Jill Meinecke2026-05-06T14:49:26-10:00May 6, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: braille instruction, dyslexia screening, emergency hires, Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii AG, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, HIDOE, Hope McKeen, HSTA teacher lobbyist, HTSB, Osa Tui Jr, Sarah "Mili" Laffin, Sen. Ron Kouchi, teacher safety, TRO|
A bill that will address the rising problem of educational employees facing harassment from parents and other members of the public passed both houses of the Hawai’i State Legislature Wednesday, along with a measure that will give emergency hire teachers more time to become licensed.
Jill Meinecke2026-05-06T13:42:17-10:00May 6, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: automatic step increases, Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii Legislature, HSTA teacher lobbyist, salary raise, Sarah Milianta-Laffin, Sen. Brandon Elefante, Sen. Donna Kim, teacher appreciation week, teacher pay|
The State House and Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a bill that would ensure Hawaiʻi public and charter school teachers receive annual step pay increases, a best practice that's been the norm in most other school districts across the country for decades.
Jill Meinecke2026-05-01T15:31:26-10:00May 1, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: automatic step increases, Gov. Josh Green, House Education Committee, Jason Bradshaw, legislative session, Rep. Jackson Sayama, Rep. Justin Woodson, Sen. Brandon Elefante, Sen. Donna Kim, Senate Education Committee, teacher pay|
On the eve of Teacher Appreciation Week, state lawmakers on Friday showed their appreciation for educators by advancing a bill to fund annual step salary increases for public and charter school teachers.
Jill Meinecke2026-04-13T06:37:55-10:00April 9, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Gov. Josh Green, HIDOE, Oahu, Oahu campuses, severe weather, storms|
Following Gov. Josh Green’s directive issued Thursday, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will close all HIDOE campuses and offices on O‘ahu on Friday, April 10.
Jill Meinecke2026-05-05T14:46:46-10:00April 6, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: chief justice, Gov. Josh Green, Hawaiʻi State Bar Association, Hawaiʻi State Senate, Hawaii Supreme Court, Vladimir Devens|
Gov. Josh Green has nominated Associate Supreme Court Justice Vladimir Devens, who served as the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s labor attorney for eight years, to serve as chief justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.
Jill Meinecke2026-03-12T15:24:58-10:00March 9, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Corey Rosenlee, COVID hazard pay, Gov. Josh Green, House Finance Committee, HSTA teacher lobbyist, Osa Tui Jr, salary increase, salary steps, Sarah Milianta-Laffin, Senate Education Committee, Senate Labor Committee, Senate Ways and Means Committee|
The state House Finance Committee on Tuesday approved a measure that would fund annual step salary hikes for public and charter school teachers, a provision that has been in the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association contract for years but has never been funded.
Jill Meinecke2026-03-06T14:58:17-10:00March 6, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Andrea Eshelman, Colleen Hanabusa, compression, Congresswoman Hanabusa, Corey Rosenlee, Gov. Josh Green, HSTSO, Osa Tui, Sen. Hanabusa, Senate, Senate majority leader, Wilbert Holck|
Colleen Hanabusa, a trailblazing lawmaker and longtime champion of public educators, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, and unionized labor, died after a five-month battle with cancer early Friday. She was 74.
Jill Meinecke2026-02-20T15:30:10-10:00February 20, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Board of Education, COVID hazard pay, Gov. Josh Green, HIDOE, House Education Committee, Laverne Moore, Osa Tui Jr, pandemic, Rep. Justin Woodson, tax loopholes, UPW|
The State House Education Committee on Thursday approved a proposal to end a multi-million-dollar tax loophole enjoyed by rental car companies in Hawaiʻi to fund hazard pay for teachers who put themselves in harm’s way by teaching children during the pandemic.
Jill Meinecke2026-02-12T13:42:19-10:00February 12, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: automatic step increases, Board of Education, COVID hazard pay, Gov. Josh Green, HGEA, HIDOE, Keith Hayashi, Osa Tui, salary schedule, Sarah Milianta-Laffin, teacher pay|
Key state Senate and House committees have advanced proposals to establish annual step salary increases for public and charter school teachers.
Jill Meinecke2025-05-08T14:17:19-10:00May 8, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: 2025 legislative session, free school meals, Gov. Josh Green, hawaii state legislature, hazard pay, kaiapuni education, legislative priorities, legislature, paid family leave, public schools, Rep. Chris Todd, Trump Administration|
Despite financial uncertainty at the federal level, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is happy to report that, through persistent effort and your collective voice, we have achieved some very important wins for our members, students, and the future of public education in our state.
