Every year, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature celebrates Education Week by honoring public school students, educators, and staff who have been recognized for their contributions to excellence in education.
Normally, awardees would be presented with certificates of recognition during House and Senate floor sessions. However, due to coronavirus health and safety guidelines, no floor presentations will be held at the State Capitol this year.
Instead, awardees will be sent congratulatory joint certificates to convey the thanks of all Hawaiʻi Senators and Representatives for their contributions.
Education Week (March 15-18) honorees have also received state or national recognition for their exemplary achievements and commitment to their schools and broader community.
“As chair of the House Committee on Education, it is an honor to dedicate this week to celebrating outstanding educators, students, and support staff for their numerous and invaluable contributions to our schools and to our community. A large part of creating a better community starts with encouraging our schools to foster brilliant minds and to extend learning beyond the classroom,” said Representative Justin Woodson (Dist. 9 – Kahului, Pu‘unēnē, Old Sand Hills, Maui Lani), Chair of the House Committee on Education.
“We are proud to recognize the wonderful achievements of our honored students, teachers and staff. While we are unable to gather at our State Capitol to celebrate Education Week due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these honorees affirm the invaluable efforts of our educators who continue to ensure the success of Hawai’i’s students,” said Senator Michelle Kidani (Dist. 18 – Mililani Town, portion of Waipi‘o Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia), Chair of the Committee on Education. “We are tremendously grateful for their continued commitment to education and celebrate the well-deserved honors of our 2021 awardees!”
The awardees are:
| Award | Name |
| National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)- Prudential Spirit of the Community Award Honoree | Sascha Pakravan |
| NASSP- Prudential Spirit of the Community Award Honoree | Brennan Yamaguchi |
| NASSP- Prudential Spirit of the Community Award Distinguished Finalist | Karli Rain Barbeiro-Thornsbury |
| NASSP- Prudential Spirit of the Community Award Distinguished Finalist | Olivia Rose Kennedy |
| US Department of Education (DOE)- 2020 National Blue Ribbon School | Ernest Bowen (E.B.) DeSilva Elementary School |
| US DOE- 2020 National Blue Ribbon School | King Liholiho Elementary School |
| US DOE- 2020 National Blue Ribbon School | Waikiki Elementary School |
| HI DOE- Hawai‘i State Teacher of the Year | Lori Kwee |
| HI DOE- Hawai‘i District’s Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Teacher of the Year | Elaine Higa |
| Hawaii Districts Hilo-Waiākea Complex Teacher of the Year | Annette McComber |
| HI DOE- West Hawai‘i District’s Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Teacher of the Year | Ashley Oyama |
| HI DOE- Maui District’s Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Teacher of the Year | Shannon Kealoha |
| HI DOE- Maui District’s Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lāna‘i-Molokai Complex Teacher of the Year | Heidi Jenkins |
| HI DOE-Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex Teacher of the Year | Serena Cox |
| Hawai‘i Association of Secondary School Administrators (HASSA)- Hawai‘i State Principal of the Year | Mahina Anguay |
| HI DOE- Honolulu District’s Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Teacher of the Year | Kelly Elms |
| HI DOE- Honolulu District’s Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Teacher of the Year | Lori Kwee |
| Terrel H. Bell Award 2020- Special Lifetime Leadership Awardee | Christina Small |
| HI DOE- Leeward District’s Campbell-Kapolei Complex Teacher of the Year | Shannon Kam |
| HI DOE- Leeward District’s Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Teacher of the Year | Jacqueline N. Nuha-Tabernero |
| HI DOE- Leeward District’s Nānākuli-Wai‘anae Complex Teacher of the Year | Kealaonaonahookipamalahini J. Nunuha |
| HI DOE- Windward District’s Castle-Kahuku Complex Teacher of the Year | Kristen Ann Eastvedt |
| HI DOE- Windward District’s Kailua-Kalāheo Complex Teacher of the Year | Kimberly Koopman |
| HI DOE- Central District’s ‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Teacher of the Year | Joanna Kobayashi |
| HI DOE- Central District’s Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Teacher of the Year | Danielle Tokuda |
| HI DOE- Charter Schools Teacher of the Year | Andrew Stever |
| American School Counselor Association’s Hawai‘i Counselor of the Year 2021 | Jon Morikawa |
| 2020 Hawai‘i LifeSmarts Online Competition, 1st Place | Team 2 (Harvey Picar, Ashley Valois, Destiny Shishido, Marvin Arevalo, and Vianne Acdal) |
| 2020 Hawai‘i LifeSmarts Online Competition, 2nd Place | Team 1 (Reyan Lee, Elizabeth Talioaga, Grace Chinen, Jan Apolto, and Sagan Kurose) |
| 2020 Hawai‘i LifeSmarts Online Competition, 3rd Place | Team 17 (Jane Pascual, Chantelle Nartatez, Naomi Fu, and Neriz Galacgac) |
| 2020 Tokioka Award Winner | Ray Pikelny |