Hawaii State Teachers Association

Mahalo, Tricia Nakamatsu! We agree, HB 1890 is one of the most important bills passed this session to help recruit and retain public educators in Hawaiʻi. We have a severe teacher crisis, and one vital solution is ensuring a livable, predictable wage.

​We also want to mahalo again Senator Donna Kim, Representative Justin Woodson, and Senator Brandon Elefante for their strong support this session. Their leadership helps ensure our educators have the stability they need to stay and thrive in our classrooms. You can read the full Honolulu Civil Beat Candidate Q&A on their site: https://civilbeat.org/2026/06/candidate-qa-state-senate-district-13-tricia-kwai-lin-nakamatsu/

Sixteen years after Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association employee Amber Jackson was brutally murdered on Kauaʻi, her family, friends and law enforcement continue to seek answers — and are asking the public for help locating the man charged in her death.

On Dec. 23, 2025, the Kauaʻi Police Department announced it had secured an arrest warrant for 57-year-old Gregory Glaser, charging him with second-degree murder in connection with Jackson’s 2010 homicide. Glaser, who has been missing since April 2025, remains at large and went missing from the Hawaiian Acres subdivision on Hawaiʻi Island.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact:

Kauaʻi Police Department
Sgt. Brian Silva: (808) 241-1908
KPD Dispatch: (808) 241-1711

Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi: (808) 246-8300
FBI Tip Line: (808) 566-4300 (press #1)

16 years later, family and friends continue search for justice in Amber Jackson murder case - Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Kauaʻi Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for Gregory Glaser, but the suspect remains at large Updated: June 23, 2026 Sixteen years after Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association employee Amber Jackson was brutally murdered on Kauaʻi, her family, friends and law enforcement continue to seek...

H​awaiʻi State Federal Credit Union awarded $22,000 in grants to 44 educators across the islands to purchase classroom supplies, such as books, technology, and other tools, to support student learning and engagement. The grants, each worth up to $500, are part of the Hawaiʻi State FCU’s Investing in Education program.

Over 40 Hawaiʻi educators receive $22K in classroom grants to purchase classroom supplies - Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union issues grants through its Investing in Education program Posted: June 22, 2026 H​awaiʻi State Federal Credit Union awarded $22,000 in grants to 44 educators across the islands to purchase classroom supplies, such as books, technology, and other tools, to suppor...

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association wants to extend its deepest gratitude to State Sen. Michelle Kidani for her extraordinary leadership and unwavering dedication during her tenure as the chair of the Senate Education Committee in light of her retirement. 🌺

Retiring Kidani lauded as ‘a fierce champion for public schools' - Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association She fought for improving educators' pay and student well-being

Posted: June 21, 2026

Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association President Osa Tui, Jr. released this statement about the retirement of State Sen. Michelle Kidani (D, Mililani Town, Waipiʻo Ge...

P​ublic school educators across Hawai‘i are invited to apply for the Ka‘ohekani Hawaiian Music Program at Windward Community College (WCC) — a fully online, year-long certificate program designed to teach Hawaiian music, integrate it into classroom instruction, and offer college credits that count toward professional development and step reclassification pay raises. Full and significant scholarships are available, and the application deadline is Aug. 1.

Hawai‘i public school teachers can learn Hawaiian music, earn credits toward reclassification in program that starts Aug. 24 - Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Apply by Aug. 1, Scholarships available for educators

Posted: June 15, 2026

P​ublic school educators across Hawai‘i are invited to apply for the Ka‘ohekani Hawaiian Music Program at Windward Community College (WCC) -- a fully online, year-long cer...

Teaching Juneteenth and the Meaning of Freedom | NEA Background information and resources for including Juneteenth in your classroom.

Maʻi Movement Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women are seeking input on access to period products and menstrual health across the islands. Results will help inform future programs and policy recommendations.

“Research and advocacy efforts like this survey have helped expand access to essential menstrual products and reduce stigma across Hawaiʻi. I hope we can bring equity to all menstruators across the state,” said Sarah Kern, a teacher at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School and member of HSTA's Civil and Human Rights Committee.

Share your manaʻo by completing the survey by June 30

Take the 2026 Period Poverty Survey - Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Statewide survey seeks input on access to menstrual products and menstrual health in Hawaiʻi
Posted: June 10, 2026 I​​n partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women, Ma'i Movement Hawai'i launched a new statewide survey

Congratulations to Waimānalo Elementary and Intermediate School educator Blade Shepherd-Jones, who has been selected to participate in the Teacher Innovator Institute at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. ✈️ 🪐 🚀

The prestigious two-summer program brings together educators from across the country to explore innovative ways to connect STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) learning with authentic classroom experiences.

Participants engage in hands-on activities, museum tours, behind-the-scenes experiences and professional learning led by Smithsonian educators and experts.

Congrats Blade! 🥳

HSTA members are invited to participate in the Phones in Focus national research study on student personal devices in schools, led by University of Pennsylvania Professor Angela Duckworth and fellow researchers. 📲

The confidential 5-minute survey will help researchers understand how student device policies are working in K-12 schools. Participants will receive a snapshot of policies nationwide and be entered for a chance to win one of 10 $500 gift cards. 💳

Survey link: https://bit.ly/4eqvvhU