More than 200,000 Americans are living with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and debilitating lung disease that leads to scarring of the lungs. The disease remains largely unknown, which can lead to later stage diagnoses. www.AboutPF.org is a great place to learn about specific symptoms and risk factors. The site includes a Pulmonary Fibrosis Risk List worksheet individuals can download and bring with them to their next doctor’s visit, as well as patient stories of those living with the disease. The microsite also directs individuals to the PFF site for resources to direct them toward next steps. Governor David Y. Ige and Lieutenant Governor Joshua B. Green proclaims September 20th, 2019 as POW / MIA Recognition Day in Hawai‘i. They ask the people in Hawai’i and urge everyone to become informed and involved in the fight to eradicate this serious disease. View the Proclamation here. #Breathing #PulmonaryFibrosis #PulmonaryFibrosisAwarenessMonth #Hawaii #HawaiiSenateMajority

HONOLULU – At the direction of the President of the United States, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the United States flag and the Hawai‘i state flag will be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at the Hawai‘i State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard in the State of Hawai‘i. The flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset to remember the nearly 3,000 people who perished on Sept. 11, 2001. By a joint resolution approved on Dec. 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), Congress designated Sept. 11 of each year as “Patriot Day”, calling upon all departments and agencies of the United States to display the flag at half-staff and to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims of 9-11. The president’s proclamation can be found here. #911 #September11 #HawaiiNationalguard #DavidIge #PatriotDay #PublicLaw10789 #HalfStafgf #Flarorder #Momentofsilence

HONOLULU - The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) would like to announce Safe Routes to School (SRTS) informational workshops on the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. The SRTS workshops provide community leaders, school officials, health and transportation professionals, law enforcement officers, parents and neighbors with the knowledge needed to develop SRTS programs in their communities. Additional workshops scheduled for Honolulu, Kahului, Kapolei and Hilo were announced previously. Schedule information for the workshops in Lihue and Kailua-Kona is: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Conference Room 4444 Rice Street, Lihue, Hawaii 96766 Friday, October 25, 2019 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 To register for a workshop, go to http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/srts/ and click on the link under Upcoming Workshops, or contact Tara Lucas at 808-692-7696, or e-mail saferoutestoschool@hawaii.gov. Communities around the country are using SRTS programs to make it safer and more appealing for children to walk and bicycle to school. Federal legislation has recognized the value of SRTS programs and has provided funding for states to establish programs. SRTS programs grow from community concerns about safety, health and traffic. A combination of engineering, encouragement, education, and enforcement strategies are used to address these concerns and make SRTS a reality. Workshop participants will gain the knowledge to develop sound SRTS programs based on community needs and conditions, best practices and responsible use of resources. Below is an overview of the workshop agenda. Why SRTS matters Engineering Education and encouragement Enforcement Evaluation Pick-up and drop-off area strategies SRTS federal, state and county programs How communities make SRTS happen For more information on the SRTS federal and state program in Hawaii, please visit http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/srts/ This workshop is accessible for individuals with disabilities. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Tara Lucas at 692-7696, or e-mail saferoutestoschool@hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice can be made available in alternate formats. #governorige #saferoutes #saferoutestoschool #HDOT #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportation #HDOTHIDOT #SafeRouteSchool #SRTS #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportationHDOT

HONOLULU - Hawaii's public and charter schools combined enrollment for school year 2019-20 totals 179,331 students, compared to 179,698 last year, a difference of 0.2 percent. This year, Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) schools enrolled 167,454 students and charter schools enrolled 11,877 students. In school year 2019-20, the five largest HIDOE public schools by grade level are: High Schools (grades 9-12): Campbell (3,077), Waipahu (2,777), Mililani (2,620), Farrington (2,396), Maui (2,082) Middle (grades 6-8) and Intermediate Schools (grades 7-8): Mililani Middle (1,875), Kapolei Middle (1,487), Ewa Makai Middle (1,390), Waipahu Intermediate (1,349), Maui Waena Intermediate (1,162) Elementary Schools: August Ahrens (1,274), Holomua (1,127), Waipahu (987), Kahului (933), Keoneula (912) The five smallest HIDOE schools in the state include: Niihau High and Elementary (10), Maunaloa Elementary (36), Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind (62), Kilohana Elementary (71) and Waiahole Elementary (86). The five largest charter schools are: Hawaii Technology Academy (1,285), Kamaile Academy (878), the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences (710), Ka Waihona O Ka Naauao (694) and Kihei Charter School (689). The five smallest charter schools are: Kanaka (33), Ke Ana Laahana (41), Ke Kula O Niihau Kekaha (50), Hakipuu Learning Center (55) and DreamHouse Ewa Beach (85). Click here to download the full enrollment figures. #HawaiiStateDepartmentofEducation #HIDOE #Enrollment #PublicSchools #CHRISTINAKISHIMOTO #HawaiiState

