The Heart of Haleiwa

We are proud to announce that Hannah Onek and Nicole Yonamine have been selected as Haleʻiwa Elementary School’s Homegrown Leaders! Both educators were nominated and chosen by their peers for exemplifying the spirit of excellence and leadership within our school community. Their nomination was celebrated at a special gathering on April 1 at the Hawaii Okinawan Center, with the Homegrown Leaders from other schools in the Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua complexes.

To be recognized as a Homegrown Leader, candidates needed to meet several important criteria: at least three years of teaching experience, a strong record of professionalism, a deep commitment to continuous professional growth, and a demonstrated potential for leadership.

Hannah Onek has taught first, second, and third grades at Haleʻiwa Elementary. Her versatility and dedication to early childhood education have made a lasting impact on our students. Hannah is also a certified trainer in ECRI (Explicit and Systematic Instruction) and has shared her expertise as a presenter at professional development conferences across the island.

Nicole Yonamine is entering her second year as a counselor at Haleʻiwa, bringing with her over a decade of counseling experience. Prior to joining our ʻohana, Nicole served as the President of the Hawaii School Counselor Association (HSCA), a testament to her leadership and commitment to supporting the social-emotional growth of students statewide.

Both Hannah and Nicole exemplify the values of professionalism, growth, and leadership that strengthen our Haleʻiwa community. We are incredibly proud of their contributions and excited to celebrate all they bring to our school.

Congratulations, Hannah and Nicole — Haleʻiwa is stronger because of you!

From April 7–11, Haleʻiwa Elementary School hosted its Spring Book Fair, giving students the opportunity to explore and purchase an exciting variety of books, posters, and school supplies from Scholastic Book Clubs.

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to the incredible support of our school community, the Book Fair raised close to $2,000.00! All proceeds will go directly toward supporting student activities at Haleʻiwa Elementary.

A heartfelt mahalo to our amazing Curriculum Coordinator, Pam Yamakawa, for her planning and organization of this wonderful event. We also extend our deep appreciation to Educational Assistants Ms. Charisse Lunasco and Ms. Rachelle Calaro for their invaluable assistance in helping the Book Fair run smoothly.

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event—your contributions truly make a difference in the lives of our students!

On April 17, 2025, Haleʻiwa Elementary students enjoyed a memorable Spring Fun Day and Egg Dash! Faculty and staff supervised and helped run a variety of exciting games, including the Chicken Walk, Egg Balance Relay, Bunny Hop, and the Egg Dash. Students had a wonderful time participating in all the activities, while proudly demonstrating Haleʻiwa School’s Essence: Honor, Respect, Kindness, and Love.

Mahalo to everyone who helped make the day a success!

The Hawaii DOEʻs attendance initiative is "Attend Today Achieve Tomorrow". Students who consistently attend school are more likely to achieve academic excellence, develop strong social skills, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. By being present in the classroom, students gain access to a world of knowledge, build meaningful connections with peers and teachers, and develop the confidence to reach their full potential. But, we cannot do it alone. It is a collaborative effort by both family and school to get students to school. Congratulations to Ryker and Kanoa for being in school every day during the month of March.

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