Principal Stacie Kunihisa, who has worked to engage students, staff and families at Kanoelani Elementary in Waipahu, received the $25,000 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership award Thursday.
The Island Insurance Foundation presented the honor at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation’s annual banquet in Waikiki. The prize comes in two parts: a $10,000 cash award and $15,000 for a school project of the winner’s choice.
Kunihisa’s project is the “Lokahi Lounge,” a transition center for English-
language learners and other new students at the school, which has about 770 students. It will offer students and their parents support, advice and translation services.
After taking the helm at Kanoelani six years ago, Kunihisa worked with the school community to craft its new vision: “Learn more. Care more. Be more.”
“I have witnessed firsthand how Mrs. Kunihisa walks the talk of ‘Learn more. Care more. Be more,’” said Kimberly Tadaki, who chairs the Parent and School Community Council at Kanoelani.
“Her leadership style inspires, stimulates and brings out the best in people to become risk takers, leaders and great role models,” she said in a statement. “Kanoelani students are provided with a strong academic curriculum and learning tools to make good choices in life.”
The “learn more” mantra applies to everyone. Teachers get time to collaborate with colleagues who have similar interests so they can learn from each other.
Students are encouraged to set goals for themselves and express their interests, prompting the addition of classes such as culinary arts and painting. Co-curricular activities have multiplied and range from taiko club to Math Olympiad, whose team placed first at a recent competition.
Kanoelani’s “care more” effort focuses on how students treat each other, using the Choose Love Movement to improve social and emotional learning.
The two semifinalists for the Tokioka award were Fred Murphy of Mililani High School and Elna Gomes of Keaau Middle School on Hawaii island, who each received a $2,000 award.
The annual award, named for the founder of Island Insurance Co., honors a public-school principal who is “visionary, community minded and has an entrepreneurial spirit.”
“My grandfather Masayuki Tokioka believed that education, integrity and hard work were the keys to success,” said Tyler Tokioka, president of Island Insurance Foundation. “Everything that he achieved was only possible because the Hawaii public school system provided him with the foundation to pursue unlimited opportunities. This is why we are so honored to be able to recognize these principals who give so much their students and our community.”
Eleven other public school principals were nominated for the award, and each received $1,000 at a March 30 ceremony at Island Insurance. They are:
>> Alisa Ann Estrella Bender, Hickam Elementary.
>> Heather Dansdill,
Hilo Intermediate.
>> Michelle DeBusca,
Ala Wai Elementary.
>> Sherry Gonsalves, Kilauea Elementary, Kauai.
>> Shannon “Cappy” Goo, Hahaione Elementary.
>> Jon Henry Lee, Campbell High.
>> Rachelle Matsumura, Honokaa High and Intermediate, Hawaii island.
>> Deborah Nekomoto, Kapunahala Elementary.
>> Stacey Oshio,
Olomana School.
>> Cynthia Rothdeutsch, Kamalii Elementary, Maui.
>> John Wataoka, Waianae Intermediate.
