Wayne Yoshioka is an award-winning journalist who has worked in television, print and radio in Hawaiʻi. He also has been on both sides of politics as a state departmental appointee and political/government reporter. He covered Hurricane Iwa (1982) as a TV reporter; was the State Department of Defense/Civil Defense spokesperson for Hurricane Iniki (1992); and, commanded a public affairs detachment in Afghanistan (2006). He has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a decorated combat veteran (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and 22 other commendation/service medals). He resides in Honolulu.
Hawaiʻi's public school teachers will vote next week on a new agreement between their union and the state. The new contract includes annual raises and paid professional development hours. As HPR's Casey Harlow reports, the union said this is the strongest contract it has been able to secure since 2013.
Many bills in this year's legislative session are related to education and educators are hoping one includes the opportunity to elect a teacher representative on the state Board of Education. HPR's Casey Harlow has more.