COEAA Alumni Awardees
The COEAA has selected and honored a distinguished alumni each year since 1989. We honor these exceptional and outstanding leaders of our educational community for their invaluable contributions to education. They have been an inspiration for present and future educators. The table below is a listing of the recipients of the COEAA Distinguished Alumni award:
| Year | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Glenn Furuya | Founder, President, and CEO of Leadership Works |
| 2023 | Sean Tajima | Complex Area Superintendent |
| 2022 | Daniel Hamada (Neighbor Island Awardee) |
DOE Complex Area Supt., Kauai |
| 2022 | Stanley Tamashiro | Ewa Elementary Principal |
| 2021 | – | – |
| 2020 | Justin Mew | Kaiser High Principal |
| 2019 | Catherine Payne | Chair, Board of Education |
| 2018 | Dr. Donald Young | Dean, UHM-COE |
| 2017 | Ernest Duterte Libarios, Sr. | Leeward Community College Counselor |
| 2016 | Keith Hayashi | Waipahu High Principal |
| 2015 | Ann Mahi | DOE Complex Area Supt., Leeward |
| 2014 | Ruth Silberstein | DOE Complex Area Supt., Honolulu |
| 2013 | Meredith Maeda | Castle High Principal |
| 2012 | Dr. Iris Fukui | UH Administrator/Dean |
| 2011 | Odetta Fujimori | Teacher, HSTA President |
| 2010 | Dr. Kathryn Au | Executive Officer, School Rise, LLC |
| 2009 | – | – |
| 2008 | Ronald Bright | Castle High Teacher & Artistic Director |
| 2007 | Henry Ariyoshi | Lahainaluna High Principal |
| 2006 | Dr. Don Nugent | DOE Asst. Supt., Personnel |
| 2005 | Dr. Janet Ishikawa-Fullmer | President, Human Resources Dev. Ctr., Inc. |
| 2004 | Dr. Charles Araki | Dean, UHM-COE |
| 2003 | Dr. Carl Daeufer | Professor, UHM-COE |
| 2002 | Dr. Ichiro Fukumoto | DOE Director, Planning & Evaluation |
| 2001 | Shigeru Hotoke | Kailua High Music Teacher |
| 2000 | Thelma Nip | Kaimuki High Principal |
| 1999 | Dr. Mitsugi Nakashima | BOE Member/District Supt. |
| 1998 | Dr. Hubert Everly | Dean, UHM-COE |
| 1997 | Claudio Suyat | DOE District Supt. |
| 1996 | Ruth Kiehm | Student Teacher Supervisor, UHM-COE |
| 1995 | Dr. Doris Ching | VP, Student Affairs, UHM |
| 1994 | Yun Soong Jim | McKinley High Teacher |
| 1993 | Dr. Margaret Oda | DOE District Supt./Deputy Supt. |
| 1992 | Dr. Andrew In | Dean, UHM-COE |
| 1991 | Dr. Shiro Amioka | DOE Supt./Professor, UHM-COE |
| 1990 | Gladys Ainoa Brant | Teacher & Principal |
| 1989 | Senator Sparky Matsunaga | U.S. Senator |