Newsroom

First graders at Haʻikū Elementary School take a field trip to Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge.

High school students teach math to elementary school students in this student-run, community service, extracurricular math program available to Maui students. The circle continues as program leaders pass the torch to former participants.

From Aina-based projects to hands-on computer science, Waihee Elementary is leading the way in innovative education! 

 Freddie Perez, PhD highlights the importance of integrated learning, while Miki Cacace showcases how AI can be a powerful tool for teachers. See how we’re shaping the future of education in Maui!

Under the guidance and mentorship of teacher John Hughes, students at Wailuku Elementary School develop a sense of inquiry and inquisitiveness through 3D-printing and astronomy.

See how Kihei Elementary School is fostering a sense of belonging, responsibility, and a deep appreciation for Hawaiian culture in their students. Through the vibrant HĀ program, students are learning via hula, mele, and hands-on cultural experiences. From the significance of Makahiki to the joy of playing the ukulele, these students are embracing their heritage.

Baldwin High School senior Tennyson Keepʻs Senior Project takes him to the Maui Ocean Center! It is through collaborations between local businesses and the Hawaii DOE that provide unparalleled experience to Mauiʻs next generation of workers. In this case, the Maui Ocean Center has provided hands-on learning for the next generation of marine stewards. 

See Tennyson's journey!

Studying English Language Arts helps students make sense of information, think critically, express ideas effectively, expand their view of the world, and become engaged citizens.

Michelle Tom, an English Language Arts Resource Teacher for Hawai'i Public Schools, visits Makawao Elementary School to see what students are reading.

Take a tour of Maui High School's new, state-of-the-art facility, the Harrison & Helen Miyahira STEM Center, conjoined with Maui District's new, state-of-the-art facility, the Poʻokela Maui Autism Center.

Formed in the aftermath of the devastating Lahaina wildfire, the Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School Choir sought to bring hope and comfort to their community through song. Recognizing the power of music to heal and unite, the choir has become a symbol of resilience and a source of joy for the people of Maui.

King Kekaulike High School has ignited a new path for students with its innovative welding program, the first of its kind in Hawaii. In partnership with UH Maui College, students can now earn college welding credits while still in high school, gaining hands-on experience and preparing for in-demand careers in Hawaii’s growing industries.

Kūlanihākoʻi High School virtual tour hosted by students welcoming the community to Mauiʻs newest school.

Ms. Nivol Niemi's fourth grade class at Kamaliʻi Elementary School created a pop-up museum as an engaging medium to explore early Hawaiian history and share what they learned with their peers.

Pāʻia Elementary School 4th grade kaiapuni teacher Kumu Kamakaʻeu integrates music into his Hawaiian history, language and culture lessons in order to better engage his students and help them retain important knowledge. How would you like to have had a teacher like him when you were growing up?

The Hawaiian immersion pathway at King Kekaulike High School is known as kula kaiapuni. Kula means "school," and kaiapuni means "surrounded by or immersed as a person in the sea." Ke Kula Kaiapuni ma Kekaulike, the Hawaiian immersion pathway at King Kekaulike High School not only teaches Hawaiian language and culture, but also an ʻāina based understanding of personal identity.

Haiku Elementary School has built a butterfly habitat, which can be used as an outdoor classroom space. In this space, kids have a safe and supportive environment. This unique space gives students additional opportunities for Social Emotional Learning and Project Based Learning through studying butterflies, plants and other creatures.

Pukalani Elementary School empowers its teachers to make their own decisions about how to best run their classrooms. Third grade teacher Mrs. Clarke implements a method called "flexible seating," which strikes a unique balance between freedom and structure to create an optimal learning environment for her students.

At Kihei Elementary School, the deaf and hard of hearing program has a very unique method to build language skills. The students play specific games in an effort to start building relationships and to build social communication. The focus is on building students’ language skills and to make sure they have a solid foundation in those skills so they can participate along with their general education peers.

For Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School, thier Hōʻike is an annual celebration and showcase of learning. In May, the Hōʻike was held in person for the first time in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For students and staff, it was a joy celebrating getting back to normal with a new beginning and hope.

