HONOLULU — Corey Nakamura, the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School principal, was honored on Saturday as one of the Department of Education’s Top 15 principals by the Island Insurance Foundation in Honolulu.
Each of the 15 public school principals named has been nominated for the 19th Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award and received a $1,000 cash award to celebrate their accomplishments as educational leaders. The 15 nominees lead public elementary and secondary schools in all four state counties.
The 2025 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award recipient and two semifinalists will be announced as part of the official program during the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation annual gala event on April 17.
The winning school principal will earn a $25,000 award, of which $15,000 will go to a school project and $10,000 to a personal award. The two semifinalists will each receive a $2,000 personal award.
Hawaii DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi and Island Insurance Foundation Chairman Tyler Tokioka headlined the appearance of state and city officials, including Sen. Samantha DeCorte, Rep. Mike Lee, Rep. Lauren Cheape Matsumoto, Rep. Jackson Sayama, Rep. David Alcos, and a representative of Sen. Kurt Fevella, to honor the principal nominees from their respective districts.
“A school is only as great as its leader,” said Tyler Tokioka. “These 15 principals have created learning environments that are inspiring teachers, staff, and students to strive to their highest.”
The award is named for the late Masayuki Tokioka, founder of Island Insurance Company, Ltd., a graduate of Hawaii public schools. The Island Insurance Foundation underwrites the award in his honor.
Other nominees for the award include Kimberly Anthony-Maeda of Kailua High School, Bryan Arbles of Hilo Union Elementary, Kasey Eisenhour of Keonepoko Elementary in Pahoa, Hawaii Island, Albert Hetrick of Aliamanu Middle School, Lisa Ann Higa of Nanakuli Elementary, Kimberly Kaai of Maunaloa Elementary on Molokai, Noreen Kunitomo of Honaunau Elementary in Captain Cook on the Big Island, Ryan Kusuda of Waikiki Elementary, Walter Santiago of Kahaluu Elementary, Paul Taga of Keoneula Elementary in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Troy Tamura of Mililani Waena Elementary, Gavin Tsue of Palisades Elementary in Pearl City, Merilee Valentino of Paia Elementary on Maui, and Christopher Baba Yim of Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Anuenue School in Palolo.
Since 2003, the Island Insurance Foundation has donated more than $14.5 million to a wide array of nonprofit organizations across Hawaii, including more than $1.4 million to approximately 140 local nonprofits in 2024. The Foundation is recognized as one of the Top 25 most active private foundations in Hawaii.
For more information, visit www.islandinsurance.com.
