Fifteen Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) principals – one from each complex area – were honored as the latest nominees for the 19th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
HIDOE leaders, the Island Insurance Foundation and public officials including state Rep. David Alcos III, state Rep. Mike Lee, state Rep. Lauren Matsumoto, and state Rep. Jackson D. Sayama recognized the honorees at an event at Island Insurance’s Honolulu office. The 15 nominees were awarded a $1,000 prize.
This year’s exemplary principal nominees are:
- Kimberly Anthony-Maeda, Kailua High School (Kailua-Kalāheo Complex)
- Bryan Arbles, Hilo Union Elementary School (Hilo-Waiākea Complex)
- Kasey Eisenhour, Keonepoko Elementary School (Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex)
- Albert Hetrick, Āliamanu Middle School (ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex)
- Lisa Ann Higa, Nānākuli Elementary School (Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex)
- Kimberly Ka‘ai, Maunaloa Elementary School (Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokai Complex)
- Noreen Kunitomo, Hōnaunau Elementary School (Honokaʻa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex)
- Ryan Kusuda, Waikīkī Elementary School (Farrington-Kalani-Kaiser Complex)
- Corey Nakamura, Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School (Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex)
- Walter Santiago, Kahalu‘u Elementary School (Castle-Kahuku Complex)
- Paul Taga, Keone‘ula Elementary School (Campbell-Kapolei Complex)
- Troy Tamura, Mililani Waena Elementary School (Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex)
- Gavin Tsue, Palisades Elementary School (Pearl City-Waipahu Complex)
- Merilee Valentino, Pāi‘a Elementary School (Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihakōʻi-Maui Complex)
- Christopher Babā Yim, Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue (Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex)
Island Insurance Foundation Chairman Tyler Tokioka remarked, “A school is only as great as its leader – and these 15 principals have created learning environments that are inspiring teachers, staff and students to strive to their highest.”
“My sincere gratitude to the Island Insurance Foundation and the Tokioka family for their continued support of our school leaders through this prestigious award,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “These principals are the driving force behind their schools’ success. We are grateful for their commitment to shaping the future of Hawaiʻi’s students.” Hayashi was a recipient of the top award in 2013 when he was principal of Waipahu High School.
A top winner will be named in April at the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation annual dinner and will 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.
