Member Spotlights

  • Connecting Classrooms to Careers: Three Unit 6 Principals Share Their Stories in NASSP’s Principal Leadership Magazine

    Three Unit 6 members who are part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Academy were recognized in the organizations February issue of Principal Leadership magazine. Their first-person accounts tell the story of “connecting classrooms to careers,” building relevance and preparing students for a fast-changing world. The principals are Kelcy Koga of Waiakea High…

  • Guiding our keiki back to the right path: Marlaina Fujisawa, Unit 13

    When our community’s keiki face challenging times, parents know who to call for help. Marlaina Fujisawa, a Unit 13 member and longtime social worker, has dedicated more than two decades to serving the Judiciary. In her role, she manages a diverse caseload, guiding juveniles back onto the right path. There is truly no limit to…

  • An inspirational leader and the Department of Health’s 2025 Employee of the Year, Bobbie Teixeira, Unit 13

    Recognized for her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to protecting Hawaii’s water systems, Bobbie Teixeira, a Unit 13 member and environmental health specialist, was honored as the Department of Health’s 2025 Employee of the Year. Like many keiki growing up in Kaneohe, Bobbie spent her childhood playing in the water, where she developed a deep…

  • Newly Launched: Refreshed Website and Mobile App

    After 10 years, our website has received a much-needed tech upgrade and makeover. And HGEA, for the first time ever, has a new mobile app for members. Union news and resources will be even easier to access. At your fingertips, you’ll have: How to Get Started and Enter the App Giveaway 1. Create a New…

  • 👮‍♂️ Fearless hero: Robert Umiamaka, Unit 14, Protecting the community with bravery and dedication!

    If malicious actors want to wreak havoc at our airports, they’ll have to go through Deputy Sheriff Robert Umiamaka and his K-9 Lexy first. A Unit 14 member and a director on HGEA’s Board of Directors, he’s been protecting the public for more than a decade. After starting as a corrections officer, Umiamaka later became…

  • Principal Sheldon Oshio Leads Waikele Elementary School to National Honors

    Retiring at the end of this year, Sheldon Oshio, Unit 6 member and principal at Waikele Elementary School, has led a legendary career spanning more than 32 years. Inspired by his parents who were both HGEA members and educators, Sheldon knew he wanted to follow their footsteps from a young age. To cap off his…

  • Making a Difference One Scholarship at a Time

    Since 1966, our union has been dedicated to helping members and their dependents reach their educational goals. Just this year, 22 members and dependents were awarded a total of $45,000 across all scholarships. Hear from a few 2025 scholarship recipients on how this financial support has made a difference: Meet Megan NashiwaWith ambitions to become…

  • Unit 6’s Sheldon Oshio Leads First “Model Academy with Distinction” Elementary School in the Nation

    Unit 6’s Sheldon Oshio made headlines after Waikele Elementary School, where he serves as principal, became the first elementary school in the country to earn the “Model Academy with Distinction” designation from the National Career Academy Coalition. Waikele’s program is part of a larger career academy emphasis in the Waipahu Complex of schools. Traditionally career…

  • HGEA Welcomes Honolulu’s Newest Unit 15 Ocean Safety Recruits

    Fourteen new members of HGEA’s Unit 15 are making waves after successfully completing the eight-week training program for the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department. Joining the finest ocean safety professionals in the world, these recruits will be assigned across Oahu’s shores as first responders and guardians of residents and visitors alike. The graduates include Jesse Arias, Brisco Beaton, Malaika…

  • Free Christmas Concert Featuring HGEA Members in Royal Hawaiian Band

    HGEA members in the City and County of Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Band will lead a lineup of acclaimed musicians and artists in the free Kalikimaka Ho’omau concert heralding the start of the Christmas season. The two-hour holiday concert will be held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Seats…

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