Nine Hawai'i public schools recognized for career academy programs

“This achievement is proof that when a rural school thinks outside the box, no barrier is too great,” said Dexsilyn Navarro, the Academy Director at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary. That sentiment set the tone for the 30th annual National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) conference in Orlando, Florida, where nine Hawai‘i public schools were recognized for their career academy programs, including two that secured historic national firsts.

Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary (KHPES) became the first K-12 Model Academy with Distinction in the country, creating a continuous pipeline of career-connected learning from elementary school through graduation. Simultaneously, Molokai High School’s ʻO Hina i Ka Malama Hawaiian Language Immersion Academy became the first Hawaiian immersion academy in the country to earn the Model Academy with Distinction certification.

A direct pipeline from kindergarten to graduation

By structuring its program across all grade levels, the school ensures students aren’t just discovering their interests at 16, but are building a foundation for years. In grades K–6, the focus is on general career exposure; grades 7–8 move into active exploration, and grades 9–12 culminate in hands-on experiences.

The school operates five distinct pathways designed to mirror the economic and cultural needs of the region:

Cultural Arts, Media and Entertainment
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation
Health Services
Education

Jay Steele, president of the National Career Academy Coalition, described the KHPES achievement as a “testament to seamless, lifelong career-connected learning.” For the students in this rural district, the stakes are practical.

Cultural preservation as a professional standard

While KHPES achieved distinction for a program structure spanning elementary through high school, Molokai High School was recognized for its Hawaiian immersion academy. The ʻO Hina i Ka Malama academy doesn’t treat the Hawaiian language as a secondary subject; it treats cultural practitioners as essential professionals. Students engage in field studies across Molokai’s ecosystems, moving from the mountains (mauka) to the sea (makai) to document flora, fauna, and cultural resources.

The program prepares students to take on roles in environmental stewardship and island leadership, blending rigorous academic requirements with community identity. The program’s reach has grown recently, expanding in 2025 to serve as a satellite program for Molokai Middle School students in grades 7–8.

“Having ʻO Hina i ka Malama nationally recognized as a Model Academy with Distinction is both a profound honor and a validation of the high-caliber education provided to our students,” said Molokai High School Principal Katina Soares.

Soares credited the program’s longevity to Kumu Mahina Hou Ross, who has led the academy for over 25 years. The certification proves that immersion-based, culturally rooted education can meet the same “Model with Distinction” standards as any traditional technical academy in the U.S.

The benchmarks of a Model Academy

To understand why these titles matter, one has to look at the NCAC’s accreditation process. The coalition evaluates schools based on the National Standard of Practice (NSOP). Schools are rated as “in progress,” “certified,” “model,” or the highest tier: “model with distinction.” To hit that top mark, a school must meet or exceed proficiency in all 10 NSOP criteria.

The 2026 honors reflected a broad success across the islands. While KHPES and Molokai High took the headlines for their “firsts,” several other institutions earned top marks for their specialized tracks.

School	NCAC Recognition Level (2026)	Academy Name/Focus
Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary	Model with Distinction	Academies of Kaʻū
Molokai High School	Model with Distinction	ʻO Hina i Ka Malama
Kailua High School	Model with Distinction	Ready to SURF Academy
Waikele Elementary	Model with Distinction	Waikele Academy Pathway Program
‘Aiea High School	Model Academy	Innovation / Aspiring Professionals
Kapolei High School	Model Academy	Arts & Communications / Law & Public Safety / Innovation, Business & Technology

The human element of this success is perhaps best embodied by Dexsilyn Navarro. A graduate of Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary herself, Navarro returned to her alma mater as a teacher in 2003. Her trajectory from student to the recipient of the NCAC John Thompson Exemplary Educator Award serves as a living case study for the school’s mission: creating a cycle where community members are educated locally and return to lead locally.

For the students on Molokai and in Kaʻū, the recognition serves as a validation of high-caliber education and proof that students in rural schools can access the same opportunities as others.