Name: Paul Waite
Age: 32
Position: Heeia Elementary teacher
Education: Brigham Young University Hawaii
Pastimes: Hiking, camping
Waite -- Heeia Elementary's student government adviser, physical fitness meet coach and teacher for the Academically Gifted and Talented program -- likes to involve students in a variety of activities.
"We adopt beach parks, do cleanups, phone book recycling, beautification projects, painting -- all sorts of things," Waite said. "The school as a whole participates. The kids beg teachers to be the ones chosen to be included."
He said inspiration for his environmental take on education came from a former Heeia teacher. "The kids really know," he said. "A fifth-grader might say, 'Hey! Don't throw away that crumpled up piece of paper. Recycle it!'" Waite said.
He also serves on the committee for Drug Free Schools.
Vice Principal Pamela Honbo says Waite is responsible for winning many awards for Heeia, including first runner-up for the Presidential Environmental Youth Award. "He's really outstanding," she said. "It's the depth of his caring that stands out. He's always in the halls or out on the playground."
Waite has a simple explanation for his devotion. "I love kids," he said. "I really enjoy the kids so I hang out with them a lot."