Hawai'i
Who We Look For
Hoʻokahi nō lā o ka malihini is a ‘Olelo No'eau (Hawai'ian proverb). Translated to "a stranger for only a day," it speaks of how after the first day as a guest, one must help with the work.
Teach For America's Hawai'i region needs:
- Leaders who embody our regional values of kuleana, ʻohana, and aloha
- Leaders who embody TFA's core values of choosing courage and acting with humility
- Leaders with deep ties to Hawai‘i and people with an orientation towards partnership
- Leaders with awareness and understanding of Hawaiʻi’s history, context, and culture
Where We Work
Oʻahu
Oʻahu is home to the majority of Hawaiʻi’s population, a fusion of East and West cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people. Since 2006, we have worked to find passionate individuals who are committed to expanding opportunities for all children. From our initial charter corps of 50 young leaders a wave of impact has steadily grown over the years, impacting over 50,000 students, primarily in our high need communities in the Leeward and Central Districts of O‘ahu. Today, the vast majority of new teachers are clustered in the Nānākuli-Wai‘anae complex.
In this photo, corps members work alongside community partners at Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi on Oʻahu as part of the ongoing professional development during your corps experience at “TFAmily days."
Hawaiʻi island
Hawaiʻi island is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain. Nearly twice as big as all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined its sheer size is awe-inspiring. We expanded our work here in 2009 and have worked to build strong community and school partnerships. While our Corps Members and Alumni teach in schools across all three complexes, our most significant concentration of teachers is in the Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena complex.
In this photo, corps members work alongside community partners at the Mā'ona Community Garden on Hawai’i Island as part of the ongoing professional development during your corps experience at “TFAmily days."
Join Us Today
Local Leadership
The tourism-driven narrative of Hawai‘i as paradise ignores the complex history and experiences of kamaʻāina (local residents) and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) today. Kamaʻāina and Kanaka Maoli residents are increasingly priced out of their homes and Kanaka Maoli face persistent disparities in education opportunities, health outcomes, and incarceration rates.
This work requires a collective effort, and we are proud to partner with the Hawai'i State Department of Education and our local communities. Fueling the local economy and centering local needs, we're eager to recruit kamaʻāina and Kanaka Maoli corps members. You can read more about this effort, as well as our vision for our keiki, in our 10-year strategic plan or hear from some of our local corps members and alumni in the video below.
Teach For America Hawai'i Leadership
“We're so fortunate to be in this teaching profession where we're allowed to provide access, hope, and opportunity for students that are going to change the world tomorrow.”
Support Our Work
Your generosity helps create a future in which all of Hawaii's children can learn, lead, and thrive.
Download the 2025 report from the Association on Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) to learn more about Teach For America Hawaii's accreditation status.