2026 Transition Center Best Practices Conference

March 27, 2026
Ko'olau Ballrooms & Conference Center

The Hawaiʻi Business Roundtable, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, military collaborators, and the K. Mark Takai Foundation, hosted the 9th Annual Transition Centers Best Practices Conference on March 27, 2026, at the Ko'olau Ballrooms & Conference Center.

We are pleased that the program has continued to grow and is now fully implemented across all 46 schools in the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific, spanning mainland Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Guam. The event brought together more than 300 in-person participants and global virtual attendees, including educators and students from Hawaiʻi, Alaska, and across the Pacific and mainland U.S.   This year’s conference also welcomed student participants from Alaska schools, Anderson-Crawford Elementary, Ladd Elementary, and North Pole High School.

Leilehua High School’s Hawaiian Dance class opened the stage with a traditional Hawaiian oli, honoring Hawaiʻi’s culture. Hawaiʻi Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi opened the event with remarks, followed by speeches from Lt. Gen. Laura Lenderman and Ms. Sami Takai, President of the K. Mark Takai Foundation. Together with the Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF), our guest speakers presented the 2025 Daniel K. Inouye Award to SGT Becky Ackers and the 2025 K. Mark Takai Award to Dr. Julia Cramer.

2026 Resource Tables

Schools
- Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School
- Aliamanu Middle School
- Eagle River High School, Alaska
- Ewa Makai Middle School
- Fairbanks Schools, Alaska
- James Campbell High School
- Kalāheo High School
- Leilehua High School
- Mōkapu Elementary School
- Nimitz Elementary School

Organizations
- Anchored4Life
- Hawaii Department of Education
- Joint Service Military School Liaisons
- Military OneSource
- Military Family Life Counseling 

The conference opened with a general session led by Growing Pono Schools, highlighting their Hawaiian culture- and place-based character education curriculum. As part of this effort, Transition Center coordinators received Pono Cards from the Department of Education, reinforcing alignment with the curriculum.

A Resource Table Fair followed, where schools showcased their Transition Center programs in an engaging exhibit-style format. Displays featured photos, interactive activities, swag materials, and creative presentations that highlighted student engagement and program impact.

The morning continued with a high school student panel titled “Students Leading the Way: Real Experiences from Surf to Turf — We’re All in This Together.” Students from Alaska’s North Pole High School and Eagle River High School joined peers from Hawai‘i’s James Campbell High School and Kalaheo High School to share their experiences as student ambassadors. They spoke about supporting campus tours, welcoming incoming students and families, and helping create positive first impressions—highlighting how these roles build leadership, confidence, and a strong sense of community during school transitions.

Middle school students participated in an interactive breakout session led by the Department of the Air Force (DAF) “Beyond the Tour: What Great Student Ambassadors Really Do” focusing on listening, connection, and belonging. Through the EARS listening model and peer-based activities, students practiced how to respond to others’ experiences in ways that build trust, strengthen relationships, and support smoother transitions for new students.

At the same time, elementary school participants joined the “NextGen Leaders” breakout session facilitated by the Armed Services YMCA. This hands-on, high-energy experience encouraged teamwork, communication, and problem-solving through collaborative games and activities designed to empower students to positively influence their peers.

The afternoon included the presentation of the Purple Star Awards for the 2025–26 school year. The nationally recognized Purple Star NORBERT Hawai‘i Award, which honors schools demonstrating strong support for military-connected students and families, was awarded to Makalapa Elementary School and Moanalua Middle School.

After students returned to school, the conference transitioned into a professional development session for educators and administrators. The principals’ panel, “Sustaining Success: Perspectives and Strategies from Principals Supporting Transition Centers,” was moderated by Principal James Sunday of Radford High School and Principal Jason Nakamoto of Leilehua High School. Panelists included Principal Teresa Lesage (Anderson-Crawford Elementary), Principal Michelle Heminger (Ladd Elementary), Principal Zina Robinson (North Pole High School), and Principal Tim Helvey (Eagle River High School). The discussion focused on practical strategies and shared experiences that support students and families through key educational transitions.

The program concluded with a presentation from Ian Y. Kitajima, President of PICHTR, who showcased the Design Intelligence Lab (DIL) student projects. He highlighted how students in grades 6–12 use human-centered design thinking to identify challenges in their schools and develop innovative solutions. Using generative AI tools, students built functional prototypes in just one month—work that would traditionally take significantly longer. Although the top-performing team from Aliamanu Middle School, which placed first and third in the competition, was unable to attend in person, they shared their work through a special video presentation.

Despite the challenges posed by the Kona Low storm, including flooding and road closures across the state, the conference successfully brought together a broad community of educators, students, and partners committed to supporting students and student transitions.

Click Here to view the conference program.

Thank you to our continuing sponsors!