CONGRATULATING THE 2025 LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR, 2025 MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, 2026 SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR NATIONAL FINALIST, 2026 LEILEHUA-MILILANI-WAIALUA COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND 2026 ʻAIEA-MOANALUA-RADFORD COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

HR202

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

202

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

CONGRATULATING THE 2025 LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR, 2025
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, 2026 SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR NATIONAL
FINALIST, 2026 LEILEHUA-MILILANI-WAIALUA COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND
2026
ʻ
AIEA-MOANALUA-RADFORD
COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR
.

����
WHEREAS,
MATTHEW BROWN was recently named the 2025 Librarian of the Year; and

����
WHEREAS,
after completing a distinguished twenty-six-year career in the United States
Navy, MATTHEW BROWN followed in the footsteps of his family members and pursued
a career as a librarian; and

����
WHEREAS,
MATTHEW BROWN joined the Hawai
ʻ
i
State Public Library System, working at the Wahiawā Public Library before
being appointed as District Administrator, a role that required him to oversee twenty-four
library branches across O
ʻ
ahu
and Hawai
ʻ
i
Island; he would hold this position for several years before moving on to
become Managing Librarian at the Hawai
ʻ
i
State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled; and

����
WHEREAS,
throughout his tenure, MATTHEW BROWN has helped to ensure that patrons are
provided access to library services in a timely manner; with a core belief that
access to libraries is fundamental to our society, he has worked tirelessly on
outreach activities to promote the State's network of public libraries,
including helping to grow the Hawai
ʻ
i
State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled's book club; and

����
WHEREAS,
through his expertise, leadership, and commitment to accessible learning,
MATTHEW BROWN has become a trusted and beloved figure at the library, creating
a welcoming environment for library patrons who depend on its resources and
services; and

����
WHEREAS,
MATTHEW BROWN's passion for his work is not limited to merely fulfilling his
everyday job duties; he takes the initiative to anticipate and address the
needs of the blind and print disabled community through continued professional
development, including researching new advances in braille and audio
technology, to further support an inclusive learning environment; and

����
WHEREAS,
JACQUELYN MCCANDLESS was recently named the 2025 Middle School Principal of the
Year; and

����
WHEREAS, with
nearly twenty-five years of experience as an administrator, JACQUELYN
MCCANDLESS is the Principal of Maui Waena Intermediate School, where she is
renowned for her collaborative leadership style that actively engages students,
staff, and families in school decision making; she has empowered them to think
and act like stakeholders, ensuring that all voices are heard, joint decisions
are made, and collective action plans are created and implemented; and

����
WHEREAS,
JACQUELYN MCCANDLESS has allowed students to take ownership of events such as
the school's Family Fun Nights, with students planning the activities, creating
promotional materials, and managing concessions; and

����
WHEREAS,
JACQUELYN MCCANDLESS has also played a key role in establishing a popular
esports elective on campus, providing students with a new avenue for
connection, creativity, and skill development by securing funding, classroom
space, and an additional teacher to support the program; and

����
WHEREAS,
noted for her deep personal investment in the well-being of her students,
JACQUELYN MCCANDLESS is visible and engaged on campus, checking in with
students during lunch, assisting families, and supporting her staff; her
approachability and care for her school community have helped to establish a
welcoming and inclusive environment to enable students to achieve their full
potential; and

����
WHEREAS, LEKA
ANITEMA was recently selected as a 2026 School Counselor of the Year national finalist;
and

����
WHEREAS, as
the post-high counselor at Maui High School in Kahului, LEKA ANITEMA has been
selected as a finalist for the national 2026 School Counselor of the Year Award
by the American School Counselor Association, serving as a testament to her
outstanding work and tireless dedication to helping her students thrive, both
inside and outside the classroom, and fulfill their highest potential; and

����
WHEREAS, LEKA
ANITEMA holds a bachelor's degree in TESOL education from Brigham Young
University-Hawaii, while minoring in psychology and theatrical arts, and also
earned certifications in school counseling and educational leadership; and

