#Hawaii Department of Education

For the third consecutive year, Par Hawaiʻi’s Hele convenience stores partnered with the Public Schools of Hawaiʻi Foundation on a month-long fundraising campaign—and this year’s effort produced a record amount of contributions.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education has announced graduation ceremony dates, times and locations for the Class of 2026. A list of statewide commencement celebrations is included below.

Students and teachers are already scheduled to be off this week for spring break (March 16-20). At this time, HIDOE schools are scheduled to reopen Monday for year-round staff, with the exception of Hāna High & Elementary School, which is impacted by debris and remains without power while restoration efforts continue.

In alignment with Gov. Josh Green’s directive issued on March 12 in response to severe weather conditions impacting the state, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will implement the closure of all public schools and HIDOE offices on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and in Maui County on Friday, March 13.

King Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate School and Lahainaluna High School will reopen on Wednesday, Feb. 11. 

More than 165 Hawai‘i public school students took part in the long-running civic leadership program, debating legislation, drafting testimony and meeting directly with state lawmakers about issues that affect their daily lives.

To ensure Hawai‘i public school students are prepared for life after high school, the Hawai‘i State Department of Education will require students to complete a financial literacy educational opportunity beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Hawaiʻi State Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi issued a permanent trespass notice banning two individuals from all public school properties following the recent violent attack on Moanalua High School Assistant Athletic Director Natalie Iwamoto.

This December, Hawaiʻi public school cafeterias statewide were offered the opportunity to serve local ʻuala (sweet potato) bread for breakfast using locally sourced Okinawan sweet potato. Nearly 1,700 pounds of Okinawan sweet potato were distributed to 127 participating schools.

Pearlridge Center welcomed more than 80 students with visual and hearing disabilities from across Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island last week for inclusive holiday events — “Santa Cane to Town” and “Deaf Santa.”

This November, Hawai‘i public school cafeterias added a special Thanksgiving treat to their traditional turkey lunch — a slice of freshly baked pumpkin pie served alongside roast turkey with gravy, whipped potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables and a whole wheat roll.

Hawai‘i families are being encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits through the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE), as updates to the state’s school meal program go into effect for the 2025-26 school year.

With a statewide regional kitchen master plan now in motion, the Hawai‘i Department of Education is turning its attention to transforming school menus to feature more locally grown and produced foods.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education is rolling out its 2025–26 student transportation plans early to help families plan ahead amid ongoing driver shortages that have affected school bus routes statewide.

Two classmates from Maui Waena Intermediate took first and second place in the Grades 5–8 art category.

Leanne Dunn, educator of Makawao Elementary School on Maui, was among the 25 Hawai‘i educators from throughout the state who were recognized for their completion of the rigorous certification program of the National Board Certified Teacher. With the latest cohort of newly certified teachers, there are now 539 in Hawai‘i who hold this designation.

Maui teams delivered strong performances at the 2025 Hawaiʻi Elementary and Middle School VEX IQ Robotics Regional Championships, held Feb. 15-16, with several teams earning top awards and positioning themselves for potential advancement to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas.

The ʻukulele collective Lōkahi is hosting its Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, a statewide songwriting competition for students, now through March 15. This year’s challenge brings together the talents of two of Hawaiʻi’s most respected singers, who are collaborating to inspire students across the islands.

Hawai‘i was one of only 15 states to post a statistically significant improvement in fourth-grade math scores, surpassing the national average by 2 points for a second consecutive NAEP assessment.

Jamie Yap has served at just about every level in the Hawaiʻi Department of Eduction, from elementary physical education teacher to high school principal to interim complex area superintendent.