Latest news with #KeithHayashi
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New educator development housing coming to Lahaina
LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Lahaina will be getting a big boost to development with a new housing project coming soon. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and Maui leaders broke ground on a new $20 million educator workforce development housing project, with construction starting soon on the 47-unit rental complex. Maui Council passes bill allowing certain Lahaina structures to build back as it was Centrally located near three Lahaina schools, the approximately five-acre site sits above Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary and below Lahainaluna High. 'This development is pivotal to the retention and recruitment of our west Maui staff. We cannot afford to lose our educators. Their presence, their stability, their relationships with students is what helps our students learn, heal and move forward,' Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. 'When teachers have secure housing, students have stable classrooms.'The 2023 wildfires made an already severe housing crisis in Lahaina worse. 'This project responds directly to that need – the need for housing our school employees,' Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said. 'That will bring consistency to our classrooms that allows those who guide, who nourish, who transport and care for our students to remain close to the places they serve.' In an employee survey, nearly one-third of the Maui employees were displaced due to the wildfires, with 20% of educators surveyed saying they are thinking about leaving the state due to the high cost of housing. 'It's an honor to work on this project. We're very anxious to get started. We have a tight timetable and we'll make that, I'm sure,' Everett Dowling, founder and president of Dowling Co., said. 'Home ownership equity is the largest creator of wealth in the country. But in order to buy a home, you have to save some money. Hopefully this project will enable employees of the DOE here on the west side to put some money aside as the community rebuilds.' Check out more news from around Hawaii The project will include one and two-bedroom configurations. Rental rates will be income-based. The teacher workforce housing complex is expected to be complete in December. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free summer meals to be offered at 68 Hawaii public schools
The Hawaii Department of Education said free meals will be offered at 68 public schools statewide, starting June 12. The meals will be available Monday through Friday, except on the Fourth of July holiday, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 'Seamless Summer Option ' program. Breakfast will be served from 7 :15 to 8 :45 a.m., and lunch from 10 :30 a.m. to noon. Children must be 18 and younger to qualify, but do not need to be enrolled in public school to participate. 'For many of our students, school meals are a vital source of daily nutrition, ' said Superintendent Keith Hayashi in a news release. 'Our cafeteria teams are stepping up once again to make sure kids across Hawaii stay healthy and well-fed this summer. We encourage families to take advantage of these free meals—no sign-up or enrollment is needed.' All meals must be eaten on campus ; no grab-and-go options are available. To qualify, schools must have at least 50 % of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and host a summer program on campus. Parents may call their nearest participating school directly for details. Participating schools OAHU (40 schools )—August Ahrens Elementary ; Campbell High ; Dole Middle ; Ewa Makai Middle ; Farrington High ; Fern Elementary ; Hauula Elementary ; Hokulani Elementary ; Kaala Elementary ; Kahuku Elementary ; Kahuku High & Intermediate ; Kailua Elementary ; Kaimuki High ; Kalakaua Middle ; Kalihi Elementary ; Kalihi Waena Elementary ; Kaneohe Elementary ; Kapalama Elementary ; Kauluwela Elementary ; Laie Elementary ; Lehua Elementary ; Leihoku Elementary ; Maemae Elementary ; Maili Elementary ; Makaha Elementary ; Nanaikapono Elementary ; Nanakuli Elementary ; Nanakuli High & Intermediate ; Pearl City High ; Pope Elementary ; Puohala Elementary ; Puuhale Elementary ; Roosevelt High ; Stevenson Middle ; Waianae Elementary ; Waianae Intermediate ; Waianae High ; Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate ; Wheeler Elementary ; Wheeler Middle. HAWAII (15 schools )—Hilo High ; Honokaa High & Intermediate ; Kapi 'olani Elementary ; Kau High & Pahala Intermediate ; Keaau Elementary ; Keaau Middle ; Kealakehe Elementary ; Konawaena Elementary ; Mountain View Elementary ; Na ʻalehu Elementary ; Pa ʻauilo Elementary & Intermediate ; Pahoa High & Intermediate ; Waiakea High ; Waiakea Intermediate. MAUI (9 schools )—Baldwin High ; Ha ʻiku Elementary ; Kahului Elementary ; Kalama Intermediate ; Kekaulike High ; Lokelani Intermediate ; Maui Waena Intermediate ; Waihe ʻe Elementary ; Wailuku Elementary. MOLOKAI (2 schools )—Kaunakakai Elementary ; Molokai Middle. KAUAI (2 schools )—Kapaa Elementary ; Kaumualii Elementary. 2 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Workforce housing for educators gets underway in West Maui