����
WHEREAS,
throughout her career, LEKA ANITEMA has prioritized the establishment of
schoolwide and community partnerships that leverage the strengths of each
partner to connect students with resources and mentors; she collaborates
extensively with colleagues to deliver schoolwide rollouts and tailored
sessions based on identified classroom needs, demonstrating the critical role
of school counselors in shaping student futures; and

����
WHEREAS,
renowned for her unwavering commitment to empowering students and helping them
explore opportunities after they graduate, LEKA ANITEMA initiated Maui County's
first Hawai
ʻ
i-based
college fair and also spearheaded Maui County's first senior hiring event,
successfully connecting students from three islands with dozens of potential
employers offering livable wages; and

����
WHEREAS,
CHRISTOPHER JUSTO was recently named the 2026 Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex
Area Teacher of the Year; and

����
WHEREAS, a
dedicated and passionate educator, CHRISTOPHER JUSTO has served for twenty-six
years as an agriculture teacher at Mililani Middle School in the
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area; and

����
WHEREAS,
known for bringing learning to life, CHRISTOPHER JUSTO creates
interdisciplinary and real-world experiences through programs that incorporate
greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics, and composting, as well as partnerships
that support watershed forest restoration in the Wai
ʻ
anae Mountains; these efforts have
inspired students of all backgrounds and abilities to reflect on the importance
of sustainable agricultural practices and preserving Hawai
ʻ
i's precious natural
resources; and

����
WHEREAS,
committed to helping his students continue learning outside the classroom,
CHRISTOPHER JUSTO is known for taking students on parent-approved mini
excursions on his days off to learn about Hawai
ʻ
i's
natural environment firsthand; and

����
WHEREAS, as a
result of his exceptional efforts to spark the intellectual curiosity of his
students and motivate them to achieve their highest potential, CHRISTOPHER
JUSTO has been honored as the 2026 Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area
Teacher of the Year; and

����
WHEREAS,
EMILY MENDOZA was recently named the 2026
ʻ
Aiea-Moanalua-Radford
Complex Area Teacher of the Year; and

����
WHEREAS,
after earning her license and beginning her career as a teacher in 2018, EMILY
MENDOZA has grown to become a distinguished culinary arts instructor at
ʻ
Aiea High School; and

����
WHEREAS,
EMILY MENDOZA's interactive lessons challenge students to practice critical
thinking, communication, and collaboration skills to solve real-world problems;
in addition, she provides her students with mentorship opportunities with
industry professionals, allowing them extra opportunities to learn valuable
skills and network; and

����
WHEREAS,
EMILY MENDOZA encourages her students to develop the skills necessary to
succeed outside the classroom walls through activities such as bake sales,
cooking competitions, and catering events that bridge the gap between classroom
learning and workplace experiences; and

����
WHEREAS,
renowned for her generous and compassionate spirit, EMILY MENDOZA has even
helped support blood drives by leading her students in baking iron-rich food to
replenish and reenergize volunteers who have donated blood; she is always
excited to share her baking tips, ideas for future fundraisers, and
opportunities for student engagement; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawai
ʻ
i,
Regular Session of 2026, that this body hereby congratulates MATTHEW BROWN for
being named the 2025 Librarian of the Year, JACQUELYN MCCANDLESS for being named
the 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year, LEKA ANITEMA for being selected
as a 2026 School Counselor of the Year national finalist, CHRISTOPHER JUSTO for
being named the 2026 Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area Teacher of the
Year, and EMILY MENDOZA for being named the 2026
ʻ
Aiea-Moanalua-Radford
Complex Area Teacher of the Year and extends to them its warmest aloha and best
wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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2025 Librarian
of the Year; 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year; 2026 School Counselor of
the Year National Finalist; 2026 Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area Teacher
of the Year; 2026 Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area Teacher of the Year