Mahalo to Board Member June Motokawa
June Motokawa, who has been actively involved with HEA in various leadership roles over the past 30 years, is taking a well-deserved break from serving on the HEA board of directors. We will miss her contributions and insights as a former Hawaii Department of Education educator and longtime advocate for a quality education.
She joined the board of trustees in 1996 and served as HEA president for 10 years from 2012 to 2022. Over the years, she established a solid foundation for HEA to build upon and further its mission. Before serving as board president, she served as vice president and treasurer, and served as chair of HEA’s Executive Committee.
June also led numerous committees for strategic planning, operations, personnel, finance, investment, fundraising, charter and bylaws, membership, education and public policy.
June is a retired Hawaii Department of Education educator and longtime advocate for a quality education. With her gentle tenacity, June effectively breathed new life into HEA as she ascended to the presidency. It was her will, skill, and powers of persuasion that kept HEA’s doors open to see another century, and to position itself as an essential partner in Hawaii’s education community.
Under June’s leadership, HEA has developed professional development courses and trainer development for use around the state. Scholarship opportunities for students, graduates, teachers and educational staff have expanded. She was also able to bring numerous community partners to develop support programs for aspiring teachers. June’s experience working on many levels as a public school teacher of the Hawaii Department of Education, and her leadership experience with the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), the National Education Association (NEA), and Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA)-Retiree have been invaluable. Mahalo, June!
