[ OUR OPINION ]
Hawaii ‘deliverers of hope’
include 2 teachers, principal
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This is often the case with individuals who excel. Immersed in doing their best, they don't recognize their own accomplishments as notable; it's just what they do.
But others, like the Milken Family Foundation, have taken notice, presenting Katherine Nakamura of Moanalua Elementary and Clyde Hashimoto of Kalaheo Elementary with two of the 100 awards given nationally every year. Both should be as proud as their fellow educators and students are.
Equally proud should be Gail Awakuni of James Campbell High, who was chosen the 2005 National High School Principal of the Year last month, the first Hawaii principal ever to win the award. Awakuni, too, did not expect the honor.
"Is this for real?" Awakuni said when School Superintendent Pat Hamamoto made the announcement.
Hashimoto, who teaches third grade at the Kauai school, thought his sister, also a teacher, was to be the recipient. "I never even guessed it was me," he said. A stunned Nakamura, who provoked laughter at the awards assembly when she declared she wished she'd brushed her hair, said she "felt completely unworthy."
Not so. By all accounts, Nakamura transfers her delight in learning to her fourth-grade students. A nine-year classroom veteran, she embraces teaching more as a calling than a job, helping an autistic child produce his own book as well as writing her own called "Song of Night," which has been recognized as one of the top 10 books for young children.
Hashimoto doesn't like the spotlight, refusing bids for several prestigious awards before winning the Milken, for which he was secretly nominated. The Kauai native, who has taught for 21 years, applies his love of the outdoors in his teaching, taking his students to the ocean and to his family's taro farm for lessons.
Awakuni's strength as a leader is evident in the advancements Campbell High has made through her four years there. The school went from a troubled campus to one where 466 students made the honor roll last year, compared to 350 two years previous. Campbell seniors last year landed $4.8 million in scholarships, up from $700,000 in 1999.
Awakuni sees educators as "deliverers of hope," and indeed they are. Few individuals can influence the lives of children as much as teachers. From age 5 through young adulthood, children spend at least half their wakeful hours under their watch.
Public schools and educators in Hawaii generally get a bad rap, but for every deficient teacher, there are scores of good ones like Hashimoto and Nakamura. For every uninspiring principal, there are dozens of dynamos like Awakuni.
The honorees get money as part of their awards. The teachers receive $25,000 and Awakuni, $5,000. That all of them plan to use at least some of the cash to help their schools and students should not be a surprise. They've already given their students riches of an immeasurable sort.
