As always, I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones safe and well! And always a heartfelt thank you for your kind and supportive letters and gifts to HEA.

The Board of Directors and staff began this calendar year with a focus on celebrating HEA’s 100 years of advancing education in Hawaii—a rich history! However, not sitting on its laurels of the past, the Board’s activities today shape a new future of new ways of connecting and supporting teachers and administrators, pre-K through college. HEA believes that the children of Hawaii deserve no less than the highest quality and excellence in the world of teaching and learning. We’re determined to support the efforts of Hawaii’s education community, especially in this unprecedented time of the COVID and post-COVID world. HEA wants to see and help our educators stay in the education field and to see the joy of peer-to-peer connections return.

In recognizing the importance of peer relationships and connections, the Board members and I are pleased to report that all the communications leading to “Sparking Our Passion,” the first Educator Connection event on October 15, as well as the event itself, were a success. It was a first try! A big mahalo to HEA’s new Program Manager, Dr. Lynn Hammonds; the Olomana Loomis ISC team; the panelists, Kecia McDonald, Dr. Nathan Murata, Jodie Cheff; our emcee, Steve Uyehara; and all of the participants.

In January of 2022, I will announce the HEA’s Special Centennial Cash Awards criteria to all public and private school educators and to higher education faculty in colleges of education. An event is planned for April 2022 when the recipients of the awards will be announced and celebrated.

Write to us, call us, check out our newly designed website and social media platforms, and join us in our effort to help education move forward. I look forward to your continued engagement with the HEA.

With warm regards,
June Motokawa