Around 25 students learned the value of unionism
Posted: May 19, 2025
Around 25 aspiring educators from university and community college programs across the state gathered at the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s headquarters on Oʻahu late last month for an open house to learn the value of unionism.
Aspiring educators are students in or planning to attend a teacher preparation program.
The students spent the day learning about the importance of the union and how, by working together towards a collective idea, changes can be made.
HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. started the day by discussing his teacher journey and union work involvement. The students then moved through three rotations, each focusing on a different aspect of teaching and unionism.
Shannon Eustace, a Maui 6th-grade teacher at Iao Intermediate and HSTA professional development instructor, led sessions on the Model Code of Ethics, what teachers use to base their everyday decisions in the classroom.
Kristin Hamada, Uniserv Director for HSTA’s Koʻolau Chapter, spoke with the students about the democracy of a union, contract information, and the importance of having representation and advocacy for teacher rights.
Joshua Kamalani, a senior at the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu and an National Education Association and Advisory Committee of Aspiring Educators (ACAE) member, led the attendees through an activity to identify areas of inequity in their current placements or in the schools they had visited.
The discussion focused on what they want to see change in the areas they identified, such as wanting free lunch for their students, equity in teaching materials, and instruction opportunities for students. They were also concerned by the number of students left on their own in the afternoons with no supervision.
At the end of the activity, students signed a commitment card to join the union once they become full-time teachers.
Kamalani said, “Our HSTA-AE open house felt like a huge stepping stone in building our state’s Aspiring Educators program. Entering into this school year, a huge goal of ours has been to build our state program and to express to others the importance and benefits of joining our union and our Aspiring Educators program.”
“Meeting new aspiring educators from our state’s different campuses with different yet similar experiences and reliving that sense of excitement to emerge into this career felt absolutely amazing! Although this is just the beginning of our program, I know we are taking steps in the right direction,” he added.
Marley Grjegaian, a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa said, “Thank you for a great open house, and I’m so excited to be a part of HSTA.”
Mahalo to all of our aspiring educators for learning about the value of HSTA. We look forward to your membership in the future!
HSTA staff and aspiring educators taught the value of unionism to students from across the state. From left: HSTA Koʻolau Chapter Uniserv Director Kristin Hamada, HSTA Instruction and Professional Development Specialist Diane Gibson, Tayne Furuta, Josh Kamalani, Grace Sapolu, Allen Callejo, Fia Rosetter, and HSTA Central Chapter UniServ Director Beverly Ikalani.
Students signed commitment cards to join the union once they become full-time teachers.
Students worked together on group activities including an activity to identify areas of inequity in their current placements or in the schools they had visited.