State and county officials broke ground this week on a $20 million workforce housing project aimed at providing rental units for public school employees in West Maui, many of whom continue to face housing challenges in the aftermath of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. The state Department of Education is leading the 47-unit project, which will be built by Maui-based Dowling Co. on approximately 5 acres situated between Princess Nahienaena Elementary and Lahainaluna High School. The rental complex is intended to support educator retention and recruitment in the region. State schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi said the project is designed to provide housing stability for school staff. 'This development is pivotal to the retention and recruitment of our West Maui staff. We cannot afford to lose our educators. Their presence, their stability, their relationships with students is what helps our students learn, heal and move forward, ' Hayashi said. 'When teachers have secure housing, students have stable classrooms.' Housing shortages in Lahaina were already a concern before the 2023 wildfires and have worsened since the disaster. According to a DOE employee survey, nearly one-third of HIDOE staff on Maui reported being displaced by the fires. More than 20 % of Lahaina-based educators indicated they are considering leaving the state due to housing costs. For newer hires, housing affordability was the most cited factor influencing their decision to stay or leave. The new rental complex will include one-and two-bedroom units with income-based rents. HIDOE is still finalizing application details, but priority will be given to public school employees who were displaced by the wildfires—both those still working in West Maui and those who were forced to relocate elsewhere. 'This project responds directly to that need—the need for housing our school employees, ' Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said. 'That will bring consistency to our classrooms that allows those who guide, who nourish, who transport and care for our students to remain close to the places they serve.' Lahainaluna High School Principal Richard Carosso echoed those concerns, saying housing instability threatens the fabric of school communities. 'It was hard before the fires to have people be able to commit and live and be full-time educators and staff members out here in Lahaina. The fires and the cost of living going up has just made it harder and harder, ' Carosso said. 'And that just hurts us from the point of building our culture of our schools—because they're not here as readily for the kids in the afternoon, for kids in the evenings, to go to games, to be part of clubs. So bringing people back to our hill, to our place, is what this project is about.' Everett Dowling, founder and president of Dowling Co., said the project aims to help educators get back on their feet and save for the long term. 'It's an honor to work on this project. We're very anxious to get started. We have a tight timetable and we'll make that, I'm sure, ' Dowling said. 'Homeownership equity is the largest creator of wealth in the country. But in order to buy a home, you have to save some money. Hopefully, this project will enable employees of the DOE here on the west side to put some money aside as the community rebuilds.' Officials emphasized that the development not only addresses housing, but also strengthens the broader recovery effort by keeping experienced educators rooted in the community. No estimated completion date has been released yet.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
State, city officials urge safety on roads during graduations
State and city officials are urging patience and caution as graduation ceremony season gets underway, creating potential traffic jams. Officials are expecting 46 state high school commencement ceremonies for more than 11, 000 students across Hawaii, including 25 on Oahu, with many to be held at Blaisdell Center, Waikiki Shell, and Hawai 'i Convention Center. Graduation ceremonies for 10 University of Hawaii campuses, meanwhile, are scheduled to take place this weekend. 'Graduation is such a special time for our students, families and schools. We're proud of the Class of 2025 and excited to celebrate all that they've accomplished, ' said state Superintendent Keith Hayashi. 'With so many ceremonies happening across the state over the next two weeks, we're asking everyone to plan ahead, expect heavier traffic near venues, and drive with aloha. Mahalo to the City and County of Honolulu and all of our partners for helping to keep these celebrations safe and smooth for everyone attending.' To mitigate traffic and make all the events more enjoyable for everyone, the City and State are jointly alerting graduates, their families, and their friends, to important information regarding City venues :—Parking lots will open two hours in advance of ceremonies at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center campus and the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell—Parking will cost $8 per vehicle at the Blaisdell.