In late October, public school students attended the Board of Education meeting due to receiving a two-day notice of the possibility of funds being cut for Learning Centers across the state.
Learning Centers, which are a part of Hawaii’s Department of Education’s funded facilities in Hawaii, are “distinctive, specialized and excellent programs within public education”. This includes agriculture, business, science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM) and performing arts programs across the state.
These Learning Centers were put at risk due to the proposed fiscal biennium requests for 2025-2027. In this document, it shows that for the 2026-2027 school year, Learning Centers would experience a decrease in their budget with a loss of $1.7 million.
In light of this news, Mililani High School students involved in the school’s performing arts program Central Theater Arts Academy (CTAA) began posting on their Instagram accounts to create awareness of the situation. These posts also encouraged viewers to submit virtual testimonies for the Board of Education meeting.
CTAA members and Mililani High School seniors Teah Vaoifi, Alexa Grean and Eva Tongamoa share their thoughts about the proposed budget and how they are feeling.
“I was disappointed that the funds for these Learning Centers were being cut,” said Vaoifi. “It really stumps the growth of these students who use these programs as a means to learn outside of the classes we have in school.”
“My initial reaction was disbelief then disappointment,” Grean said. “I watched my teacher cry in front of me because she thought there was a possibility we’d lose our beloved program.”
Similarly, Tongamoa shared that feeling of disappointment after hearing the news about funds being cut.
“I was shocked because this isn’t something I was prepared for, but I slowly began to feel disappointed because I felt that we were undervalued as a group,” Tongamoa said.
While the cut in the Learning Centers budget wouldn’t affect these seniors directly, as it would be taking place in the 2026-2027 school year, they still saw how it would affect others.
“I had imagined a place without my studio, and I thought of all the kids that would not be able to perform and do what they love simply because there was a lack of funds,” Tongamoa said.
Even though there was only little time given before the Board meeting, public students and faculty readily jumped into action. In just a short amount of time, almost 1,150 testimonies were submitted in support of Learning Centers. This was in addition to the oral testimony that was to be given at the meeting. Students also created posters to bring to the Board meeting.
“We had signs, and it felt like a scene out of a movie,” Grean said.
Although many students prepared testimonies in hopes of giving them at the Board meeting, they were unable to due to a medical emergency at the meeting. However, Vaoifi and Tongamoa shared what they had written in their testimonies.
“I wrote how kids deserve to have these programs as a safe place to go to after school,” Vaoifi said. “They serve not only as an extracurricular program but as a community they can go to when in need.”
“I was able to share about my nine years of being in theatre,” Tongamoa said. “I mentioned how Central Theatre Arts Academy shaped me into the person I am today by being my support system throughout my high school career.”
Even though the Board’s decision was made in favor of keeping the Learning Centers’ current budget, there is still the possibility this issue will arise again in two years at the end of the fiscal biennium year. There is still more to be done to protect Learning Centers and all their programs.
“We can continue to advocate for Learning Centers by sharing on social media,” Tongamoa said.
The three CTAA members also hope that the effort they put towards advocating against the budget cuts for Learning Centers inspires others, especially younger students.
“I hope they remember the intensity and the power of the people standing up for these programs,” Grean said.
“I hope it shows others that if you stand by your opinions and use your voice, it can affect society and help us to take a step in the right direction,” Vaoifi said.
“I hope this brings light to how much our voices can be heard when we work together for a greater cause. If we stick together, we can truly do anything to help one another flourish,” Tongamoa said.
