Linell Dilwith, Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt

Linell Dilwith was named complex area superintendent in July 2018. She previously served as a principal with the Department for 10 years, including six years at Stevenson Middle. She has also served as principal at Lanakila Elementary, member of the Leadership Institute Design and Advisory committee, school turnaround specialist and interim Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt complex area superintendent. She was honored as the 2018 Hawai‘i National Distinguished Principal. 

Rochelle Mahoe, Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani

Rochelle Mahoe was named complex area superintendent in July 2018. Mahoe has been principal of Noelani Elementary since 2006. She has also served as vice principal at Pearl City High and Likelike Elementary, and taught mathematics in our classrooms. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, Master of Education in Teaching and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Hawai‘i.

Central O‘ahu District

Robert Davis, Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua

Robert Davis was appointed complex area superintendent in Jan. 2017, moving into the position from Ka‘ala Elementary, where he was the principal. Prior to that, he was a personnel regional officer for the Department's Central District Office as well as a vice principal, counselor and teacher at Leilehua High. Davis has also coached high school athletics including football for 12 years and soccer for five years. Davis earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education and master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He is a proud graduate of Leilehua High School. 

John Erickson, ‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford

John Erickson was appointed as the acting complex area superintendent (CAS) in August 2013, and named CAS in September 2015. Erickson joined HIDOE in 1994 as a counselor at Moanalua Elementary after working for two years in New York City Public Schools. He previously served as vice principal at Pearl Harbor Elementary and principal at ‘Aiea Elementary and Hickam Elementary. Under his leadership, Hickam Elementary achieved Recognition Status under the Strive HI Performance System. Erickson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from State University of New York, Albany and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from City University of New York.

​ ​​​Leeward O‘ahu District

Disa Hauge, Nānākuli-Wai‘anae

Disa Hauge was appointed as complex area superintendent in October 2023 after serving as interim complex area superintendent since Nov. 2020. Hauge previously served as the principal of Wai‘anae High, vice principal and principal at Ma‘ili Elementary and has nearly 40 years of experience in education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a professional diploma in science education and a master’s in educational administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. 

Richard Fajardo, Pearl City-Waipahu

Richard Fajardo was appointed as complex area superintendent in January 2023 after serving as interim complex area superintendent since December 2022. Fajardo has been with the Department for more than two decades, most recently as principal of Kapolei Middle. He previously served as a school renewal specialist for the Campbell-Kapolei complex area and as vice principal of Holomua Elementary. An ‘Aiea native, Fajardo began his educational career as a school counselor at Pearl City High, where he also served as student services coordinator. He was also a school counselor at Waipahu Intermediate. Fajardo earned his bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayland Baptist University as well as his master’s degree in counseling psychology and his education administrator certification from Chaminade University.

Sean Tajima, Campbell-Kapolei

Sean Tajima was appointed as complex area superintendent in July 2018. Previously, Tajima was principal of Niu Valley Middle, Pauoa Elementary and Makakilo Elementary and served as vice principal at Kapolei Middle. He began his career with the Department as a special education teacher at Nānākuli High and Intermediate.

Windward O‘ahu District

Samuel Izumi, Castle-Kahuku

Samuel Izumi was appointed as interim complex area superintendent in July 2024. 
Izumi started his education career with the Department in 2018 as a teacher at Kahuku Elementary and transitioned into the role of vice principal after 7 years. He went on to serve as principal at Hau‘ula, Kahuku and Mauka Lani elementary schools, and also served as a school renewal specialist and complex academic officer for the Windward District. Izumi most recently served as principal at Kapunahala Elementary from 2019-24 where he guided students to double-digit increases in English Language Arts, math and science proficiencies following the pandemic. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.   

Lanelle Hibbs, Kailua-Kalāheo

Lanelle Hibbs has worked in the Department for 29 years. Prior to her 2015 appointment as complex area superintendent, Hibbs was principal at Kailua Elementary. Under her leadership, Kailua Elementary recently received a six-year accreditation status from WASC. Hibbs was named 2012 Windward District Principal of the Year and has been a Masayuki Tokioka Award nominee twice. She previously taught at Kahuku and Heeia Elementary. Hibbs holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Hawai‘i District

Stacey Bello, Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa

​Stacey Bello was appointed as complex area superintendent in January 2023 after serving as interim complex area superintendent since May 2022. Bello began her 25-year educational journey in the Kea‘au complex as a student teacher. Over the years, she has served the broader Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa complex area and East Hawaiʻi schools as a substitute teacher, special education teacher, district special education resource teacher, vice principal and principal of Keaukaha and Keaʻau Elementary. Bello earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, teaching certifications in elementary and special education, and a Master of Arts from National University. 

​Esther Kanehailua, Hilo-Waiākea

Kanehailua was appointed as complex area superintendent in July 2019 and has previously served as deputy complex area superintendent since October 2018. Kanehailua began her education career with the Department nearly three decades ago, and taught at Hilo High before going on to serve as vice principal and principal at various Hawai‘i island schools including Hilo High, Hilo Intermediate, Haaheo Elementary and Waiakea High.

​	​Janette Snelling, Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Janette Snelling has been a leader in education on Hawai‘i island since 2001. Previously, Snelling was the deputy complex area superintendent and assisted in the development of comprehensive school design models that reflected unique priorities of students, school and community. Snelling began her career as a guidance counselor at Waimea Elementary and Intermediate and Kohala High, and later became vice principal at Kohala High and principal at Kohala Middle and Kohala High. She has an Administrator Certification from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, a Bachelor of Arts in art education and a Master of Science in counseling from Purdue University.

Maui District​

Desiree Sides, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko‘i-Maui

Desiree Sides was appointed complex area superintendent in January 2023 after serving as interim complex area superintendent since July 2022. Sides moved from her position as the complex area’s school renewal specialist, where she had served for over four years. In that role, she provided support to the complex area superintendent, school administrators and teacher leaders, helping to oversee and manage complex-level initiatives. Over her 30-year HIDOE career, Sides has also served at the principal and vice principal levels at Maui High and Haʻiku Elementary, and as a teacher at various Maui District schools. Sides earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at Chapman College and her master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Rebecca Winkie, Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lāna‘i-Molokai

Dr. Rebecca Winkie began her career with the Department in 2003 at Lāna‘i High and Elementary as a middle school teacher and later as registrar before joining Kalama Intermediate in 2014. She went on to serve as vice principal of King Kamehameha III Elementary and as principal at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary – the only elementary school in West Maui to offer a Hawaiian Language Immersion Program for all students. Dr. Winkie earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in middle childhood education and her doctoral degree in educational administration and supervision from Georgia State University. She also brings 14 years of teaching and administrative experience from Georgia.

Kaua‘i District

Daniel Hamada, Kapa‘a-Kaua‘i-Waimea

Veteran educator Daniel Hamada was appointed as interim complex area superintendent for Kaua‘i in July 2022. Hamada retired in December 2018 as principal of Kapa‘a High after more than 40 years as an educator and leader in the Department. He previously served as Kaua‘i complex area superintendent for seven years and as assistant superintendent for the former Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support for four years. Since retiring, Hamada has been working with Leadership Institute to mentor new principals in their first and second years, mostly on Kaua‘i, which has helped to keep him up-to-date on what's happening in public education in Hawai‘i.