#Hawaii Department of Education

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.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that one previously suspended school bus route in Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting on Monday, Dec. 9, restoring service for nearly 40 student bus riders.

Op-Ed: Howard Kihune Sr. (a businessman, alumni of King Kamehameha III, and former chair of the Maui County Council) and Howie Kihune Jr. (President of ʻĀina Lani Pacific, a workforce housing developer) share their perspective on rebuilding Kamehameha III Elementary closer to its original location in Lahaina. *****Views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author’s alone and do not reflect or represent the opinions, policies or positions of Maui Now.*****  

The 25th annual Joint Venture Education Forum meeting took place Thursday at the Salvation Army Kroc Center on Oʻahu. Military-dependent students, military and civilian volunteers, and representatives from Hawaiʻi’s military branches and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education gathered to celebrate partnerships that support educational opportunities for military-impacted students.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education is seeking community feedback for a new proposed site up to 16 acres from landowner Kamehameha Schools in Ku‘ia, Lahaina, that could serve as the permanent home for rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which was damaged in the Aug. 8 wildfires. 

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke today announced the launch of Digital Detectives, a Connect Kākou initiative to map internet speeds across Hawaiʻi. By taking a simple 30-second internet speed test, residents can help identify areas most in need of better internet infrastructure, ensuring that federal funding is allocated to where it is most needed. “We’re excited to […]

“Shaka, A Story of Aloha” will premiere at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. The feature-length documentary delves into the origins, meanings, and mysteries of the iconic hand-sign, which this year became the official gesture of Hawai‘i.

Since hosting community feedback sessions over the summer, the Hawai‘i State Department of Education continues to explore options for a permanent location to rebuild the fire-damaged King Kamehameha III Elementary School. A decision to move forward has not been made at this time. The original three sites being considered each presented challenges, and community feedback on the site that appeared most promising showed it was least preferred by stakeholders.

Four previously suspended school bus routes in Central Oʻahu and East Hawaiʻi Island will be reinstated starting Monday, Sept. 30. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education reports this will result in the restoration of service to more than 70 student bus riders at three schools. 

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced that nine previously suspended school bus routes in Central Oʻahu, East Hawaiʻi Island and Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting Monday, Sept. 9, restoring service for nearly 200 student bus riders at seven schools.

Ignite Reading has been selected as an approved vendor by Hawai’i’s Department of Education, a potential game-changer for students struggling with reading proficiency – a concern for 65% of fourth graders in the state. 

Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School and Nā‘ālehu Elementary School will be closed to students and staff on Monday, Aug. 26, due to hazardous road conditions. Highway 11 has been shut down by emergency crews, making both campuses inaccessible to families and staff.

Gov. Josh Green, M.D., today announced the Lahaina HERO Awards, a new initiative aimed at recognizing the extraordinary resilience and dedication of Department of Education (DOE) employees who have played a critical role in keeping Lahaina schools open following the devastating wildfires on Maui last year. HERO stands for Honoring Employees’ Resilience and Optimism in serving Lahaina students in spite of the challenges presented by the wildfires.

This summer, the Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) STEMworks program welcomed its largest cohort of interns to date. A total of 89 high school and college students from across the state participated—64 in the STEMworks Innovation Internship program, and 25 in the Maui County Agriculture Business and Technology program.