The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) is encouraging families who have experienced a change in income due to furloughs or job losses from the federal government shutdown to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits for the current school year.

Application and program details are available at https://go.hidoe.us/FRPM. (Note: Federal employees who have been furloughed or are not receiving pay should input ‘0’ for income). 

New this school year, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will now receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Families approved for free meals are also eligible for free school bus services. Once approved, benefits remain in effect for the remainder of the school year.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring that our students and families have access to nutritious meals and a supportive learning environment during this uncertain time,” said Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “We encourage impacted families to reach out and take advantage of the resources and benefits available.”

In addition to meal benefits, HIDOE reminds students, families and staff that the following resources are available for support:

• Mental Health Support: Families are encouraged to check with their school on available mental health supports for students. In addition, parents and guardians can access free parent coaching and mental health tools available statewide at no cost. More information can be found here.
• Family Assistance and Support:
  • Aloha United Way Resource Referral Line
  • Foodbank Assistance Centers
  • Hawaiian Electric Company Payment Arrangements
• HIDOE Employee Support: The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential support to employees experiencing stress or emotional challenges related to the shutdown. Services include up to three hours of counseling or crisis assistance. Employees can call 808-597-8222 or toll-free 877-597-8222 to schedule an appointment (current pay stub required).

Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i invites you to a

FREE FAMILY LUNCHEON
Helping All Children Succeed!

Saturday • October 11, 2025 • 1:00-2:30PM

HALE A‘O BUILDING
Windward Community College
45-720 Kea‘ahala Rd; Kaneohe, HI 96744

RSVP BY OCTOBER 8 TO SECURE LUNCH AND CHILDCARE
tinyurl.com/HelpingAllChildren2025

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• “Talk Story: The Road to Student Success & Building Grit”
  Dr. Barbara Hong is an international advocate and educator with over 25 years of experience in transforming schools and improving student outcomes, particularly for marginalized learners, low-income, students with disabilities, and non-traditional groups.

• “Success for all our Students” panel discussion

  • Dr. Barbara Hong, Dean for Postsecondary Transition Programs in Massachusetts

  • Susan Rocco, Co-coordinator Special Parent Information Network (SPIN)

  • Debbie Kobayakawa, Chair Ohana Task Force for SOHI, HI State Council on Developmental Disabilities

  • Gordon Miyamoto, Educational Specialist for Hawaii Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports, Student Services Branch, HIDOE

FEATURED SPEAKER:  Dr. Barbara Hong is the author of “Failing UP- A professor’s odyssey of flunking, determination, and hope.” 

Understanding School Options in Hawai‘i

Honolulu Civil Beat’s next Civil Cafe will focus on school options in Hawaiʻi. The event will take place on Thursday, October 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Kaimukī. They will be exploring the current landscape of education across the state, exploring public, private and charter schools. They will discuss each school systemʻs innovations, challenges and the unique opportunities they offer students. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply curious about how education works in Hawaiʻi, this is your chance to ask questions and gain the insight you need to make informed decisions.

Panelists include:

Deanna DʻOlier – Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools

Deborah Bond – President of Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi

Ed H. Noh – Executive Director for Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission

This event will be moderated by Civil Beat education reporter Megan Tagami.

This event will be guided by written questions submitted by the audience in person and in advance. Send in your questions through this form.

This free in-person event will be live-streamed and recorded. The recording will be sent to everyone who registers, including those who cannot make it live. Transcripts will be available by request following the event.

The in-person event will be held at the Civil Beat newsroom in Kaimukī, located on the second floor above Goodwill Hawaiʻi. Parking is located within the building at 3650 Waiʻalae Avenue, entrance on Wilhelmina Rise. Parking validation for up to 2 hours will be provided for all attendees.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Parent Engagement Workshops Sign up NOW!

We’re excited to hold 4 Parent Engagement workshops over the next week.  They all take place online.  Join us to learn about resources and tools to support student and family success.

Participants received $60 for attending at least 3 workshops

RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/Fall2025PEP.

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Transition to High School: Make it Amazing Together
Saturday, September 27, 3 – 4pm 

• Navigate behavioral and social changes of teen years

• Help students minimize stress and maximize confidence in and out of school

• Support effective communication and self-regulation

  __________________________________________

Transition to Kindergarten: Ready, Set, Go!
Sunday, September 28, 3 – 4pm 

• Prepare for the emotional, social, and developmental changes that come with entering kindergarten

• Learn what to expect, common challenges, and practical strategies to support keiki

• Walk away with tools, confidence, and resources

  __________________________________________      

Transition to Middle School: Untangling Adolescence
Monday, September 29, 7 – 8pm

• Learn about the physical, developmental, and emotional changes during the adolescent period (10-19 years old) with a focus on middle school

• Gain resources to best navigate these changes

• Learn how to support children as they navigate new situations, including social media and bullying

  __________________________________________      

How You and Your Child Learn
Tuesday, September 30, 7 – 8pm

Join us for
“Patent Your Invention”
a Honolulu Tech Week Inventor Panel
featuring Hawai‘i public school graduatesWednesday, September 10 @ 1pm
Inspiration Hawaii Museum – 900 Richards Street

Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i is proud to partner with Inspiration Hawaii Museum to present this enlightening discussion about the invention and patent process.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

FREE for all students and $25 per adult.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Ogawa Borland graduated from Radford High School in Honolulu, before earning two degrees from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). In Silicon Valley, he designed equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips. In 1996, Borland was Vice President of Strategic Technology at Genus when a press release of Borland’s patent award resulted in a one day jump in Genus’ stock by 25%. Borland has published over 182 technical and invited papers around the world. His 2 Japanese patents on Solar energy shifting and sharing issued in 2022 and 2023 are being used in the 2023 IEEE Molokai Humanitarian project for Native Hawaiian Homesteaders in giving Energy Equity and access to the internet to rural families who were living off the grid.

Olin Kealoha Lagon is a Native Hawaiian social entrepreneur who grew up in Kalihi and graduated from Pearl City High School. Olin Kealoha Lagon has patented numerous concepts that have been used by millions of people around the world such as envisioning and co-launching the world’s first online crowdfunding service (Chipin) which scaled to fund $100 million in projects around the world, with the inaugural crowdfunding event being a fundraiser for the Hokulea. His current series of inventions are deployed at his company Shifted Energy where they help grid operators balance supply and demand to accommodate more indigenous energy and lower operating costs, solutions scaling in the United States and abroad.

Hoala Greevy is a Native Hawaiian entrepreneur who grew up in Liliha Valley and graduated from McKinley High School in Honolulu. He is the Founder and CEO of PauBox, a software company providing email security for the health care industry. PauBox is based in San Francisco with over 7,000 clients nationwide. Greavy’s mission is for his PauBox to become the market leader for HIPAA compliant communications. His expanding patent portfolio is a data point supporting that ambition.

Please click here to see the bills that we are following this legislative session.  We will keep you up to date on hearings and the status of the bills.