Ten years after we embarked on an educational partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) that connected school communities to the values and mission of Mālama Honua, we are seeking to establish long-term partnerships with waʻa (canoe) organizations across the state to engage, educate and inspire a movement of caring for our oceans, cultures and people.

We've kicked off the Ho‘ākea: Mauka to Makai Navigating our Future initiative to help foster in students a “navigator mindset” to become the leaders, stewards and critical thinkers who can navigate Hawai‘i into a better future. Some of our Windward O‘ahu schools – Ka‘a‘awa, Waiahole and ‘Aikahi Elementary – recently participated in excursions to engage in hands-on learning that perpetuates the foundational values and perspectives of navigation. Another set of student learning opportunities for Leeward O‘ahu schools is in the works. Stay tuned!

This weekend, we celebrated the latest nominees for the 17th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. Fifteen principals – one per complex area – were honored and each received a $1,000 prize. The top winner will be named in April at the annual Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation dinner and receive $25,000 – a $10,000 personal cash award and $15,000 toward a school project of the principal’s choice. Congratulations to these outstanding principals and their schools, and mahalo to the Island Insurance Foundation and the Tokioka family for investing in programs like this to honor and recognize the hard work and dedication of our school leaders.

A quick update on the DonorsChoose funding opportunity shows nearly 3,000 Hawai‘i teacher-led projects have been awarded as of today! I’m excited to see the positive outcomes from these ideas. Mahalo to everyone who applied and helped to spread the word!