Position: Band Director
School: Waiakea High School
School District: Hawaii Public Schools
City, State: Hilo, HI
Richard Akamine was nominated by an anonymous student.
"Mr. Akamine has changed my life, to say the least," said the student. "Within our small band community, he has created an environment that feels safe and free. When I come into his room, whether it's for class or just for fun, I always feel welcomed. Despite only being here for such a small period of time, he has done so much for me and always worked for my success. In this way, he has changed my life by making me appreciate teachers like him. He has helped me appreciate the people who make me happy, even in a schol environment. He makes playing music with our band fun. Mr. Akamine always tries his hardest to get us representation throughout our school and community, which makes me feel really special within our band. I appreciate his kindness...To summarize, he has changed my life by making it more enjoyable."