Kealakehe High School educator honored as Hawaii District Teacher of the Year

Kealakehe High School’s David Huitt was recognized as Hawaii District Teacher of the Year on Tuesday.

The state House of Representatives on Tuesday recognized the top teachers of the year for 2015 with presentations on the floor of the House, as part of Education Week at the Capitol.

Huitt, a history teacher at the Kailua-Kona high school, has inspired his students to pursue their dreams while teaching humility through community service, which is a hallmark of Huitt’s curriculum. Huitt’s students have raised approximately $50,000 for orphans in India, cooked more than 6,000 meals for the needy, and collected hundreds of bags of trash from roads, parks, and beaches. His coworkers have also praised his relationships with students, his creative lessons, his patience and his true spirit of service.

In addition to Huitt, those honored were Catherine Caine, the 2015 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year; Jamie Takamura, the 2015 Central District Teacher of the Year; Masaru Uchino, Leeward District Teacher of the Year; Elizabeth Frilles, Windward District Teacher of the Year; Richard Arase, Maui District Teacher of the Year; and Marly Madayag, Kauai District Teacher of the Year.

“It goes without saying that education is the linchpin that connects the present to our collective future,” said House Speaker Joseph M. Souki. “The contributions that these outstanding teachers make to their students and the state cannot be overstated. Through their extraordinary efforts, they are making a difference in both the lives of their young students and in the society that they will help shape. We owe all of them our heartfelt congratulations and thanks.”

The awardees were selected by the Hawaii Department of Education, which honors each year the state’s best educators with its Teacher of the Year awards.