Hawaii State Teachers Association

09/18/2026

On Saturday, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (AFL-CIO) is celebrating Hawaiian Labor History with a webinar, and you’re invited! The program will include traditional Hawaiian songs, a presentation of Hawaiian labor history, and a conversation about the importance of preserving Native Hawaiian culture and language.

When: Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m.

Register: https://bit.ly/4gY9ny1

09/17/2026

How hot is too hot? Heat safety in Hawaiʻi schools

Join Dr. Elizabeth Kiefer (UH JABSOM) and James McCallen (Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute) for an informative discussion on heat illness prevention and heat safety in Hawaiʻi schools. The discussion will include how to spot heat illness early, what actually cools a kid down, and leaves room for your input.

When: Thursday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m.

Register:

Join Dr. Elizabeth Kiefer and James McCallen for an informative discussion on heat illness prevention and heat safety in Hawaiʻi schools. * How to spot heat illness early * What actually cools a kid down * What we're proposing and we'd like your input

09/15/2026

Way to go HSTA EL Committee!

09/15/2026

Tonight's info session for the HSTA-2Revolutions-Spalding M.Ed. program has been cancelled due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict. Below are some resources for you to explore, including a video of the presenter going through the information session presentation, the slide deck, and other supplemental materials. To support our teachers impacted by the storms, we will be extending the registration date to Nov. 1, 2026 and adding additional information sessions in October.

Please watch Member Matters for those updates once they are scheduled.

Info session video: https://us02web.zoom.us/clips/share/a7y-3nvdTzmCPpDrXVhf7g

Info session slide deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zb9MdkMA59duB10wTW96R5sIkKUCPrQDb8b4F9brWJs/edit?slide=id.g3f595d62a7f_0_0 =id.g3f595d62a7f_0_0

FAQ slide deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jL9G81Q0zizfOyklq7kX3nAGug1QmqdMCppGNQl9D6A/edit?slide=id.g34727f2b451_0_77 =id.g34727f2b451_0_77
This provides more detail on things such as payment amounts and dates, etc.

Sign up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSsHxWR1CnIE2LDjE4NIqCFil425eEn8gImUfijEydGKg5hg/viewform
You'll receive the full instructions on how to apply to Spalding University at the end of the form, including the code to waive the application fee.

09/15/2026

HSTA is sharing crowdfunding donation pages of teacher members, current and retired, affected by Hurricane Lowell. 🫶

If you are an educator who experienced damage because of the storm and you have a fundraising link, such as DonorsChoose, GoFundMe, Amazon, My Wishlist, Venmo, Zelle, etc., that you would like publicly shared, let us know!

✔️ Go to our Contact page and submit an online form with the following:
✔️ Under Topic, select “Storm relief” from the dropdown menu.
✔️ Include your name, school, chapter, phone number, and personal email address.
✔️ Under Question, briefly explain your current situation and include your fundraising link.

Contact us here: https://www.hsta.org/contact

09/12/2026

HSTA's Board of Directors approved a measure to provide relief funding to teachers affected by Hurricane Lowell at an emergency board meeting held Thursday evening.

The measure, which passed unanimously, would offer qualifying members who sustained damage to their homes/classrooms up to $500 in relief monies. Each qualifying category is eligible for at least $250 in relief. For instance, a member whose classroom and home sustained serious damage could qualify for a $500 payment. Award amounts will be determined based on the number of approved applicants, the extent of need, and available funding.

Thursday’s measure will extend the recently-established HSTA Hurricane Lala Relief Program to include those affected by Hurricane Lowell. The deadline for application of relief has been extended to Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.

Eligible educators urged to apply for relief funding Posted: September 11, 2026 T​​he Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association's Board of Directors approved a measure to provide relief funding to teachers affected by Hurricane Lowell at an emergency board meeting held Thursday evening. The measure, w...

09/11/2026

Kaʻōhao Public Charter School STEM educator Laura Cummings was selected for a Fund for Teachers Fellowship Grant this summer, allowing her to travel to the Republic of Palau to explore how sustainability, cultural knowledge, and environmental stewardship are integrated into education. Working alongside a fellow educator from Missouri, she connected with leaders from Palau's Ministry of Education, conservation organizations, and research institutions to learn how science, community, and culture support long-term conservation efforts.

The experience inspired new ideas for curriculum innovation and student collaboration across the Pacific. A highlight of the fellowship was learning about the Palau Pledge, a visitor commitment to protect the nation's environment and culture for future generations. Laura returned with a renewed commitment to helping students see themselves as environmental stewards and globally connected learners. Readers can learn more through her fellowship passport here: https://bit.ly/4A8vPMn

Cummings is pictured left in all of the group photos.

09/10/2026

HSTA members can register to earn their Master of Education degree online starting January 2027 for under $14,000 from Spalding University through a partnership with the national education design lab 2Revolutions. 🎓

HSTA is assembling its fourth Hawaiʻi cohort of up to 50 public and charter school teachers to enroll in the program, which begins in the fall of 2027. Members must apply by Oct. 1 to be considered for the cohort.

Attend a virtual informational session on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IFWvWVryTKi2TLBzKA0Vlg #/registration

09/10/2026

One of our most popular webinars, this session helps you evaluate your retirement readiness and understand the key components of your retirement plan. Learn how Hawaiʻi ERS pension and Social Security benefits fit into your retirement picture, along with retirement projections, 403(b) options, risk tolerance, and long-term care planning.

When: Thursday, Sept. 17, at 4 p.m.

Register: https://bit.ly/4x4x1Od

09/10/2026

HSTA members, please join us for the 2026 Honolulu Pride Parade on Saturday, Oct. 17! 🏳️‍🌈

The parade begins at 3 p.m. from Magic Island in Ala Moana Regional Park, proceeds down Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalākaua Avenue, and ends at Kapiʻolani Park. HSTA will be walking as a group! Please sign up at bit.ly/HSTAHonoluluPride2026!

Educators are welcome to participate in the Oct. 17 event Posted: September 9, 2026 H​​​awaiʻi State Teachers Association members, please join us for the 2026 Honolulu Pride Parade on Saturday, Oct. 17! The parade begins at 3 p.m. from Magic Island in Ala Moana