After a two-year hiatus, the First Robotics Competition is back. Maui High School's robotics team, "The Blue Thunder", competed in the Hawaii regional competition on O'ahu in March. Along the way, we chronicle the three month journey of students and teachers with a passion for robotics as they advance to the 2022 world championships.

The 7th Grade Leadership Class at Lokelani Intermediate School celebrated Hawaiʻi's diversity through a food, culture, and diversity project, in which students used food as a gateway to understanding different cultures, and their own family backgrounds.

Two students from King Kekaulike High School on Maui, share their experience working on their Senior Projects. It's an opportunity for students to explore their interests, challenge themselves, and think outside the box.

Virtual learning posed many challenges for Kula Elementary special education teacher Erin Wise, whose students have a wide array of abilities. Gradually, the school has safely brought many students back to campus. Although things look a little different, Erin is encouraged by her students' social, emotional, and academic growth.

Virtual learning posed many challenges for Kula Elementary special education teacher Erin Wise, whose students have a wide array of abilities. Gradually, the school has safely brought many students back to campus. Although things look a little different, Erin is encouraged by her students' social, emotional, and academic growth.

Amid the empty classrooms at Pukalani Elementary School, Mrs. Suzuki, a third-grade teacher, incorporates Social Emotional Learning into her virtual classroom in order to help her students reduce their stress during this challenging time.

Olivia & Anjolina Rivera, King Kekaulike High School juniors, deepen their understanding of the role that students can play in their community by volunteering at Maui Food Bank, where they help distribute food to local families during the economic crisis.

Like many student athletes throughout the state, Teani Arakawa, incoming senior at King Kekaulike High School and 2019-20 Gatorade Hawaiʻi Girls Soccer Player of the Year, has had to adapt her training regimen to fit a new normal. Despite facing many challenges, especially with regard to the college recruiting process, Teani continues to build her momentum by showcasing her performance online.

Maui High School AP Math teacher Michele Sera discusses teaching remotely during the pandemic.

Students share struggles and successes of distance learning durning the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion about 2020 graduation and how students are transitioning to college.

Maui High School AP Math teacher Michele Sera discusses 2020 AP testing during COVID-19.

Wailuku Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Tami Saito discusses distance learning during the time of COVID-19.

Students participate in the 61st Annual Maui County Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Baldwin High Schoolʻs Peer Educators raise public awareness about teen health risks. Such as: bullying, texting while driving, and vaping, through classroom presentations, school-wide and community events, and public policy advocacy.

Schools throughout Maui are making strides to incorporate Social Emotional Learning into their curriculum, in order to help students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Each May, the community, families, immersion and English students of Pā'ia Elementary School come together to celebrate the stories and songs of our Hawaiʻi ancestors. This event is unique from most schools, in that they recreate the history of Maui.

Students explore careers in the heath care industry through a partnership with Maui Economic Development Board.

Steps involved in mplementing student voice at Kihei Elementary School - school version.

Haʻikū Elementary School hosted its 26th annual Haʻikū Hoʻolauleʻa & Flower Festival, which supports Haʻikū's keiki. Mahalo to all that volunteered, sponsored, and attended.

Students in 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade are learning more than just how to broadcast school news and events. They’re learning life skills such as: leadership, resilience, responsibility, and teamwork. In addition to traditional teaching, the older students are training the younger ones how to use the equipment and the techniques of broadcasting.

In support of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education's strategic plan, teachers and administrators at Kīhei Elementary School are implementing strategies to inspire students to use their voices to create positive change in their school community.

Thanks to the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership and the Maui Economic Development Board, Maui students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers had the opportunity to network with local professionals, practice design thinking, talk to experts about personal finance, and learn how to effectively advocate for change. 

Imagine students combining skills in: Art, Math, Science, and Writing all in the creation of one project. Known as Project Based Learning, this teaching technique is being used at Kamaliʻi Elementary School. This method is being used to engage students through connections to the community and real-world applications. Teachers find it brings excitement and relevance to learning for their students. 

Community engagement is vital to a school's success. Kalama Intermediate, which has a geographic boundary spanning from Ke‘anae to Kēōkea, designs its curriculum based on the needs of the diverse communities that make up its student body in order to provide educational opportunities that are relevant and strengthen students' sense of belonging. 

Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School teamed up with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts to develop their arts integration initiatives for kindergarteners, thanks to their partnership with Maui Arts and Cultural Center and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

In October, the Hawaii Department of Education schools celebrated Unity Day. See what it looked like at Lokelani Intermediate School.

In September, 115 Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School students participated in Blue Zones Project’s Walking School Bus initiative, which aims to make our local communities healthier and happier. 

Maui School Garden Network collaborates with 38 schools on Maui and Lānaʻi to offer students outdoor classroom experiences and hands-on learning opportunities. Recently, students at Kahului Elementary School celebrated their hard work and dedication with a Harvest Fest. 

Each year at Kalama Intermediate School, students invite local celebrities to share in a student organized physical fitness event. The day is a reward activity for Sixth grade students.

Teachers met at UHMC to learn how to code a robot. These non-technical teachers spent four days learning to code. Then another two days creating lesson plans. The goal being how to incorporate coding into various subject areas, such as: History, Math, and Language Arts.

The students of Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School have completed production of a music CD. Each song is an original composition written and sung by the students. Famous local singer, John Cruz even lent his support by adding his talents.

King Kekaulike High School has a new addition to their campus. An immaculate new performing arts center has just opened after years of planning and construction. This new facility will benefit students in Band, Drama, Hawaiian Immersion, and more. 

Maui High School has seen an increase in the number of students who go on to attend college. A big part of this success is due to the AVID program, which guides students who may otherwise may not attend college. 

HĀ Community Day at Pāʻia Elementary is an opportunity for the community to experience and celebrate the integration of Hawaiian language and culture in Hawaiʻi’s public schools. 

Through children’s literature, King Kekaulike Senior Chandler Cowell shares her experience growing up with a best friend with special needs, offering lessons in kindness and acceptance. 

Upcountry Maui teachers attended a workshop at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. It was based around the state department of education’s “HA” initiative. Particular focus was put on Arts integration, but done with attention to the core components of “HA”, which are: Belonging, Responsibility, Excellence, Aloha, Total Well-Being, and Hawaii.

84 students participated in the 59th Annual Maui County Regional Science & Engineering Fair, where they showcased their work to industry professionals on topics ranging from ocean acidification and stream quality to exoplanets and solar power. Finalists will represent Maui County in the 61st Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair in March. 

Maui Waena Intermediate School students win the KeikiCo award from American Savings Bank.

King Kekaulike High School Senior Nikki Fatheree shares her experience with "Senior Project". 

HA - BREATH KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT MACC  for King Kekaulike Complex.

Six schools in Central Maui have registered to become Blue Zones approved worksites. Find out what that means and how two of the schools are working with local representatives from Blue Zones Project to make their community a healthier and happier place.

Haiku Elementary School encourages healthy lifestyles through it's Wellness Day activites.

Kahului Elementary School student helps his peer with special needs.

Lokelani Intermediate School student helps others in a kind way.

Book Trust, a national foundation, is giving free books to qualifying elementary schools in an effort to engage students to read more.

Makawao Elementary School creates a "Kindness" campaign.

Kamaliʻi Elementary has seen their Science scores rise. In part, due to how they teach STEM education.

Students and staff at Iao Intermediate school are working hard to make their school community stronger through song.

King Kekaulike High School student helps others in the Best Buddies program.

King Kekaulike High School student mentors elementary student with visual impairment.

Maui High School student spreads kindness.

A local artist is giving back to the community that raised him, by enriching the education of our students.

A painful lesson results in an amazing transformation for one senior. This Maui High student, who once didn't care about his school work, has now embraced new ways of learning.

Maui District schools attend Celebrate Reading Maui, a joint venture between UHMC and the DOE. The event's goal is to engage young readers and writers.

King Kekaulike High School teachers are collaborating to engage CTE students to write more in their classes.

Lihikai Elementary Students are raising community awareness about using crosswalks, seat belts, and paying attention while traveling too and from school.

Kalama & Lokelani received one-to-one digital devices from Digital Promise & Verizon.

Pukalani Elementary School shows how they use Leadership Notebooks as the cornerstone of Student-Led Conferences.

Kalama Intermediate School Ukulele Band develops more than music skills.

At Puʻu Kukui Elementary School use of technology leads to  enhanced student learning.