Kapa‘a High teacher named as finalist for Hawai‘i State Teacher of the Year

Kara Kitamura, who teaches science and career technical education at Kapa‘a High, is among the 15 finalists for Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year.

The annual honor is presented to a teacher selected from more than 13,000 state educators.

“These outstanding educators have an unwavering dedication and passion for high-quality teaching and learning,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “We are proud to recognize them as true embodiments of what it means to be an exceptional educator, and are grateful for the creative and innovative ways in which they engage their students, colleagues and communities on a daily basis.”

In October, one teacher will be announced as the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and will go on to represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program. Click here for the full list of finalists.