Kaʻū High English teacher honored with HSTA’s Pono Award

Before nearly 200 of her teacher colleagues, Chayanee Brooks, a Kaʻū High English teacher, accepted the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s 2025 Pono Award for her exemplary work uplifting students in her rural Hawaiʻi Island community.

The Pono Award, presented by HSTA’s Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Committee, is given to an exceptional member of the union who takes action in the pursuit of social justice. The honoree is not just an advocate but embodies the true meaning of “pono”—righteousness, fairness, and balance—by addressing critical issues that impact lives beyond the classroom.

Brooks has dedicated her work to creating safe and expressive spaces for students, ensuring they have a voice and a platform to share their stories.

Jodi Kunimitsu, HSTA’s HCR Committee chair, said of Brooks, “Her advocacy has built a culture of inclusion and empowerment, where every student feels valued and heard.”

During her acceptance speech, Brooks said, “My philosophy as an educator is simple: Empower students to connect with their community and their own potential through storytelling.”

Many of Brooks’ students come from Kaʻū, a remote community in south Hawaiʻi Island, far from service economies and economic opportunity. However, therein lies the opportunity Brooks discovered.

“Hearing my students talk about their challenges, I approach these things not as limitations, but rather as opportunities for growth,” she said.

Turning challenges into art through storytelling

Brooks’ passion for storytelling has transformed lives. Through drama, journalism, and television, she provides her students with tools to process their experiences and find strength in self-expression.

“As an English teacher, I’ve always believed in the power of stories. It has been beautiful to see how sharing these stories helped them connect with their heritage and with each other,” Brooks said.

She started a drama club at her school so her students would be able to express themselves creatively.

“The performance wasn’t just a play—it was a reunion of families, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and friends who came together to support our students,” she said

Her work mentoring young documentary filmmakers through PBS Hawai‘i’s HIKI NŌ program is one of many highlights of her career. From developing story ideas to post-production, she guides students through every step, helping them believe in the value of their unique perspectives.

“The support provided to them helps encourage and uplift students to participate and believe they have a story worth sharing,” she shared.

Her students write and publish their work, including an opinion column in the Honolulu Star Advertiser entitled “Technology: Shaping our youth for better or worse?” Her students also learn the basics of news writing and reporting with the local Ka‘ū Calendar newspaper.

Brooks’ most noteworthy project is working on publishing a groundbreaking book called “We Are America.” This collection of essays, photo portraits, and audio recordings explores student identity, resilience, and personal stories of struggle and strength.

“Students shared deeply personal experiences—from the pain of family separation and deportation to struggles with mental health and the challenges of navigating adolescence,” Brooks said. “This project is a testament to the power of representing every voice in our community.”

“Storytelling can provide a vital outlet for our students to cope with difficult experiences […] It’s always about creating a space where every student, regardless of their background, feels seen and heard,” she said.

At the end of her speech, Brooks thanked her 95-year-old grandmother, who was a history teacher, as well as her teacher colleagues, students, and community for the Pono Award honor.

“No one achieves success alone,” she concluded. “We are all built on a foundation of support and inspiration, and I am so fortunate to have you in my life.”