Haleiwa Elementary Principal Nominated For Education Award

Haleiwa Elementary School principal Malaea Wetzel (front, second from right) and the 12 other Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award nominees show off their awards March 28 at the Island Insurance offices. The educators are joined by Island Insurance Foundation president Tyler Tokioka (standing, left) and DOE deputy superintendent Ronn Nozoe (standing, right). Photo by Schechter Photography.

Haleiwa Elementary School principal Malaea Wetzel has joined 12 other public school principals selected as nominees for the 11th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. The award is given by Island Insurance Foundation in honor of the company’s founder.

Each nominee was presented with a $1,000 personal cash award and commemorative plaque at the March 28 celebration. Nominees are eligible to win the top prize of a $10,000 personal cash award and an additional $15,000 for a school project of their choice. Two semi-finalists will receive a $2,000 personal cash award.

“There is an outstanding group of principals who were nominated, and I feel very honored to be in such good company,” said Wetzel, who was surprised by the nomination and discounts her chance of winning. “There are principals who have been nominated that I have tremendous admiration for, and I think they should win the award based on their body of work.”

The award recipient will be selected by a committee composed of Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation board members and professionals in the education field.

“My grandfather Masayuki Tokioka believed that education, integrity and hard work were the keys to success,” said Island Insurance Foundation president Tyler Tokioka. “All that he achieved would not have been possible without the public school system that provided him with the foundation to pursue unlimited opportunities. This is why we are so honored to be able to recognize these principals who give so much to their schools and our community.”

The award is open to all public school principals. Nominees submitted an application showcasing their leadership, school programs and contributions to their schools.

Wetzel’s application calls for the establishment of two scholarships for Haleiwa Elementary School graduates currently attending Waialua High and Intermediate School.

The first scholarship will go to help fund post-secondary education, and the second will be awarded to Waialua freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors involved in co-curricular activities.

“We strongly believe that co-curricular activities, sports, band and clubs, really help kids keep engaged in school, and when they are engaged in school they do well in school,” said Wetzel.

The winner will be announced April 30 at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation Dinner.