Jill Meinecke2026-05-28T13:55:53-10:00May 28, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Aiea High, automatic step increases, Brandon Elefante, emergency hires, Hawaii Legislature, J1 visa, Osa Tui Jr, public schools, Sen. Brandon Elefante, Senate Labor Committee, teacher safety|
Public school graduate and Senate Labor Chair Brandon Elefante (D, Aiea, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Waimalu, Pearl City) told the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association that collaboration between lawmakers, the union, and education advocates helped pass key bills this legislative session related to automatic step increases, educator safety, and teacher retention.
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 Meinecke2026-04-15T11:07:58-10:00April 15, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Hawaii Foundation for Educators, Hawaii Teachers Standards Board, HSTA vice president, HTSB, Logan Okita, National Board Certification, Nimitz Elementary, Osa Tui Jr|
The Hawaiʻi State Senate voted Tuesday to confirm the nomination of Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Vice President Logan Okita to the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board.
Jill Meinecke2026-04-27T18:24:26-10:00April 2, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: disaster relief, flood relief, floods, HIDOE, HSTA Board of Directors, Josh Green, maui wildfires, Osa Tui Jr|
HSTA members may now apply for storm relief assistance from the union if they suffered significant damage to their primary residence, primary vehicle, and/or classroom or workspace caused by the Kona low storms across Hawaiʻi last month. Each qualifying category is eligible for a minimum of $250 in relief.
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 Meinecke2026-03-06T15:30:35-10:00March 2, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: automatic step increases, Donovan Dela Cruz, Osa Tui Jr, Senate Education Committee, Senate Labor Committee, Senate Ways and Means Committee, teacher compensation study, teacher pay|
A proposal to establish annual step salary hikes for public and charter school teachers passed a key hurdle Monday when the state Senate Ways and Means Committee approved the measure, setting it up for a vote of the full State Senate and then crossing over to the State House for further committee hearings.
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.
cschubert2025-07-25T13:39:13-10:00July 25, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Ann Mahi, Education Leadership, Hawaiʻi Education, HSTA, Lifelong Educator, Osa Tui Jr, professional development, retirement, teacher advocacy, Teacher Leadership|
Ann Mahi, a lifelong educator and executive director of the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association since 2022, retired this month after three years of leading the union, leaving behind a legacy of strengthened professional development opportunities and unwavering advocacy for Hawaiʻi’s teachers and students.
cschubert2025-07-25T06:24:49-10:00July 24, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Class VIII, Hawaiʻi Teachers, HSTA, Osa Tui Jr, public education, salary schedule, Step increase, Teacher Benefits, Teacher Contract, Teacher Pay Raise|
Most Hawaiʻi public and charter school teachers will receive a step pay raise of up to 6% at the start of the 2025–2026 school year, with the introduction of a new Class VIII salary tier and additional benefits outlined in the current HSTA contract.
Jalen Ashley2024-08-23T09:27:17-10:00August 22, 2024|Categories: News|Tags: Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention, Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii Democratic Party, Kamala Harris, Osa Tui Jr, Tim Walz|
HSTA President Osa Tui Jr. is one of 400 unionized public school educators comprising 10% of the delegates who selected Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