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i State Senate will convene in Special Session on September 16 and 17, 2019 to consider seven judicial appointments. On August 28, 2019, the Senate received notice of Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald’s appointment: Jeffrey A. Hawk as Judge of the District Court of the Third Circuit In a separate correspondence the Senate also received notice of Governor David Y. Ige’s six appointments: Clyde J. Wadsworth as Associate Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals Kevin A. K. Souza as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Lisa W. Cataldo as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Ronald G. Johnson as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit John M. Tonaki as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Trish K. Morikawa as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawai‘i Constitution, the Senate shall hold public hearings and vote on each appointment within thirty days of any appointment. The Senate Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing on the appointments at the State Capitol on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. and plans to hold a decision making meeting on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. The Senate will meet in Special Session on Monday and Tuesday, September 16 and 17, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. All public documents and hearing notices will be posted on the Capitol website: www.capitol.hawaii.gov #judicialnominees #FirstSpecialSession #DavidIge #governorige #markrecktenwald #JeffreyHawk #ClydeWadsworth #KevinSouza #LisaCataldo #RonaldJohnson #JohnTonaki #TrishMorikawa #HawaiiState #HawaiiStateSenate

Nearly 2,800 stakeholders responded to the call for equity, excellence and innovation in public schools during the summer. A Phase II feedback window on a first draft of the 2030 Promise Plan is open through Sept. 20, 2019. Click the above image to view the 2030 Promise Plan PDF. Mahalo! Educators, students, parents and the broader community gathered in more than 80 feedback sessions this summer to provide ideas and action opportunities for the Hawai‘i DOE’s next strategic plan. A feedback window on the draft of that plan is open through Sept. 20, 2019. A total of 2,782 participants provided feedback on the five student promises at the heart of the 2030 Promise Plan at 83 sessions across the Islands. Those promises — Hawai‘i, Equity, School Design, Empowerment, and Innovation — represent a shift in HIDOE’s strategic planning beyond discrete targets to include more qualitative educational outcomes and experiences. Phase I Feedback sessions were held from May 6 to August 1, 2019, and were supported with a downloadable community feedback toolkit. “Our work over the summer shows that our community is ready to engage with public schools in new ways to help them realize our promises to students,” said Supt. Christina M. Kishimoto. “I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughtful feedback on this draft.” To participate in Phase II Feedback: Read the first draft of the plan: http://bit.ly/2030-Plan-Draft Take the survey to provide input on content and action opportunities: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2030PlanDraft Take our optional survey to provide your “stake in the ground” to help schools achieve these promises: http://bit.ly/2030-survey The main survey will give participants an opportunity to respond to community reactions to promises and rank action opportunities to provide focus going forward. The optional “stake in the ground” survey is meant to harness community energy around “change agency” — building the capacity of all schools to be innovation hubs that reflect the unique power of each community to contribute to a thriving, sustainable Hawai‘i. Participants can select from a menu of opportunities aligned to each of the promises. “It’s gratifying that so many responded and considered new ways the school system can evolve to support the empowerment of schools, teachers and students,” said Rodney Luke, assistant superintendent of the Office of Strategy, Innovation and Performance, which is spearheading the strategic plan work. “Communities working together can achieve great things through their public schools.” Phase II Feedback gathered through Sept. 20 will inform a final draft of the plan, which will include benchmarks and metrics in development, in late 2019. The Board of Education will review the final plan for approval in early 2020. Implementation will begin with the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more about the 2030 Promise Plan and process: http://bit.ly/2030PromisePlan. ​ʻŌlelo Community Media series on the 2030 Promise Plan Tune in each month to hear from educators and students who are living out these promises today. #Hawaiistatedepartmentofeducation #Promiseprogram #2030PromisePlan #ChristinaKishimoto #Equity #HawaiiEquity #SchoolDesign #Empowerment #Hawaii #Innovation #HawaiiPublicSchools #HawaiiEducation #RodneyLuke #OfficeofStrategyInnoivationPerformance #BoardofEducation