—Parking is free in the lot at Waikiki Shell.—No tailgating or picnicking is permitted at the Blaisdell or Waikiki Shell. The City Department of Transportation Services said it will be monitoring traffic flow around city venues and coordinating traffic lights to keep vehicles moving. DTS reminds the public that alternative transportation options such as The Bus and Biki reduce the number of vehicles on roads and in parking lots. 'Motorists are asked to slow down and drive with aloha to ensure safe, fun, and memorable graduation ceremonies, ' said city officials in a news release. The Hawaii Department of Transportation, meanwhile, says residents can anticipate increased traffic near graduation venues, and encourages them to us GoAkamai, Google maps, and Waze to plan out their routes ahead of time. DOT is urging everyone to travel safely on Hawaii's roads, considering a 51 % jump in traffic fatalities so far this year, due to contributing factors such as speed, impairment, failure to yield, and other errors. 'One of the best ways we can honor and celebrate our graduates is to prioritize safety on our roadways to prevent more fatalities, ' said DOT Director Ed Sniffen in a news release. 'This includes following the posted speed limit, obeying all traffic laws, not driving impaired, and avoiding distractions while on the road, whether you're driving a vehicle, a pedestrian, or riding a bicycle or motorcycle.' Public graduation schedules are listed at the following links :----See more : 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
HDOE, partners look to enhance traffic safety following deadly year
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaiʻi Department of Education, DTRIC Insurance and Par Hawaii are working together to reverse troubling traffic trends through a safe-driving program for high school teens and parents called Operation Driver Excellence, which took place on April 5 at Waipahu High School. According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, a total of 102 people lost their lives from traffic incidents, which climbed up from 93 deaths in 2023. The first quarter of 2025 has also been deadlier compared to the first quarter of 2024, with the former seeing 35 deaths compared to the latter's 28 deaths. Former Punahou School dean celebrates 100 years of youth In two days there have been two serious or critical vehicle incidents on Oahu, with a hit-and-run in Pearl City and a collision in Waialae. The Pearl City incident occurred on April 4 at approximately 12:30 a.m. a 51-year-old male pedestrian was in the westbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway when he was struck by an unknown driver who left the scene without stopping. The pedestrian was transported to the hospital in serious condition. In Waialae at around 8:30 a.m. on April 5, a 77-year-old male driver was traveling westbound on the H-1 Freeway with a 71-year-old passenger when the driver suddenly veered off the roadway and struck the concrete barrier. The driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition and the passenger was hospitalized in good hope to deter incidents such as these by holding events like Operation Driver Excellence, providing the community with opportunities to learn safe-driving techniques while navigating driving courses designed by HDOE. HDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi says that courses like these are paramount in ensuring driver safety, especially when parents participate in the event. 'Our parents are the ones that our students watch, when our parents are driving,' Hayashi said. 'So we want to be sure that as parents, we are great role models for our children and for student drivers.' DCCA: A new scam could be walking directly to your door Alongside the driving course, the school's cafeteria featured a traffic safety fair, with over 20 presenters offering traffic safety equipment and advice. There were two keynote speakers: Kerrie Marne and Matthew Uhles from TyREDD, an organization that raises awareness about the dangers of driving while sleep deprived. Marne lost her teen son due o sleep deprivation and Uhles is a sleep expert from the Clayton Sleep Institute, providing insight into deprivation and remedies for it. 'To stop our roadway fatalities, we need responsible drivers who prioritize the safety of everyone in and around their vehicles, especially the most vulnerable,' said Hawaiʻi State Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. 'Learning safe-driving techniques and practicing safe behavior that includes obeying traffic laws and being aware of what's going on around them while on the road is critical to starting young drivers on the right path.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
