Educators Gather Together Around Shared Kuleana
By Lynn Hammonds, Ed.D. HEA Program Manager
The Hawaii Education Association started the new year on a high note, convening its Annual Education Summit on Jan. 14, 2026. The summit brought together educators, policymakers, and education partners for a collegial and forward-looking conversation focused on strengthening the teaching profession in Hawaii. Framed by the theme, “Moving the Teaching Profession Forward in Hawaii,” the summit emphasized collective responsibility, shared leadership, and action grounded in aloha.
Broad Cross-Section from Hawaii’s Education Community
The half-day event, held at YWCA Laniākea Fuller Hall in downtown Honolulu, opened with welcome remarks from HEA resident Joan Kamila Lewis who was joined by Vice President Jonathon Medeiros and Board Member Meredith Maeda. The summit drew attendees representing a broad cross-section of Hawaii’s statewide education system. Participants included K–12 teachers and administrators from public and independent schools, university and community college faculty involved in teacher preparation, and statelevel specialists and leaders from the Hawaii State Board of Education, the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, and the Hawaii Department of Education. Participants also included staff members of the Hawaii legislators, reflecting the interdisciplinary collaboration needed to advance the profession statewide.
Inspiration and Practical Insight
A featured highlight of the morning was a virtual Stories from the Field presentation by Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year and a teacher ambassador with the National Center for Grow Your Own. Drawing on her three decades of classroom experience and her current national work supporting educator pipelines and registered apprenticeships, Testerman offered both inspiration and practical insight into building sustainable, communitybased pathways into the profession.
President Lewis also delivered the summit’s keynote address later in the program. She challenged Hawaii educators to embrace their leadership roles and reaffirmed the responsibility educators share in nurturing students while preparing future generations to carry forward Hawaii’s legacy. Her message underscored the summit’s central focus on professional commitment, community, and kuleana.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in dialogue, reflecting collectively on where Hawaii’s education system stands today and where it must head in the future. These discussions continued By Lynn Hammonds, Ed.D. HEA Program Manager informally during a seated networking lunch and culminated in a final session focused on next steps and collective
commitments, reinforcing the summit’s emphasis on action and shared accountability.
Positive Feedback
The summit reaffirmed HEA’s role as an advocate for Hawaii educators and highlighted the power of bringing diverse voices together around a shared vision. Post-event survey feedback reflected the strong resonance of this event, with 100% of respondents indicating that the summit content was extremely relevant to their professional roles. Participants especially valued the inspiration provided by the keynote and Stories from the Field, noting the opportunity to connect across roles and
organizations and the call to action offered by national and local leaders. Survey respondents highlighted several elements as particularly valuable, including:
• “Joan’s keynote was very motivating, but what was most valuable was the opportunity to talk with tablemates and build
relationships around shared goals across organizations and roles.”
• “As a first-time attendee, I will prioritize future HEA opportunities because this one felt like time well spent.”
• “I loved hearing about the desire from our community to celebrate teachers and how our communities rely on our teachers to guide us in times of tragedy and unrest.”
Looking ahead, participants expressed enthusiasm for future HEA convenings and suggested expanded dialogue and networking opportunities, with comments including, “I would be open to a longer day to enable more collaboration and networking.”