HDOT partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation Small Business Transportation Resource Center – Southwest Region to bring small business workshops to Hawaii. HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the U.S. DOT Small Business Transportation Resource Center – Southwest Region (SBTRC) will be holding workshops on working capital and debt financing for small businesses on Sept. 10 in Honolulu and Sept. 11 in Kapolei. These workshops are free to the public and limited seating is available. Interested small business owners can reserve a seat through 2019 at summerinitiative.eventbrite.com Workshop dates, times, and locations are: HONOLULU Tuesday, Sept. 10, 9-11:30 a.m. General Contractors Association of Hawaii, 1065 Ahua Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 KAPOLEI Wednesday, Sept. 11, 9-11:30 a.m. Department of Hawaiian Homelands, 91-5420 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707 Workshop attendees will learn about different types of financing, what lenders look for from potential borrowers, and alternatives to traditional bank loans. The workshop organizers are transportation-focused, but the capital and debt financing strategies that will be presented may also be applied in other businesses. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Curtis Motoyama, ADA Specialist, at (808) 831-7931 or curtis.s.motoyama@hawaii.gov, as soon as possible. Please make requests as early as possible to allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy. #smallbusiness #HDOT #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportation #Curtismotoyama #SBTRC #USDOTSmallBusinessTransportation #Financingworkshops

To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/357202975 (Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park) – This holiday weekend, fishermen from Kaua‘i’s west side and from the north shore joined forces with a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to try and remove invasive Black Chin Tilapia from Nu‘alolo Bay here. Over the past few weeks, anglers have reported the presence of thousands of tilapia in the shallow waters of the bay and this was confirmed by the DAR team, who initially collected some fish for biological sampling. It is believed the Black Chin Tilapia was introduced into Hawai‘i as a bait fish back in 1962, though an alternate theory has them being introduced around the same time to control aquatic weeds. On O‘ahu it is the most common tilapia species and is also documented on Hawai‘i Island. Using a combination of surround nets and throw nets under a State Special Activities Permit, more than a dozen fishermen and the DAR team, worked all day Saturday and into the night to try and remove as many of the wily fish as possible. Several volunteers commented, “they’re smart buggers.” As soon as they were trapped by a net many of the tilapia found openings and escaped. Ka‘ili Shayler of DAR led the weekend efforts, which included another full day of netting on Sunday, and said, “We removed about 300 tilapia. We tried different tactics and what seemed to work best was using throw nets at night during low-tide.” Previously, fishermen had removed an estimated 1000 fish on their own. Tilapia reproduce fast and DAR biologists say this means they out-compete other species (including native fish), and then often suffer massive die-offs. They’re considered pests in estuaries, canals and reservoirs, and though tilapia is largely considered a fresh-water fish, the Black Chin is known to be more tolerant to salt water and can spawn in salinities of up to 35 parts per million. It’s thought the tilapia that have invaded Nu‘alolo and other areas along the Nāpali Coast were washed down irrigation canals on the island’s west side and into the ocean during rain storms. Shayler and his colleagues are really appreciative of the help from the local community. He said, “It’s awesome for these folks to give up their Labor Day weekend with their friends and family to come to this pretty remote location to help and try to remove these fish. Fishermen from Kaua‘i’s west side and from the north shore don’t often get to interact, so that was a real bonus of the weekend’s operation.” The special activities permit allows the use of small-mesh nets for removing tilapia all around Kaua‘i. DAR staff are encouraging anglers to continue catching them and are also researching funding to do DNA tracking of the fish to better pinpoint where they came from. It’s hoped when winter arrives and north shore swells push them out to sea, predators can more easily get to them. While they are considered highly invasive and have a bad stigma, tilapia is considered both a good fish to eat and good as a bait fish. Shayler concluded, “This invasion gives us a chance to perhaps change what people think about them as a food source. People aren’t used to eating them, but you often see frozen, farm-raised tilapia being sold in stores, so clearly, they are considered a good fish to eat. We want people to feel free to catch and use as many as they can. Those efforts can’t hurt in helping to rid them from places like the Nāpali Coast.” #HawaiiDepartmentofLandandNaturalResources #kauai #invasivetilapia #tilapia #laborday #kailishayler #StateSpecialActivitiesPermit #BlackChinTilapia #nualoloBay #NapaliCoastStateWildernessPark #NapaliCoast #DLNR #DivisionofAquaticResources #DAR

