We drifted A few hours prior, in the late afternoon, one of our apprentice navigators was being put to the test in finding Swains Island from Apia, Samoa, a relatively short but challenging sail of bout 170 miles. Short because at an estimated 5 knots it would only take us about 48 hours, challenging because […]
What will it take to meet our 55 by 25 goal?
Meeting future workforce needs demands that at least 55 percent of working age adults in Hawaii hold a postsecondary degree or certificate. Yet right now we stand at a mere 43 percent. So what strategies or interventions can get more young people to and through college? Early college high schools hold great promise, and Hawaii’s first cohort of […]
We pause to celebrate progress
Last week marked the official end of Hawaii’s Race to the Top effort – the only state to finish on time, without the aid of a no cost extension. It is worth remembering where we were four years ago. Different public officials held in key leadership posts, as the grant was secured during Governor Linda Lingle’s tenure […]
Let’s Work Together to Restore Kawainui Marsh
Recent letters to the editor published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser makes me realize that people are not getting an accurate picture of the state’s well-articulated conceptual plans to restore and protect Hawai‘i’s largest remaining freshwater marsh complex, which sits right in the heart of Kailua. Cheryl McIlroy wrote in “Plan for marsh widely opposed” (Star-Advertiser, […]
Early College HS update: Congrads to the 12 selected partnerships!
Twelve high schools statewide have been selected to participate in the Early College High School Program, a coordinated initiative designed to allow more high school students to earn six or more college credits before they graduate from high school. Over the next three years, Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, with the support of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation and […]
Thoughts at Sea aboard Hōkūle‘a
When sailing late at night, into the immensity of open space, the uninterrupted quiet, and the relentless rise and fall of the swells, you’re left only with your thoughts, your emotions, and your fears. You and your fellow crewmembers are driven as much by the wind and sea as you are a singular goal to […]
Celebrating the accomplishments of GEARUP Hawai‘i
During the week of September 22, GEAR UP Hawai‘i celebrates National GEAR UP Week 2014. This week commemorates the continuing success of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a college access program funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide students and families the services they need for college success. […]
Leading the way: developing school leaders in Gwinnett County, GA
Last week, I joined a team from the Hawaii Department of Education in Gwinnett County, GA just outside of Atlanta. We were there to see how a best in class school district roughly the same size as ours prepares their future principals for the rigors of school leadership. In fact, just today, Gwinnett was named […]
Bringing tourism and environmental leaders together to heal our oceans
Yesterday, I spent half a day with two dozen corporate and conservation leaders to figure out how we can work together to promote the intersection of economic and environmental sustainability in Hawai‘i. Many thanks to Hawaiian Airlines’ Ann Botticelli and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Mike McCartney for their leadership to get this conversation started. As […]
Marine Conservation
Finding the Best Fit for Our Marine Conservation Efforts The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation loves the ocean. As a result, the Foundation directs much of its grantmaking to improving ocean governance and management through a community-based approach ensuring healthier, more resilient and more sustainable nearshore marine ecosystems. The Foundation defines the community-based approach as inclusive— […]