaii Elementary & Middle School Administrators Association. Read more
A newly approved University of Hawaii student housing project on Dole Street will be a landmark in a couple of ways, becoming the second public-private student housing project on the Manoa campus and housing a child care facility supported by the state’s new preschool initiative. Read more
Sharon Beck, principal of Ka‘u High & Pahala Elementary School on Hawaii island, was named winner of the 17th Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award as Hawaii’s top public school principal for 2023. Read more
Although some Hawaii lawmakers have grumbled that a new agency in charge of public school construction is moving too slowly, its leader says the first 11 classrooms in the state’s Ready Keiki preschool initiative are on track to welcome students this fall — below budget and a year ahead of schedule — while three Oahu high schools are in advanced discussions to become Hawaii’s first major teacher housing projects. Read more
In a harsher art or sport, having the top three finishers in the year’s ultimate competition each separated by a mere single point might be occasion for them to rage and plot revenge. Read more
Only one point separated the victorious halau, led by Kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes, from the second place overall winner, Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu. Read more
Just 51% of Hawaii’s graduates in the Class of 2022 enrolled in any kind of postsecondary education — including four-year and two-year college programs, and trade and technical training — in the first fall after graduation, according to the report by Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education. Read more
The weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival is the heartbeat of the Hilo community, its yearly swell the rhythm by which the community here lives, so many residents and visitors alike this past week have been overjoyed at its revival. Read more
Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionamakua Thronas Brown has danced hula since she was 9 years old, exclusively with Ka La ‘Onohi Mai o Ha‘eha‘e. Read more
Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionamakua Thronas Brown won the Miss Aloha Hula title at the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival Thursday night in Hilo. Read more
What people see on the Merrie Monarch Festival stage is but a fraction of the year-round work, struggles and heartbeat of a halau. Read more
“Let us fill this Ho‘ike hale, this Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, as it should be! … Hilo, how we have missed you!” Read more
Extra excitement over the complete return of this year’s festival is palpable in nearly any discussion with a festival attendee or performer. Read more
A Hawaii Supreme Court ruling issued Wednesday has opened the way for a group of University of Hawaii graduate assistants to petition to be classified as public employees with collective bargaining rights. Read more
