06/16/2026
Dear Waikīkī School Ohana. Please keep your thoughts and prayers with the Costa family. He will be truly missed, but his legacy will live on here at Waikiki.
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Dear IHOM Community,
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved friend, colleague, mentor, and co-founder, Dr. Art Costa.
95 years of a remarkable life and an enduring legacy.
Honoring the life of Dr. Art Costa, the Co-Founder of the 16 Habits of Mind
November 20, 1931 - June 13, 2026
Terry Thoren writes: “When I was at the Habits of Mind Conference in Vista, California with organizers Bena and Allison Zmuda, I had the good fortune to find a quiet moment with Art. I had the feeling it might be my last in person moment with him. So I used the opportunity to pull out my cell phone and record his answer to my question “What is the meaning of life?” This is what he told me:
“What is the meaning of life?”
“I think that the reason why we're here on Earth is to experience a lot of emotions.
One of them is joy,
One of them is humor,
One of them is awe,
One of them is friendship,
and so all of those and a lot more are what compose a life.
But it's not just a life.
It's a good life.
How do you know the difference between a life and a good life?
Because the more you've experienced the earth and all its beauty…
the more you experience friends and all of their contributions…
the more you've experienced love and all that it means to you…
and the more you've made a contribution to make this place a better place, that's what life is all about.”
In the coming days, we will share opportunities for our community to honor and celebrate Art's life and legacy together.
For now, we invite you to reflect on the impact Art had on your thinking, your teaching, your leadership, or your life. If you would like to share a memory, story, photograph, or reflection, we would be honored to hear from you.
As Art often reminded us, a life well lived is measured not only by what we accomplish, but by the contributions we make and the lives we touch. By that measure, Art's legacy will endure for generations.
With gratitude and remembrance,
Bena Kallick and Allison Zmuda
06/02/2026
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