Three Big Island public school educators are among the state’s top principals and are nominees for an award that honors their efforts to provide students with high-quality learning opportunities.
Hilo Union Elementary School Principal Bryan Arbles, Keonepoko Elementary School Principal Kasey Eisenhour and Hōnaunau Elementary School Principal Noreen Kunitomo represent one-fifth of the group of 15 public school leaders from each of Hawai‘i’s four counties nominated for the 19th Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
This year’s other nominees are:
- Kimberly Anthony-Maeda, Kailua High School, O‘ahu.
- Albert Hetrick, Āliamanu Middle School, O‘ahu.
- Lisa Ann Higa, Nānākuli Elementary School, O‘ahu.
- Kimberly Ka‘ai, Maunaloa Elementary School, Moloka‘i.
- Ryan Kusuda, Waikīkī Elementary School, O‘ahu.
- Corey Nakamura, Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School, Kaua‘i.
- Walter Santiago, Kahalu‘u Elementary School, O‘ahu.
- Paul Taga, Keone‘ula Elementary School, O‘ahu.
- Troy Tamura, Mililani Waena Elementary School, O‘ahu.
- Gavin Tsue, Palisades Elementary School, O‘ahu.
- Merilee Valentino, Pāi‘a Elementary School, Maui.
- Christopher Baba Yim, Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue, O‘ahu.
Previous winners from the Big Island include 2023 recipient Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Principal Sharon Beck, 2017 recipient former Nāʻālehu Elementary School Principal Darlene Javar and 2015 recipient Keaʻau High School Principal Dean Cevallos.
This year’s nominees were recently honored during an event hosted by award underwriter and nonprofit Island Insurance Foundation…