Fifteen Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) principals – one from each complex area – were honored as the latest nominees for the 18th annual
Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
HIDOE leaders joined the Island Insurance Foundation and public officials including state Sen. Karl Rhoads, state Rep. Nadine Nakamura and Honolulu City Councilwoman Val Okimoto to recognize the honorees at an event at Island Insurance's Honolulu offices.
The 2024 principal-nominees, who each received a $1,000 prize, are:
- Lynne Ajifu, Mililani ‘Ike Elementary School (Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area)
- Tommy Cox, Kapaʻa High School (Kapa‘a-Kaua‘i-Waimea Complex Area)
- Allyson Doherty, Kailua Elementary School (Kailua-Kalaheo Complex Area)
- Eliza Loha Kanahele Kaka, Lā‘ie Elementary School (Castle-Kahuku Complex Area)
- Gary Kanamori, Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School (Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lāna‘i-Moloka‘i Complex Area)
- James Kau, ‘Aiea Intermediate School (‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area)
- Marc Kawahara, Kalihi Kai Elementary School (Farrington-Kalani-Kaiser Complex Area)
- Hannah Loyola, Kohala Elementary School (Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena)
- Ty Ogasawara, Pukalani Elementary School (Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko‘i-Maui Complex Area)
- Sheldon Oshio, Waikele Elementary School (Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area)
- Joseph Passantino, Keʻelikōlani Middle School (Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area)
- Tiffany Pratt, Kaʻūmana Elementary School (Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area)
- Wilma Roddy, Nāʻālehu Elementary School (Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Area)
- Kim Sanders, Ewa Makai Middle School (Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area)
- John Wataoka, Wai‘anae Intermediate School (Nānākuli-Wai‘anae Complex Area)
A top winner will be named in April at the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation annual dinner and receive $25,000 – a $10,000 personal cash award and $15,000 toward a school project of the principal’s choice. Two semi-finalists will each receive a $2,000 cash award.
The award honors the late Masayuki Tokioka, founder of Island Insurance Company, Ltd. and a proud graduate of Hawai‘i public schools. It was established in 2004 and is underwritten by the Island Insurance Foundation.
"Thank you very much to the Island Insurance Foundation and the Tokioka family for taking the time to recognize our school leaders,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said.
Hayashi, who was a recipient of the top award in 2013 when he was principal of Waipahu High School, added: “You are all inspiring, you’re dynamic, you’re able coalesce not only your school, but your school communities, parents, and everyone around public education. Your recognition here today is testament to your dedication, your inspiration and your ability to inspire all of us as well as those in your school communities."
