Big Island teacher focusing on biodiversity leading voting in America’s Favorite Teacher competition

“America’s Favorite Teacher” may be awarded to a Big Island educator dedicated to teaching keiki through the revitalization of biodiversity in Hawaiʻi.

Native Hawaiian Kiane Prietto teaches 15 students from sixth to eighth grade in every subject, except math and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, through project-based learning at the public charter school, Kanu o ka ʻĀina, in Waimea. 

Prietto decided to apply for the “America’s Favorite Teacher” competition after seeing that one of the prizes included a trip to Hawaiʻi for the winner. 

“At first, I asked the organizers why they are sending people to Hawaiʻi and that we have great teachers here that could be rewarded, but then I just decided to run for the award myself and was accepted,” Prietto said. “I told the organizers that if I win, I would ask that the money used for the trip [to Maui] would go directly to the Maui Wildfire Project or to conservation organizations since Hawaiʻi is the extinction capital of the world.”

The winner of “America’s Best Teacher” also is awarded $25,000, is featured in the magazine, Reader’s Digest, and gets a virtual assembly for his or her school that is led by the iconic, kid-friendly scientist, Bill Nye.

Prietto said should she win, she would invest the award money in a biodiversity project she has started with her students involving kāhuli (the native Hawaiian snail). The funds would go towards technology for data accuracy, proper field gear, accessing community partner programs and transportation.

“My students and I have been conducting surveys at different biomes of Hawaiʻi Island, from the ocean level to the top of Maunakea, where we recently found our first native species just last week,” Prietto said.

“There are a lot of theories that because Hawaiʻi has lost the native snails, we now have these sicknesses like Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, so the money would be invested into this project, which provides crucial data that hasnʻt been collected in 50 years.”

There have been 325 species recognized within the most diverse group of Hawaiian land snails – known as the family Amastridae – and they were all only known from Hawaiʻi. However, researchers have determined that only 15 of these species could still be found alive, according to the Unversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. 

Last year, when the Bishop Museum engaged community members from across the state to recommend which snail species should be designated official state snails for each island for House Bill 1899, Prietto learned that the snails were the original decomposers for Hawaiʻi and every species of worm was brought here.

“My parents told me that there used to be so many snails in the forest, that the ʻōhiʻa trees were colorful since the shells on the snails can be bright red, yellow, green and speckled colors,” Prietto said.

“There used to be hundreds to thousands of snails recorded in one area, and that wasnʻt that long ago,” she continued. “Since snails clean our forests and pass nutrients down, I thought that if we found snails, it would indicate a healthy ecosystem. But when we found them on top of Maunakea, which is nothing but rocks. I realized that it comes down to the air quality.”

Prietto also has spent one Saturday each month hosting open talks in the community about native snails and giving tips on how to restore biodiversity in Hawaiʻi’s native species. 

“This comes down to everyday things we do. People donʻt know that rat poison is killing ʻio and puʻeo because they eat the poisoned rats and mice. Or that they can use “slug jugs” instead of treating invasive slugs with poison,” Prietto said. “I have seen more people make lei with invasive plants, so they can stop the cycle of reproducing. All of these little things can make a big difference.”

In May, she and her students will host a “Bio Blitz” at Waimea Coffee Company that will be all about snails with games, costumes and guests like the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center.

Regardless of winning the prize from the “America’s Favorite Teacher” award, Prietto plans to continue the surveys with her students and continue bringing awareness to the snails that once populated every island.

But if she did win, she said the prize money “would help expose my students to more opportunities they may not get the chance to experience. Whether it’s buying boots for them to go up the mauna, or plane tickets so they can travel for the first time and make a presentation, all those experiences are so important for their growth and future.”

Fellow teacher Lina Mochizuki has worked alongside Prietto at Kanu o ka ʻĀina throughout the school year and is supportive of her run for “America’s Favorite Teacher,” especially after seeing the students grow from her methods of education.

“She’s been doing a lot of work in the field and it’s something the program has not seen before. These kids have become kāhuli experts in less than a year, which is amazing to see in such a short amount of time,” Mochizuki said. “She plans to use the money so it can benefit the students as well, which is inspiring. The award will have an even greater impact than I had initially thought and I hope she wins for them.”

Prietto hopes to encourage more teachers to pursue project-based education as it helps students push boundaries, connect with their identity, and ignite a passion for knowledge.

“I see so many kids leave after graduation for college, but come back because they haven’t been exposed to the world as much as is needed sometimes,” Prietto said. “I want my kids to graduate  feeling like they are secure in themselves to learn more and to be a community contributor one day.”

Prietto is currently in first place in her group for “America’s Favorite Teacher.” The top 15 teachers will remain after Thursday and voting will resume again for the next round. Her profile can be found here.

The first vote is free, but to vote more than once requires monetary donations. This year’s competition is a fundraiser for The Planetary Society (a nonprofit that advances space science and exploration).

For more information about the competition, visit the “America’s Favorite Teacher” website.