McMahon touts Hawaii education programs amid push to reduce federal oversight
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Hawaii as part of her nationwide tour promoting state and local control over education.
McMahon highlighted university research, school choice, and community-based education programs as the Trump administration pushes to reduce federal oversight.
from Campus Reform, November 7, 2026
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Hawaii on Nov. 4 and 5, highlighting locally developed education programs and university research as the Trump administration seeks to shift education authority away from Washington.
The visit marked McMahon’s 49th stop on her nationwide tour, which promotes state and local decision-making over federal oversight.
McMahon visited the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Marine Biology, where researchers conduct marine science studies and investigate coral resilience. The visit highlighted how universities can develop specialized programs addressing regional environmental and scientific needs.
The secretary toured the institute’s Marine Science Research Learning Center and Coral Resilience Laboratory, highlighting research connected to Hawaii’s marine environment.
Her itinerary also included Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School, Mokapu Elementary School, and Keiki Roots, a nature-based homeschool enrichment cooperative.
At Mokapu Elementary, which serves families stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, McMahon participated in a discussion about literacy and the educational challenges facing military-connected students.
She concluded her trip Nov. 5 with a discussion involving Hawaii state lawmakers and a visit to Ka Waihona o Ka Na’auao, a charter school emphasizing Hawaiian language and cultural education.
McMahon presented the programs as examples of why states and communities should have greater authority to determine educational priorities.
The Hawaii visit advances President Donald Trump’s effort to reduce federal involvement in education while expanding opportunities for states to develop their own approaches.
The administration’s initiative emphasizes parental choice, local accountability, and educational programs tailored to individual communities.
McMahon first announced the 50-state tour in August 2025, pledging to gather successful educational practices from across the country.
The Education Department plans to compile those findings into a resource for states seeking to improve educational outcomes.
The administration has also highlighted workforce preparation and practical skills training during previous stops.
In August, McMahon visited Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where she met with university leaders to discuss academic programs, workforce development, and employment opportunities.
Her Hawaii visit similarly placed higher education within a broader discussion about whether local institutions can better address community needs without uniform federal requirements.
The tour itself does not transfer federal education authority to states, but it provides the administration with examples to support its proposed policy changes.
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