Additional cameras on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli will also be added KAHULUI – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is expanding the network of cameras available to the public to Maui and Leeward Oahu providing real-time images of traffic conditions at key intersections and providing additional tools for the state and counties to manage the roadway system. HDOT modernized traffic signal systems at all 82 existing signalized intersections on Maui to allow connectivity between signals and to set up a cloud-based Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). The ATMS consists of controllers, a travel time system, cellular communications, conflict monitor units, and system monitors to enable HDOT to remotely optimize traffic signal timing on Maui. The camera installation was completed this summer and can pan, tilt and zoom. They are for monitoring traffic conditions, not for traffic violations. The Maui cameras are now accessible on the GoAkamai.org website by clicking on the “Cameras” tab, then searching “Maui.” The images can also be seen by scrolling over the map of Maui and clicking on the camera icon at the specific intersection. “The cameras are an additional resource for people to see live traffic conditions on Maui roadways to help plan their commute and avoid certain areas if necessary,” said Gov. David Y. Ige. “We are working to have more state roadways on neighbor islands connected soon.” “The cameras allow the Highways Division and our county partners the ability to manage the roadway system in real time and adjust to traffic conditions as necessary,” said Deputy Director Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division. “We are working hard to get the remainder of the system connected to ensure we can maximize the efficiency of the system that we have throughout the day.” The traffic cameras have been installed at the following 10 Maui intersections, with the exception of the Kuihelani/Puunene intersection which will have two cameras and currently has an intersection improvement project in construction that will be finished by the end of 2019. Haleakala Highway and Hana Highway Honoapiilani Highway and North Kihei Road Kuihelani Highway and Puunene Avenue Airport Access Road and Hana Highway Piilani Highway and Piikea Street Maui Veterans Hwy and North Kihei Road Kaahumanu Avenue and Kahului Beach Road Hana Hwy and Baldwin Avenue Haleakala Highway and Kula Highway Honoapiilani Highway and Keawe Street New cameras will go live on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli within a week. The locations are at the following intersections. Farrington Highway and Nanakuli Avenue Farrington Highway and Haleakala Avenue Farrington Highway and Helelua Avenue The new Nanakuli cameras are in addition to the 200 traffic cameras already located around Oahu that can be seen on the GoAkamai.org website. Four new traffic cameras on Kuhio Highway Route 560 on Kauai were also added earlier this summer and available for viewing on the GoAkamai.org website. The cameras show Kuhio Highway to help inform motorists of traffic conditions in the vicinity of the slope stabilization work near mile marker 1. There are cameras at Hanalei Bridge and the Bamboo Patch for the public to see conditions approaching the work site from Hanalei. There are additional cameras near Hanalei Plantation Road and the Princeville Shopping Center so the public can see traffic conditions approaching the work site from Princeville. Cameras were available on Hawaii County during the Kilauea eruption and lava flow, however those cameras are no longer operable. HDOT is coordinating efforts to expand the traffic camera resources to roadways on Hawaii Island. #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportationHDOT #HDOT #GoAkamai #GoAkamaiorg #Traffic #Trafficcamera #HawaiiCounty #MauiCounty #HonoluluCounty #DavidIge #GovernorIge #Davidige #EdSniffen #AdvancedTrafficManagementSystem #ATMS

