Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

COVID-19 makes for unprecedented, uncertain fall plans for Catholic schools

by

By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald It wasn’t COVID-19 but the threat of Hurricane Douglas that delayed the first day of school for St. John Vianney in Kailua. Preschool through eighth grade students arrived on campus the morning of July 28, a day later than planned due to the storm. This year though they were […]

Leading Catholic schools through the ‘new normal’

by

Llewellyn Young, interim leader of the Hawaii Catholic Schools office, discusses the challenges of Catholic education during a pandemic and why he is up to the job Acting Hawaii Catholic Schools superintendent Llewellyn Young has been the assistant superintendent for a year. He is filling the head office role between the retirement of Michael Rockers […]

Meet the new Hawaii Catholic school administrators

by

Compiled by Anna Weaver and Mona Ishihara Upper school principal, Sacred Hearts Academy, Kaimuki, Oahu Carol Chong Carol Chong was born and raised in Kalihi and attended St. John the Baptist School and Sacred Hearts Academy. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and a master’s degree in education leadership […]

COVID stress closes Kalihi and Ewa Beach Catholic schools

by

St. John the Baptist School has been open for 60 years, Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 53 years By Anna Weaver and Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Two Oahu Catholic parish schools will close permanently on June 30. St. John the Baptist School in Kalihi-uka has been open 60 years. Our Lady of Perpetual […]

St. Joseph, Hilo, will stay open for another school year

by

Big Island’s only Catholic school still needs more support to overcome large deficit worsened by COVID-19 By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald The only Catholic school on Hawaii Island will stay open for the next academic year. St. Joseph School in Hilo made the announcement on June 5 after several weeks of fundraising and promotion […]

Departing Hawaii Catholic Schools’ superintendent Michael Rockers reviews his time of service to the islands

by

Nurturing partnerships By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald Michael Rockers became Hawaii Catholic Schools superintendent in Aug. 2011 but has 43 total years of experience in Catholic education including as a teacher, principal and superintendent in Catholic school systems on the Mainland. He leaves the job at the end of June. The Herald spoke with […]

Schools to continue distant learning for remainder of academic year

by

Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald All Hawaii parish schools will continue with distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. The Hawaii Catholic Schools office made the announcement on April 17, shortly after the state public schools superintendent made a similar update for all island public schools. “This decision was based on our […]

Local Catholic schools to continue distance learning through April 30

by

Hawaii Catholic parochial schools will extend students’ time away from campus through April 30 due to COVID-19, mirroring the Hawaii public schools’ schedule. “Due to our social responsibility, and in solidarity with our State leaders, all parochial schools will extend the postponement of ‘in-person’ classes through Thursday, April 30, 2020,” wrote Mike Rockers, the superintendent […]

Hawaii Catholic schools to keep campuses closed through Easter Monday due to COVID-19

by

Hawaii Catholic parochial schools will extend students’ time away from schools through Easter Monday. “This is to inform you that our parochial schools will be postponing ‘in person’ classes through Friday, April 10, 2020,” Mike Rockers, the superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools said in an email to school administrators and pastors on the afternoon of […]

Hawaii Catholic schools to extend spring break due to COVID-19

by

After the Hawaii public school system extended all of its school’s spring breaks over worries about the spread of COVID-19, or the coronavirus, the Hawaii Catholic Schools department has announced that all Hawaii Catholic schools will also take a two-week break. All 25 parochial schools and early learning centers in Hawaii have been told to […]