Local musicians headline benefit concert for Hawai'i educators

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Crossingrain
Local K-pop sensation Crossing Rain. | Provided by Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators

The Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators has issued the following press release:

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators (HFE) is teaming up with local musicians and performers for the third annual “Teach Our Future” benefit concert.

This year’s impressive lineup features Imua, Hālau Līlia Makanoe, The Camarillo Brothers, Eric Lee, and local K-pop sensation Crossing Rain with Billy V returning as emcee. Student performers, including the Hawaiʻi High School Saxophone Ensemble and Jarrett Middle School’s ukulele ensemble, will also entertain the crowd.

The show takes place Saturday, April 1, at McKinley High School. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25, plus taxes and fees, and are available at bit.ly/2023concert.

McKinley High’s Culinary Arts Program is offering $8 chicken or vegetarian bentos to enjoy before the show. They can be purchased starting at 4 p.m. in the McKinley cafeteria, which will be open for seating, and are also available for pre-order here.

“We look forward to entertaining the crowd with an unforgettable musical experience. Proceeds will help the Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators further its mission of providing professional development funding and support for Hawaiʻi’s educators, from both public and private schools,” said WIlbert Holck, who chairs HFE’s Board of Directors.

The Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators works in partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association to provide Hawaiʻi’s educators with high-quality training to best support our keiki. Since the summer of 2020, HFE has supported the professional development of approximately 5,000 teachers and impacted 250,000 students.

Rachel Fukuda, a special education teacher at Palolo Elementary, says HSTA’s professional development courses have helped her classroom skills immensely.

“Coming to a new school, I really didn’t have that connection with my students,” Fukuda said. “I really didn’t know much about them, and just the PD (professional development), it helped me to find ways that I can build those connections, make my classroom more culturally responsive to them, which in turn, opened up my classroom. My students are much more open now, willing to talk, willing to do work, and I just felt it helped me to build a much more positive relationship.”

A special mahalo to our gold sponsors Domino’s Hawaii and Atlantic Aviation; silver sponsors Hawaii Benefits Administrators, Inc., UHA Health Insurance, and Hawaiian Electric; and bronze sponsors Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, Dr. Kevin Kurohara, and Pūlama Lānaʻi.

About the Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators: The Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators (HFE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides Hawaiʻi teachers with quality training in professional and leadership development, research, and innovation. HFE advocates for the whole educator by supporting their professional goals while working alongside community partners to improve Hawaiʻi’s education system and elevate teaching as a vital and honorable profession. To learn more about HFE, visit www.hsta.org/foundation.