Hawai'i

Guided by our regional core values of kuleana (responsibility), ‘ohana (family), and aloha (love) and alongside our neighbors, we are preparing Hawai'i's keiki to be the authentic leaders of our local and global communities.
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Our Story

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
Two corps members in Hawaii collaborate at a white board.
Corps members working alongside community partners at Kuhiawaho on Oʻahu as part of the summer local practicum experience.

Where We Work

Corps members teach in four O‘ahu complex areas from Central O‘ahu to its Leeward Coast and three Hawai‘i Island complex areas serving all of the state's "Big Island."

Oʻahu

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."
People working outdoors

Hawaiʻi island

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."
People work outside in a garden bed.

Join Us Today

If you share our values and our belief in our keiki, we want to meet you. Check your eligibility to join the Hawai'i corps today.
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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. 

Kama'aina Educators Reflect on Teaching

“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.”

Sheldon Konno

Principal, Wai'anae Elementary

Teaching Certification and Graduate School

Teach For America Hawaiʻi facilitates a state-approved and nationally accredited teacher education program. By completing TFA Hawaiʻi’s Alternative Route to Certification (ARC) program, you will be recommended for licensure in the State of Hawaiʻi typically at the end of your first year as a corps member.

Some certification courses are through our two university partners, both of which offer an optional Master's degree as a continuation of your certification courses.

Read more about the efficacy of TFA Hawaii's ARC program in this 2024 report from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.

Get in Touch

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