HSTA Policy Guide being distributed to lawmakers

COVID-19 hazard pay for educators, automatic step increases, free school meals for students and paid family leave for state and county employees are among the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s key priorities for this year’s state legislative session that began Wednesday.

For the first time, our union has compiled an HSTA Policy Guide which will be distributed to state lawmakers.

Hope Pualani McKeen, HSTA’s Government Relations Committee Chair, said, “What we want to achieve is moving our priorities forward for our membership. It always takes a lot of work to get a bill passed. Thousands of bills get introduced every session, and thousands of bills don’t get passed. So it’s really important to be here, to be present, to continuously network with different legislators and key leadership roles and get other organizations to support us as well.”

McKeen explained that HSTA’s relationship with lawmakers is important because educators know what students need, and lawmakers help fund requests to improve the lives of students.

“A majority of our funds come from here (state Legislature), and we know what our kids need, and so that’s why legislators should listen to us. We know what our schools need, we know what our fellow colleagues need. When lawmakers hear the stories from the schools, they really do take it to heart,” added McKeen, who is a district resource teacher focusing on Hawaiian immersion education for the Ka’ū-Kea’au-Pāhoa Complex Area and HSTA’s most recent S.T.A.C.Y. Award winner.

HSTA Teacher Lobbyist Sarah Milianta-Laffin, who attended opening day of the 2025 legislative session, said, ”​​Sen. Elizabeth Warren says, ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu.’ So being here on opening day is so important because we want to make sure not only we have a seat at the table, but that we are driving the menu and what’s moving forward to help our students, to help our members.

“The point of being here is being present so that legislators know that we expect them to deliver for our members, for our students, and for the good of the state,” said Milianta-Laffin, a teacher at ‘Ilima Intermediate and one of six to recently be awarded the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) for Hawaiʻi from President Biden.

From left: HSTA Teacher Lobbyist Sarah Milianta-Laffin, HSTA Government Relations Chair Hope Pualani McKeen

Here’s a summary of some of our top priorities:

Temporary hazard pay – no educator left behind

Certain state employees including teachers, principals, vice principals and faculty of the University of Hawaiʻi system faced a heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 during the pandemic due to the nature of their work and the need for consistent in-person presence. These employees provided essential services to the public, often in challenging and potentially hazardous environments. Their dedication and sacrifice helped maintain critical functions of the state and ensured the well-being of Hawaii’s residents. We believe a one-time hazard pay bonus is an appropriate way to recognize and compensate these employees for their extraordinary service during the pandemic and would be in line with those being received by other public sector workers.

Daniel McLaughlin, a special education teacher at Roosevelt High, said, “Teachers were on the front lines of this whole COVID thing, and we were asked to do more than even restaurants, and things were closing down. There were all these precautions being taken, and yet they wanted to keep schools open during this time.

“Of course, we never thought that we would need hazard pay. But it was a hazardous situation, and we were told to just go in and do the best that we could. And we did, and I feel that maybe we should get some compensation for that.”

Teacher pay — automatic step increases

The cost of living in Hawaiʻi is significantly higher than the national average, which poses challenges for teachers in the islands. Teacher salaries in Hawaiʻi do not keep up with the high cost of housing, groceries, and other essential expenses. This disparity can make it difficult for teachers to afford to live comfortably, especially in high-demand areas like Honolulu. As a result, attracting and retaining qualified educators remains a significant challenge for the state, with many teachers leaving for less expensive areas or seeking higher-paying jobs. Addressing the gap between teacher pay and the cost of living is crucial to ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s students have access to quality education and that the teaching profession remains sustainable in the state.

Re-establishing automatic annual step increases provides a clear career path with predictable salary growth for teachers, helping attract and retain talent in the face of teacher shortages. This system recognizes the growing expertise of educators and rewards their dedication with guaranteed raises, boosting morale and professional development. Additionally, automatic step increases simplify salary administration, creating a transparent and objective process that reduces potential for disputes.

Educator housing – affordable places to live for teachers

Educator housing policies aim to provide affordable or subsidized housing options for educators, particularly in high-cost or rural areas. These policies can take various forms, including building dedicated housing complexes for teachers, offering rental assistance or down payment support, or even providing housing directly on school grounds. The goal is to attract and retain qualified teachers by alleviating the financial burden of housing, especially in communities where housing costs may be prohibitive for educators. By making housing more accessible, these policies strive to improve teacher recruitment and retention, ultimately benefiting students and the overall quality of education.

Universal free school meals – no-charge student breakfast and lunch

A policy to make all Hawaiʻi students eligible for free public school meals would aim to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to every student enrolled in public schools, regardless of family income. This approach, often referred to as universal free school meals, seeks to eliminate the stigma associated with free or reduced-price meals and ensure that all students have access to nutritious food during the school day.

Currently, Hawaiʻi offers free or reduced-price meals based on income eligibility, but a universal program would extend this benefit to all students. This could be achieved through various means, such as increased state funding, leveraging federal programs like the Community Eligibility Provision, or a combination of both. Proponents of this policy argue that it would improve student health and academic performance, reduce administrative burdens for schools, and contribute to a more equitable educational environment.

California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, Michigan, and Massachusetts have all passed free universal school meals for all.

Paid family leave for state and county employees

Paid family leave is a policy that provides employees with paid time off to care for a new child or a family member with a serious health condition. It allows individuals to take time away from work without losing income, ensuring they can focus on their family’s needs. While specific policies vary, paid family leave generally aims to support employees during major life events while promoting work-life balance. It can be a crucial safety net for families, helping them manage caregiving responsibilities without facing financial hardship.

Additionally, paid family leave is crucial for the well-being of families, the health of our economy, and for promoting gender equity. It allows parents to bond with new children without sacrificing their economic security, leading to better health outcomes for both parents and babies. Furthermore, it enables workers to care for seriously ill family members, reducing stress and improving recovery. By providing paid time off, we support families, increase worker productivity, and create a more equitable society where both caregiving and career advancement are possible.

Read more about our government relations priorities here.

Read HSTA’s Policy Guide that will be distributed to every state lawmaker.