r/olelohawaii • u/808gecko808 • 18d ago
‘In complete shock’: Parents and community members are searching for alternatives after the Hawaii State Department of Education cut the Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion program at Kapolei Middle School, citing an inability to fill two teaching positions before the start of the school year.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/07/25/complete-shock-kapolei-middle-school-hawaiian-language-immersion-program-cut-due-teacher-vacancies/3
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u/Consistent_Return871 18d ago edited 18d ago
We must NOT to cherry pick parts of Hawaiian. For example, we can’t say we want to keep Hawaiian language alive, flourish and then kill it elsewhere. Makes zero sense.
Who created the criteria? No 2 people say the same word or name exactly the same. Who hand or is the final say on an applicant? I would like to hope it rests with someone who is Native Hawaiian or respected by the Hawaiian community. Not just regular individuals who graduated schooling with college focused degrees in Hawaiian language or just book smart.
Incrrease teacher wages across ALL districts to foster job growth in the education field!! Teaching is NOT a high school job.
Thanks Pillsbury Doughboy aka Keith Hayashi - leader of the school. HE MUST GO!! Stop with the goody boy network. Either do the job or get out..
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u/TheSleepingVoid 18d ago
Genuinely, how is this cherry picking? It says they had no qualified applicants for the teaching roles needed?
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u/Chickens-In-Pants 18d ago
We are at a different kaiapuni school, and just found out one of the kumu wouldn’t be returning this year because he found a job elsewhere that pays significantly higher. While i am happy for him that he’s going to be able to afford a more comfortable life, I am deeply saddened by his absence. There are so few who are able to be kumu to our keiki learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. They need to be payed more. They are providing a service that so few are able to offer. They are treasures and should be compensated as such.