Improved efficiency, security, compliance come online at DOTAX **Link to soundbites here ***Transcribed soundbites – see below HONOLULU – Gov. David Y. Ige announced that the State Department of Taxation (Department or DOTAX) is going live with its fifth and final phase of work as part of the Tax System Modernization (TSM) project today. With this final installment, the department will add cigarette/tobacco, fuel and liquor taxes to the new system, completing the configurations needed to administer all Hawaiʻi taxes. “When I first became governor, there was a backlog of tax returns and payments, and this project was just getting started,” said Gov. Ige. “Today, we have a system that enables more forms to be e-filed, returns are being processed quickly, and security and compliance are improved. Thanks to the joint effort of our DOTAX staff and vendor, Fast Enterprises, LLC, we were able to stand up new systems; extract and convert legacy data to the new system; and design, configure, test, and learn the new systems while maintaining operations,” said Gov. Ige. Taxpayers are already actively using Hawaii Tax Online. More than 2.5 million returns have been e-filed in the new system. The use of e-filing and the new system has greatly increased the efficiency in processing of payments and returns. This last phase of the TSM project adds additional enhancements to the new system including: Mandatory e-filing. Beginning September 2019, mandatory e-filing will be required for cigarette/tobacco, fuel, and liquor taxpayers. Rental Motor Vehicle taxpayers follow beginning October 2019. This is the first time we are using our authority to require mandatory e-filing for certain taxes. License suspension and revocation. cigarette/tobacco, fuel and liquor taxpayers are the first group that will be subjected to license suspension and revocation authorities. This will be expanded to other taxpayers in the future. It is important for taxpayers to file and pay on-time. Reporting and analysis. We are updating reports to utilize the data collection and analysis capabilities provided by the new tax system. “This final deployment enables all of our taxes to be administered by GenTax and Hawaii Tax Online,” said Rona Suzuki, Director of Taxation. “We now have a solid foundation to build on. We will be leveraging our technical investment to improve our ability to fairly, consistently, and efficiently administer Hawaiʻi’s tax laws to provide the funds needed for state services.” To learn more about the TSM project and Hawaii Tax Online, please visit http://tax.hawaii.gov. Transcribed SOUNDBITES: Governor David Ige: Tax modernization has been one of the priorities that allows us to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our public servants. (:11 seconds) It gives them (public servants/employees) the tools to be more effective, to allow us to engage in a more appropriate way. And most importantly, it allows us to do more with less. (:08 seconds) Rona Suzuki/DOTAX Director: The governor’s been very supportive of this project, even when he was in the Legislature. He’s always believed we should process documents and returns and payments in a timely manner. He’s been on our butt at the department a little bit, to make sure that everything got done quickly. (:14 seconds) #HawaiiDepartmentofTaxation #tax #TSM #HawaiiTaxOnline #RonaSuzuki #DirectorofTaxation #GovernorIge #davidIge #DOTAX #TaxSystemModernizationProject

