She is honored for being ‘a staunch supporter of AFY’s work with high-risk youth’
Posted: December 4, 2024
Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Executive Director Ann Mahi received the nonprofit Adult Friends for Youth’s (AFY) 2024 lifetime achievement award Friday during its annual fundraiser in Waikīkī.
Mahi began and ended her 42-year career with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education on Oʻahu’s Waiʻanae Coast. She started as a 9th grade guidance teacher at Waiʻanae High in 1976 and retired in 2020 after serving eight years as complex area superintendent of the Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area. Mahi became HSTA’s executive director in 2022.
Deborah Spencer-Chun, president and CEO of Adult Friends for Youth, called Mahi “a dedicated educator to the core and our dear friend who has graciously and quietly supported AFY, especially on the west side. When I think of her, I always think of the local pidgin phrase, ‘no sked ‘em, go get ‘em.’”
AFY’s writeup honoring Mahi said, “Ann has been a staunch supporter of AFY’s work with high-risk youth. Through her extensive work and relationships in the Nanakuli-Waianae Complex Area, she has been integral in connecting AFY to schools and youth on the Leeward Coast.”
In her acceptance speech, Mahi said, “As a teacher and school administrator, I have witnessed too many young lives caught in cycles of hardship—whether it be in the grips of addiction, surrounded by violence, poverty or facing the harsh reality of homelessness.”
“Yet, within each struggle lies a spark of potential, a desire for change, and the ability to rise above adversity. It has been my privilege to help ignite that spark, to provide support, mentorship, and a listening ear, and to believe in each child when times were tough,” Mahi added.
“This award is a reflection of the collective efforts of countless individuals who stand beside me in this mission. To my colleagues—your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our students inspire me every day. Together, we have created a community of support, where every child feels valued, seen, and empowered to reach for their dreams,” Mahi said.
“As I accept this award, I am reminded that we still have much work to do. The challenges are great, but so is the potential of our youth. Let us continue to work together—educators, community leaders, parents, and advocates—to break down barriers and create pathways for all children to realize their dreams,” she said.
Earlier this year, Mahi received AFY’s PEARL Hero Award for her lifetime dedication to improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s most disadvantaged youth.
Mahi has also served as a volunteer board member at the Atherton YMCA, and after she retired from HIDOE, she became a board member for Hoʻokakoʻo Corporation, a nonprofit that oversees three public conversion charter schools on Oʻahu, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island.
Since 2020, she has also served on the board of Mental Health of America Hawaiʻi.
Mahi was honored along with other awardees during AFY’s Judie Rosen 38th Annual Celebration of Youth at the ʻAlohilani Hotel in Waikīkī on Nov. 29.
The event also celebrated the legacy of the late Sid and Judie Rosen, lifelong educators, advocates, and parents of HSTA’s immediate past president Corey Rosenlee. Sid, who died in February, founded Adult Friends for Youth while Judie, who passed away in 2012, was a proud HSTA member and Wilson Elementary School teacher.
Featured photo from left: Adult Friends for Youth President and CEO Deborah Spencer-Chun, Hawai‘i State Teachers Association Executive Director Ann Mahi and IBEW Local 1186 Business Manager Damien Kim, who chairs the AFY board of directors.