We are Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua’i a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to assisting Kaua’i’s aspiring student teachers to complete their education.
Our goal is to provide grants to teacher candidates entering their final student teaching semester who are in need of financial assistance. We have expanded our reach recently to include aspiring secondary educators. We have also reached past the University of Hawaii and included students from other teacher credentials programs. As always, recipients must have strong ties to Kaua’i and be willing to teach for at least three years on Kaua’i after they graduate.
*Please note that we are NOT affiliated with UH Manoa and HIDOE’s Grow Our Own Teachers Initiative program.
👟 Walk for a Cause: The 47th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk!
Support our local educators and the Kauaʻi community by joining the “Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauaʻi” team for this year’s Charity Walk. Whether you’re walking for the fitness or the flowers, every step helps make a difference!
📍 Event Details
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When: Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
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Where: Vidinha Stadium (Hoʻolako Street, Lihue, HI 96766)
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Registration: 6:00 AM
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Walk Starts: 7:00 AM
📝 How to Join
It’s easy to get involved! You can register or donate by scanning the QR code in the image below
Your participation directly supports Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauaʻi, helping us cultivate the next generation of educators right here at home
Meet Our SPRING 2026 Recipients
We are incredibly proud to introduce our latest cohort of SPRING scholarship recipients—a group of dedicated educators deeply rooted in the Kaua‘i community. From Crestienne Reynolds and Dallas Albao, who bring specialized expertise in academic intervention and secondary English to their alma maters, to Kaya Camara and J-Cey Lyn Oligo, who are committed to blending Special Education with the preservation of Hawaiian culture and values, these recipients embody the heart of local leadership. Joined by Joshua Cawley, whose focus on critical thinking and Aloha ‘Āina enriches the middle school history experience, these scholars have utilized the Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i program to complete their degrees at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Together, they represent a bright future for our island’s schools, ensuring that our keiki are taught by passionate professionals who understand and cherish the unique spirit of our community.
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For those who are entering their final student teaching semester in the Fall of 2026, the deadline to apply will be upon us before we know it! Get started now because your advisors must supply you with their recommendations! We must receive your application and supporting documents by November 30, 2026. Visit our Student Teaching Grant Application page for details and forms.
With the lack of teachers on Kaua’i at a critical point, Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua’i is dedicated to identifying the ways in which we can help alleviate this issue. We welcome your thoughts, your time, and your donations to further our cause.
Kaua’i Teacher Appreciation Anytime
We are proud to support our Kaua’i teachers year round! If you missed out on filling in a “Thank Your Teacher” notecard at the Charity Walk in May and you’d like to thank a special teacher, please contact us. We can make arrangements to mail you a notecard with an envelope that you can use to thank your teacher!
While we appreciate our teachers every day, May 6th through 10th is National Teacher Appreciation Week. This year, we will have special “Thank You” cards at our booth at the HLTA Charity Walk. students can fill out a special card expressing their thanks to a special teacher (no donation required). During the week, we will deliver those cards to the teachers so they know their students appreciate them.
In addition, on May 7th, we will present a proclamation to our Mayor, the Honorable Derek S.K. Kawakami for his signature. The proclamation declares May 6th through 10th KAUAI Teacher Appreciation Week and urges that all citizens observe the week with activities promoting the appreciation of our Kauai teachers.
If you cannot attend the Charity Walk, but you want to recognize a special teacher, please email us at contactus@growingkauaiteachers.org. We can work something out for you.