Public school educators and students share how they’re living out Hawai‘i, Equity, School Design, Empowerment, and Innovation The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) has partnered with ʻŌlelo Community Media (ʻŌlelo) on a five-part series to explore the ways educators are living out promises to students that are at the heart of a strategic plan in development for public schools. The series, one 30-minute show for each student promise, will premiere tonight at 8 p.m. on ʻŌlelo Channel 53, and repeat the following Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Hosted by journalist Jill Kuramoto, the schedule of episodes to air on ʻŌlelo Channel 53 is: ● Hawai‘i Promise: Sept. 4, 2019 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 8, 15 & 22, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. ● Equity Promise: Oct. 2, 2019 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 6, 13 & 20, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. ● School Design Promise: Nov. 6, 2019 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 10, 17 & 24, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. ● Empowerment Promise: Dec. 4, 2019 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 8, 15 & 22, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. ● Innovation Promise: Jan. 1, 2020 at 8 p.m.; Jan. 5, 12 & 19, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. The programs will also air on the HIDOE’s Teach Channel and social media. “These are engaging conversations with principals, students and teachers about their innovative and excellent learning and community impact,” said Supt. Christina M. Kishimoto. “They embody the kind of joyful educational experiences we want all students to know, and it’s why we’re structuring our next phase of strategic planning along these promise themes.” “We’re very excited to offer this programming so that our communities can see the great things that are happening in Hawai‘i’s public schools,” said Sanford Inouye, president and CEO of ‘Ōlelo. “If we all do our part to deliver on these promises to students, we will have a stronger Hawai‘i.” The programming highlights community-connected learning practices at Farrington High, Waipahu High, Kea‘au Elementary, Pauoa Elementary, Maui High, Kāne‘ohe Elementary, Moloka‘i High, Castle High, Palolo Elementary, Kealakehe Middle, Mānoa Elementary, Kanoelani Elementary, Roosevelt High, Stevenson Middle, and Pearl City High. Innovative practices across schools in the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area are also explored, as well as ideas about expanding educator empowerment from three Hawai‘i Teacher Fellows. The 2030 Promise Plan represents a shift in strategic planning at HIDOE, from focusing on goals to considering what’s most valuable about the educational experience and ways the public school system can start measuring that. A first draft of the 2030 Promise Plan, based on extensive stakeholder feedback from nearly 2,800 individuals gathered through the summer, will be released on Sept. 5, 2019. HIDOE is also using that feedback toward the drafting of benchmarks and metrics to complement its accountability system, Strive HI, which tracks student and system progress. A final draft of the 2030 Promise Plan will be delivered to the Board of Education for passage in early 2020, with implementation to begin at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2030PromisePlan. ### About ʻŌlelo Community Media ‘Ōlelo Community Media is Hawai‘i’s nonprofit community Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access provider, created to empower the voice of the community. When you view any one of ‘Ōlelo’s four cable channels, VOD channels, or online channels, you will find unique and local stories from hundreds of dedicated community producers about our island, our people, the many cultures we share, and the issues we face. Learn more at olelo.org. About the Hawai‘i State Department of Education Hawai‘i's public school system was founded on Oct. 15, 1840 by King Kamehameha III. It is the oldest public school system west of the Mississippi. It is one of the largest public school systems in the country — 293 unique schools on seven islands, with more than 22,000 full-time and 20,000 part-time/casual employees serving about 180,000 students, their families, and the community. Our vision: Hawai‘i’s students are educated, healthy, and joyful lifelong learners who contribute positively to our community and global society. Learn more at hawaiipublicschools.org. #HawaiiStateDepartmentofEducation #olelo #hidoe #olelocommunitymedia #hawaiipromise #equitypromise #schooldesignpromise #empowermentpromise #innovationpromise #CHRISTINAKISHIMOTO #sanfordinouye #2030promiseplan #StriveHI #Education #HawaiiPublicSchools

“Grow Your Own Teacher” initiative helps Hawaii students become educators. Schools and students across Hawaii are impacted by the state’s chronic teacher shortage. In response, the state started the “Grow Your Own Teacher” Initiative to help support those in Hawaii who were pursuing their dreams of becoming teachers. Michelle Kidani, Senate Vice President and Chairwoman of the Committee on Education, played a key role in making the initiative a reality. “I worked with our UH College of Education to put together an online program that could keep these educators in the classroom, but allow them to earn their teaching certificate,” Senator Kidani explains. “It was really important to me to not only offer a tuition waiver if they continue to work in the DOE for five years after completion of the program, but also that they could continue to teach as they earned their credentials.” The program is a three-semester cohort and its first class recently graduated in May 2019. “I am grateful that we were able to secure funding to continue this great program,” says Senator Kidani. Funding was also secured for a similar program at Leeward Community College, which would certify teachers on the Leeward Coast for special education. Many schools, including Oahu’s Leeward Coast have trouble retaining teachers. Senator Kidani says raising teacher pay would also help alleviate the teacher shortage in Hawaii. She explains that one way to keep more money in teachers’ pockets is to eliminate license fees. “This year I was so glad to finally get the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board general funded,” Senator Kidani says. “It has been more than a decade since HTSB switched to being funded exclusively by teacher license fees.” She explains that while this fee may not seem like a lot of money, HTSB has eliminated all license fees now that they are fully funded through general fund appropriations. Senator Kidani has also been pushing the DOE to look at teacher housing options. “We all know the cost of housing is a big squeeze on our budgets, but I believe if we can offer some level of relief for teachers, it will pay dividends in recruitment and retention,” she says. Senator Kidani says teaching is one of the most important professions we have. “Teachers are the core of how we educate and prepare the next generation of leaders and employees to take our place,” she says. “Without highly qualified and dedicated teachers, it would be nearly impossible.” The senator pledges to continue to work on improving teacher working conditions, access to resources, and doing whatever possible to keep them teaching in the classroom. For more information: beaherobeateacher.com #michellekidani #growyourownteacher #growyourownteacherinitiative #HawaiiTeachers #DepartmentofEducation #SenatorKidani #HawaiiTeacherStandardsBoard #HTSB #DOE