Sacred Hearts School Principal Tonata Lolesio was overcome with emotion May 23 as she was awarded the Golden Pine’apple’ award recognizing the state’s top Catholic school administrator. Hawaii Catholic Schools Superintendent Llewellyn Young, center, and Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University of Honolulu, announced the award. Chaminade is a sponsor of the annual recognition. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Tonata Lolesio, the principal of Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina who guided students, faculty and staff in the aftermath of last August’s deadly wildfires on Maui and has helped to ensure continuity amid the ongoing recovery efforts, was honored May 23 as the Hawaii Catholic Schools administrator of the year during the organization’s annual recognition luncheon.
Lolesio, who was clearly stunned to receive the Golden Pine‘apple’ award, spoke of how families continued to trust Sacred Hearts School with their children’s learning even as the campus was relocated to a smaller, outdoor site at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua — a testament to the importance of a Catholic education.
Hawaii Catholic Schools also named its teacher of the year: Kathleen Delima, a preschool teacher at St. Anthony School in Wailuku with more than 40 years of service.
(Delima learned of her honor via a virtual connection from Maui, where she also was shocked to hear she had been awarded a Golden Pine‘apple.’)
Schools Superintendent Llewellyn Young presented the awards alongside Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Lolesio and Delima each received $1,000 from Chaminade, John C. and Mary Lou Brogan, and Hawaii Catholic Schools. Their schools also received $1,500 each for staff development from the Augustine Educational Foundation and Hawaii Catholic Schools.