From HSTA, February 24, 2012 

The Hawaii State Teachers Association Board of Directors recommend U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa as incumbent in the first congressional district of Hawaii, and Mufi Hannemann for U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii’s second congressional district.

“This is an important time to plan for Hawaii’s future and the many challenges we face. With a strong congressional delegation, we will have leaders that will be a strong voice for Hawaii’s children and working families,” said Wil Okabe, a teacher and president of HSTA.

• U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono has been an unwavering champion of education for years. Supports and resources for our children to be successful are a critical part of Hawaii’s future.
• U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa has been a strong voice for the middle class. She has been a reliable member of Hawaii’s congressional delegation and will continue to make contributions on President Obama’s initiatives.
• Mufi Hannemann’s knowledge of issues important to Hawaii equips him to work toward bold solutions to put our nation back on track and to make contributions that will allow our children to choose to call Hawaii home.

“Education is at the core of investing in our future. These candidates have the right values and vision to stand up for teachers and students in Congress. They recognize just how important good teachers are to our communities and our country and they will work to create new opportunities for students from preschool to graduate school,” Okabe said.

Candidates seeking recommendation completed a vigorous review process that included research of voting records, written responses on education issues, and an interview with teachers on the HSTA Government Relations Committee. After much deliberation, the Committee recommendations were approved by the Board of Directors.

The Government Relations Committee and Board of Directors are composed of teachers from every island.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is the exclusive representative of more than 13,000 public school teachers statewide. As the state affiliate of the 3-million member National Education Association, HSTA assists teachers with collective bargaining, legislative, and professional development issues.