HONOLULU (KHON2) — Fifteen of the Department of Education’s top school principals have been recognized and honored for their leadership and dedication to their craft.
KHON2 met with this year’s winner of the 19th Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
Meet Principal Baba Yim of Ke Kula Kaiapuna O Anuenue, a Hawaiian immersion school located in Palolo Valley.
The Island Insurance Foundation said they selected Principal Yim because he prioritizes the well-being of Ānuenue students in every decision and leads through service to keiki, their families and the school community.
As the leader of O’ahu’s only K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school, he leads a school with really unique challenges.
He plays a crucial role in the revitalization of the indigenous language and culture of these islands, while still being laser-focused on offering a quality educational experience to every one of its keiki.
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“The idea was doing a number of events to bring community back to the school,” said awardee Principal Yim. “Our kids and our families, they sacrifice sending their kids from all of the island. And so we’re going to use that money to do some, we’re doing some campus beautification. We have a couple of storage containers on campus, we’re going to do some mural projects that we’re working with a local artist to design. And then the painting of the project will be done hopefully by students and their families, you know, doing events where families can come together to kind of do that. And other things. Getting them working on the land. We have a small loi at the school.”