Governor Josh Green, MD, today announced the Lahaina HERO Awards, a new initiative to recognize the extraordinary resilience and dedication of Department of Education (DOE) employees who played a critical role in keeping Lahaina schools open following the devastating Maui wildfires last year. HERO stands for Honoring Employees’ Resilience and Optimism in helping Lahaina students in Despite the Challenges were powered by the forestfires.
“The dedication shown by our Lahaina School staff during and after the wildfires is nothing short of extraordinary. They embody the true 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,” said Green. “These awards are a heartfelt recognition of their incredible efforts, but more than that, they are a tribute to the unwavering spirit these individuals brought to their community. In the darkest of times, they were a beacon of hope and strength for Lahaina’s students and families. We are deeply grateful for their courage, sacrifice, and love for our island ohana.”
This once-in-a-lifetime initiative is made possible by a generous gift from Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce, and his wife Lynne. Both longtime Hawaii residents and philanthropists, the two were moved by the incredible challenges these employees have faced and the importance of maintaining continuity of education for Lahaina students.
This latest donation from the Benioffs adds to their more than $250 million in charitable commitments to Hawai’i, which include longstanding support of public schools and affordable housing through the Hawai’i Island Community Development Corporation, and the creation of continuous, high-quality health care for Hawai’i residents through Hilo Benioff Medical Center on Hawai’i Island and Straub Benioff Medical Center on O’ahu in partnership with UCSF Health in San Francisco.
“We are honored to support the Lahaina HERO Awards and stand alongside the hundreds of dedicated educators and staff whose strength and resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges have been nothing short of heroic,” said Marc and Lynne Benioff. “Education has always been a focus of our philanthropy as it is the cornerstone of our communities. We are inspired by the dedication of these staff and proud to play a part in ensuring that the children of Lahaina continue to have access to the education they deserve.”
“We are deeply grateful for the philanthropic gift from Marc and Lynne Benioff and for the important partnership with Green to create the Lahaina HERO program. This initiative recognizes the resilience and dedication of our staff who, despite personal and professional challenges, reopened our Lahaina schools last October and continue to stand by our Lahaina students, providing support, community, education and a sense of normalcy,” said DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi.
The Lahaina HERO Awards will provide financial awards to DOE employees who directly supported Lahaina students when schools reopened for the 2023-24 school year, as well as the fall 2024 semester. Eligible employees will receive $2,500 per award period, while eligible casual employees will receive up to $1,000. Approximately 400 employees are expected to meet eligibility criteria for each award period.
Participation criteria:
Must be a DOE employee (permanent or temporary) who has had paid status and has directly supported Lahaina schools (e.g., on-site) for a minimum number of hours/days during the eligibility periods.
Application process:
Eligible active employees and casual workers who meet the minimum number of days (salaried) or hours (casual) will receive an email from the DOE with an application link. The Maui Economic Development Board will be responsible for disbursing the award once applications are processed. The award application deadline for the 2023-24 school year is September 3, 2024. Disbursements are expected to be processed within 6-8 weeks.
Prize money:
Number of employees (based on information from the 2023-24 school year)
