Unit 6 members Mike Harano, principal at Washington Middle School, and Sam Fong, recording studio director, were pushed out of their jobs by their complex area superintendent with no explanation, deprived of their due process rights, HGEA alleges.
A principal at WMS for 25 years, Harano’s suspension came two weeks before the end of the school year, with Complex Area Superintendent Linell Dilwith claiming it stemmed from findings of a routine audit, though she and the DOE never revealed to him or the union any specific allegations against him.
“I don’t even know what the audit says,” Harano told Hawaii News Now on Thursday. “Interestingly enough, she said she hadn’t gotten it either.”
Fong is also out of a job after the CAS and temporary principal changed the position he occupied, forced him to apply for the new job and told him he was not a top candidate.
“I had to go to an interview for a project that I spent 10 years of my life, blood and sweat,” Fong told Hawaii News Now.
Their sidelining appears connected to the multi-million-dollar audio recording studio, approved and funded by the state Legislature as a public-private partnership allowing students to work alongside recording professionals to inspire their career aspirations. One such example was the 2025 Disney remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” with music recorded at the studio.
HGEA has filed grievances on behalf of Harano and Fong and recently delivered letters to members of the state Board of Education alleging the violations in due process by DOE officials.