HONOLULU, HI — Leaders from PAL Charter Academy recently traveled over 2,500 miles to attend EdFest, the annual Festival of Education in Honolulu, joining educators from around the world to explore strategies for innovation, leadership, and collaboration. The delegation, which included administrative leadership and one lead teacher, participated in sessions designed to strengthen schools and better serve students.
EdFest is part of a global network of education conferences, including txedFest in San Antonio, the Festival of Education in Washington, D.C., and the China Festival of Education in Shanghai. All share a mission to equip educators with tools to navigate today’s complex educational landscape. While each conference emphasizes different areas—from family engagement to instructional practice—they are united in inspiring and empowering educators.
“Educators from around the world come together to share strategies that directly address the needs of students and schools,” said PAL Charter Academy Executive Director Dwaine Radden Sr. He emphasized the value of professional learning experiences that extend beyond local or regional boundaries, particularly for schools serving “at-risk or at-promise” students.
For Head of Schools Brooke Fernandez, the trip offered a unique cultural perspective in addition to professional growth. “Learning in a place like Hawaii reminds us that education is deeply connected to culture, history, and community,” she said. Hawaii is a part of the United States and became the 50th and most recent state to join the Union on August 21, 1959. Its capital, Honolulu, is located on the island of Oahu.
Hawaii, often seen primarily as a tourist destination, is a state of remarkable cultural diversity and resilience. Home to 1.45 million residents across 137 islands (seven inhabited), the state hosts large Filipino, Japanese, and Chinese populations, along with multiracial, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. An estimated 27,000 to 53,000 Black or African Americans live in Hawaii, accounting for roughly 2% to 3.7% of the population. More than one-quarter of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Despite its natural beauty, Hawaii faces social challenges, including high homelessness rates, particularly among Native Hawaiians and children. Its history includes the 19th-century exploitation of Asian immigrant laborers on sugar plantations, where harsh conditions and limited protections were common. Today, crime rates are generally lower than the U.S. national average, with violent crimes around 218 per 100,000 residents. Many businesses close early—often between 9 and 10 p.m.—reflecting high energy costs and a lifestyle that prioritizes family time and balance.
The islands’ rich culture—from multicultural cuisine to Jawaiian music blending reggae and Polynesian influences—provided the PAL Charter Academy team with context for understanding education within a broader social and cultural framework.
Reflecting on the experience, Radden quoted Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The trip reinforced the importance of selecting professional learning opportunities that align with a school’s mission and values. Though thousands of miles from California, Hawaii’s coastal skylines, bustling ports, and global economy offered relevant parallels for PAL Charter Academy’s work.
By broadening their perspectives through international collaboration, PAL Charter Academy’s leadership returned with renewed insight to strengthen their school and better serve students and families.
