Maui, Molokaʻi Principals Nominated for $25K Leaders’ Award

Courtesy file photo of Joe Yamamoto.

By Wendy Osher

Two Maui County principals were selected as nominees for the $25,000 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.

Robyn Honda of Makawao Elementary School, and Joe Yamamoto of Maunaloa Elementary on Molokaʻi are among 13 public school principals from across the state that are in the running.

Yamamoto was included on the nomination list three years ago in 2011.

Other nominees identified by the company that round out the list include: Duwayne Abe, Salt Lake Elementary School; Laura Ahn, Kalihi Uka Elemenatary School; Wade Araki, Kaimukī High School; Chad Keone Farias, Keaʻau Elementary School; Daniel Hamada, Kapaʻa High School; Doreen Higa, Momilani Elementary School; Matthew Ho, Lāʻie Elementary School; Kris Kosa-Correia, Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School; Puaʻala McElhaney, Enchanted Lakes Elementary School; Ernest Muh, Helemano Elementary School; and Edward Oshiro, ʻEwa Makai Middle School.

The 13 were selected for their efforts to provide high-quality learning opportunities for their students, and will be recognized during a presentation this Saturday, March 29, at the Island Insurance Center in Honolulu.

The list will be narrowed at the weekend event with 10 of the nominees receiving a $1,000 personal cash award and commemorative plaque.

The remaining three will be identified as semi-finalists, who will still be in the running for the $25,000 top award that includes $15,000 for a school project, and $10,000 as a personal cash prize. The semi-finalists who finish in second and third will be honored with a $2,000 personal cash award.

The Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award is named after the Island Insurance Company founder, and is underwritten by the Island Insurance Foundation.

The winner will be announced at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation dinner on May 1, 2014, in Honolulu. 

***A photo of Robyn Honda was not immediately available upon request.