Yamamoto Finalist in School Leadership Award

Island Insurance Foundation News Release

Principal Joe Yamamoto of Maunaloa Elementary on Molokai was named as one of the 13 finalists in the 2014 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Awards, which recognizes outstanding Hawaii public school principals for their efforts to provide high-quality learning opportunities for their students.  Each finalist received a $1,000 personal cash award and a Certificate of Recognition at a presentation ceremony held on March 29.

The finalists will by vying for the $25,000 (a $10,000 personal cash award and $15,000 towards a school project of his or her choice) grand prize award at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation dinner on May 1 in Honolulu.  In addition, two semi-finalists will be selected and receive a $2,000 personal cash award.  The award, which is named after Island Insurance founder Masayuki Tokioka, is underwritten by the Island Insurance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Island Insurance Companies.

Yamamoto has been principal of Maunaloa Elementary on Molokai for 15 years.  Living on an island that is highly dependent on imported products and the high cost of fuel and utilities, Yamamoto and the staff at Maunaloa understand the importance of sustainability.  Partnering with the nonprofit organization FoodCorps and its message of “connecting kids to real food and helping them grow up healthy,” the school began a program where each teacher is allowed to decide on their garden focus.  The program contained a three part recipe that included teaching kids about what healthy food is and where it comes from, building and tending school gardens, and bringing high quality local foods into public school cafeterias.

The Island Insurance Foundation was established as the charitable arm of Island Insurance, Hawaii’s largest locally owned and managed P&C insurance carrier.  For more information, visit its website at islandinsurance.com.