Waiakea High School mathematics teacher Rory Inouye and Kawananakoa Middle School educator Jade Pham both received awards from the Milken Educator program, also known as the “Oscars of Teaching,” according to a news release.
What You Need To Know
Rory Inouye is an alum of Waiakea High School, where he teaches math now. He is known for tailoring problem-solving lessons to his students’ diverse backgrounds and talents to make learning engaging
Inouye also comes from a family of teachers, with his father, mother and brother all working as educators
Jade Pham immigrated to Hawaii with her family as a toddler and attended public schools while growing up in public housing
In 2021, Pham started teaching at Kawananakoa Middle as a special education and social studies teacher before taking on her current role as student services coordinator
The Milken Educator Award recognizes exceptional teachers and comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. The Milken Family Foundation launched the awards program in 1987.
An alum of Waiakea High, Inouye is a math teacher who tailors problem-solving lessons to his students’ diverse backgrounds and talents to make learning engaging, according to Superintendent Keith Hayashi.
“His firm belief in student-led learning and real-world applications allows his students to see the practical relevance of mathematics in their daily lives, making abstract concepts tangible and intuitive,” Hayashi said in the news release.
Inouye comes from a family of teachers, with his father, mother and brother all working as educators. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a master’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
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“I got into teaching not to win awards and not to be recognized, but to help the students, to give back. I remember being a student at Waiakea High School, and I wasn’t the strongest student. For me, that really inspired me to be a math teacher. We want to show students you don’t have to be afraid of math,” Inouye said after receiving his award in a surprise assembly at Waiakea High. “To be awarded this it’s just shocking, amazing, and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it.”
Along with his work as a math teacher, Inouye manages after-school tutoring programs and advises the Homecoming Committee. He is a former Waiakea High baseball player, and he coached the team to consecutive appearances in Division I championship games in 2017 and 2018.
Pham immigrated to Hawaii with her family as a toddler and attended public schools while growing up in public housing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oregon’s Corban University in 2017, thinking she would go into a legal field. After returning to Hawaii, she began teaching and discovered her love for teaching. In 2019, she earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
“I do believe that I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for all of my teachers that believed in me growing up,” Pham said after receiving the award at a surprise assembly at Kawananakoa Middle School. “All and all, it’s the teachers that really mentored me from when I was in preschool all the way up till today.”
In 2021, Pham started teaching at Kawananakoa Middle in Honolulu as a special education and social studies teacher before taking on her current role as student services coordinator, where she provides support to all classrooms and works closely with teachers.
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“Jade is an outstanding teacher who advocates for every student and works diligently to create high-quality learning opportunities for all grade levels at Kawananakoa,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “Her engagement with her fellow teachers has created processes to improve students’ academic and personal growth through data-driven problem solving and project-based learning. Her dedication to mentoring her colleagues and to improving student outcomes has elevated the entire school.”
In February, Pham received her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification in recognition of meeting the highest standards for teaching. She was recently asked by Kawananakoa Middle Principal Ronnie Victor to serve as a temporarily assigned vice principal for the school.
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.
At UH Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
This column is by Pelehonuamea Harman, director of Native Hawaiian engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. In her columns, Pele shares Native Hawaiian protocols on the use of ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), cultural traditions, traditional ways of Indigenous learning, and more. This column is on Mahina ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), celebrated every February to honor the Hawaiian language.Pelehonuamea Harman
Each year, the month of Pepeluali marks Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, a time dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the Hawaiian language. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.
While Pepeluali gives us a focused moment of celebration, the Hawaiian language should not live only within a single month. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi thrives when it is used every day.
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One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to begin is by pronouncing the words we already encounter daily with accuracy and care. Hawaiian is an oral language carried through voice and relationship. When we take the time to say words correctly, we demonstrate respect for the language and for the poʻe (people) who have worked tirelessly to ensure its survival.
Across our own campus, we have opportunities to do this every day.
Let us honor the names of our places by using them fully:
An attendee at celebrations on May 6, 2023, takes a photo of the new Edith Kanakaʻole mural by artist Kamea Hadar. The mural is located at Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after beloved educator Aunty Edith, on the campus of UH Hilo. (Photo: UH System News)
Kanakaʻole Hall, not “K-Hall.” (Formally Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after our beloved kumu.)
Waiʻōlino, not “CoBE,” for our College of Business and Economics. (Formally Hānau ʻO Waiʻōlino; waiʻōlino literally means sparkling waters, alluding here to bringing forth waters of wellbeing and prosperity.)
These names are not merely labels for buildings. They carry ʻike (knowledge), history, and meaning. Speaking them in their entirety acknowledges the stories and values embedded within them.
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Using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi does not require fluency. It simply requires willingness. Each of us already knows words we can begin using more intentionally.
Greet one another with aloha.
Express gratitude with mahalo whenever possible.
Small choices like these help normalize Hawaiian language in our daily interactions and strengthen UH Hilo’s identity as a place grounded in Hawaiʻi.
One of the most common questions I am asked is: How do you respond in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi when someone says “mahalo” to you?
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Here are three simple and appropriate responses:
ʻAʻole pilikia — It’s no problem.
He mea iki — It is just a little thing.
Noʻu ka hauʻoli — The pleasure is mine.
There is no single correct answer. What matters most is participating in the exchange and allowing the language to live through conversation.
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Aerial view of the UH Hilo campus with Hilo Bay in the distance. UH Hilo’s commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed. (Archive photo)
UH Hilo holds a unique and important role as Hawaiʻi Island’s university. Our commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed.
You do not need to wait until you feel ready. You do not need to know many words. The language grows stronger each time it is spoken.
So during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and throughout the entire year I encourage the UH Hilo ʻohana to:
Use the Hawaiian words you already know.
Pronounce names and places with intention and care.
Greet others with aloha.
Share mahalo often.
Because when we use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we are doing more than speaking words, we are helping to perpetuate and uplift the native language of our home.
E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Let the Hawaiian language live.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal, Trevell Jordan and Louis Sakanoko put up a triple block against BYU Cougars Trevor Herget during Wednesday’s NCAA men’s volleyball match at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
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Kainoa Wade came on strong to lead another balanced Hawaii attack with 16 kills and the third-ranked Rainbow Warriors responded to a rare set loss in a big way to defeat No. 6 Brigham Young 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 tonight.
A Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,800, who showed up for a match scheduled just three weeks ago as a late addition to the schedule, saw Hawaii (13-1) drop the second set despite hitting .538.
UH had full command of the rest of the match and finished the night hitting .460 as a team. Louis Sakanoko added 15 kills, six digs and three aces and Adrien Roure had 14 kills in 24 swings.
Middle Travell Jordan posted a season-high seven kills in 11 swings with four blocks and Ofeck Hazan, who came into the match to start the third set, had four kills and two blocks.
Trent Moser had 18 kills to lead the Cougars (13-3), whose previous two losses came in five sets against No. 4 UC Irvine.
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UH’s loss in the second set was just its sixth of the season and third in its 13 wins. Hawaii has won 10 matches in a row.
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The two teams will play again on Friday night at 7.
