By Yiming Fu, Report for America corps member
About 400 Department of Education employees will receive HERO grants for their work keeping schools open after last August’s wildfires that displaced 12,000 and burned down 3,000 properties including King Kamehameha III Elementary School.
“The dedication shown by our Lahaina school employees during and after the wildfires is nothing short of extraordinary. They embody the very essence of aloha—resilient in the face of adversity, compassionate in their service to others and deeply committed to the well-being of our keiki (children),” Governor Josh Green said in a Monday press release.
Educators have had to adapt to multiple environments to keep kids engaged. After the fire, King Kamehameha III Elementary School students took online classes, attended learning hubs in community spaces and went to school in tent structures before relocating to a new campus.
The HERO award will be for employees who supported students in the 2023-24 school year as well as the fall 2024 term. About 400 employees will be eligible for each award period. Salaried employees will receive $2,500 per award period and eligible casual employees will receive up to $1,000. Eligible recipients will receive an email from the BOE, and the application deadline for the 2023-24 school year is September 3, 2024.
The Maui Economic Development Board will issue payments, which are expected to be processed within 6-8 weeks.
The donation comes from Marc Benioff and his wife Lynee, longtime Hawai’i residents and philanthropists who said they were moved by the DOE employees perseverance through challenges to educate students.
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