‘We have to take time to celebrate our victories’
Posted: October 23, 2025
Around 50 educators from HSTA’s Maui Chapter came together last Thursday for a “Classy 8” celebration to honor the first cohort of teachers to advance to Class VIII on the salary schedule.
A majority of the attendees celebrated their attainment of Class VIII, the highest reclassification level on the salary schedule made possible through HSTA’s most recent contract.
The event also provided an opportunity for those on the cusp of Class VIII to ask questions about reclassification steps and recognized those who worked hard to make Class VIII a reality for educators.
During the celebration, held at Fuego Argentinian Steakhouse in Kahului, teachers shared about how they earned their credits to reclassify, including EL courses to meet the SIQ requirement, Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s Economics course, as well as other HSTA-sponsored professional development courses.
Maui Chapter Treasurer and Elections Committee co-chair Melinda Martinez and Maui Chapter Vice President Lisa Thompson helped conceive of and carry out the evening. They both teach at Kulanihakoʻi High.
The event featured a black and gold theme and graduation-inspired decorations like glow-in-the dark rubber duckies donning caps and gowns.
To mark their milestones, teachers wrote the number of years they had spent at Class VII on balloons, and then popped them in unison, symbolizing the end of one chapter and the start of a new one. They also played bingo, won teacher tool prizes, and connected with colleagues from across the island.
Ashley Olson, a Lahainaluna High teacher who works with multilingual students and serves as HSTA’s Maui Chapter president, said that the celebration was a great “feel good” opportunity for members.
“Too often we are so focused on the business of education or of the Association that we pass up opportunities to feel good about our colleagues and the work we do — to feel good about ourselves,” she said.
“The work we do as educators and as members of HSTA is vital, but sometimes it feels like the ‘wins’ are hard fought, and thin on the ground. We have to take time to celebrate our victories so that we don’t get discouraged by the other things that can be so slow to change,” Olson added.
Olson said that every chapter should consider hosting a “Classy 8” celebration.
“This was absolutely a fun, feel-good event.”
Under HSTA’s current contract, the 2025-2026 school year brought a significant victory for our most experienced educators, since the salary schedule was amended to create a Class VIII, with 4% of a raise higher than Class VII. More than 4,500 teachers are at Class VII and will begin moving to Class VIII this fall.
“The establishment of Class VIII is a significant win that our members have been asking for for so many years,” said HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr.
“Many felt we would never see Class VIII, but with our efforts legislatively and at the bargaining table, and with our strength in numbers, this goal is finally a reality. We will need this unity in the future to secure even more wins as we work towards securing the schools our keiki deserve!” Tui added.
