HONOLULU — Marisa Toyooka, school counselor at Ka‘ala Elementary School in Wahiawā, has been named the 2026 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year by the Hawaiʻi School Counselor Association, recognizing her leadership in strengthening student attendance and building community partnerships that support student success.
Over the past four years, Toyooka has led a coordinated, data-driven effort to address chronic absenteeism at Ka‘ala Elementary. She chairs the school’s Attendance Cadre, a biweekly team that reviews attendance data, identifies targeted interventions and determines next steps for students who need additional support. She also serves on the Attendance Review Council and leads the School Attendance Review Team, working closely with families, social workers and probation officers to remove barriers to regular attendance.
During the 2023-24 school year, Toyooka partnered with the city’s Department of Transportation Services to establish a walking school bus route, helping students travel to school safely and consistently. She continues to collaborate with community partners to sustain and supervise the program.
Those efforts have translated into measurable results. According to the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s latest Strive HI performance data, Ka‘ala Elementary’s attendance score increased from 40 to 72, a 32 percentage point gain since the 2021-22 school year.
“Congratulations to Marisa for being a strong example of how schools and communities can work together to support student success,” HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “School counselors have an extraordinary impact on the lives of our students, helping our students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We are grateful for her leadership and compassion in helping Ka‘ala Elementary students succeed in and out of the classroom.”
Toyooka has served as counselor at Ka‘ala Elementary for four years and was recognized during a schoolwide assembly on Feb. 11. Prior to joining Ka‘ala, she served as a counselor at 1SG Samuel K. Solomon Elementary School for 18 years.
“This award is especially meaningful because it reflects the collective effort of our school community in helping students grow,” Toyooka said. “I am grateful to work alongside such dedicated educators, families, and community members who share a deep commitment to the success of our Ka‘ala students. It is a privilege to serve as their counselor.”
The Hawaiʻi School Counselor of the Year award annually recognizes public and private school counselors statewide who demonstrate exemplary leadership, service to their school communities and innovative contributions to the counseling profession.
