Equipping Educators, Empowering Keiki
Now in its fourth year, the Economics and Personal Finance Summer Workshop—hosted by Chaminade University’s Economic Education Center for Excellence (EECE) in partnership with HawaiiUSA—provides K–12 teachers with tools and ready-to-use lesson plans to integrate personal finance and economic concepts into their classrooms.
Held June 9–13, the week-long workshop included 21 public school teachers from across Oahu. A virtual cohort also supported educators from the neighbor islands, broadening the program’s statewide impact. Every year, HawaiiUSA facilitates a workshop day for participants and hosts a resource and financial literacy fair to support their financial literacy curriculum.
This year’s interactive activities included market simulations, a Bean Salary Budgeting Game, and practical classroom applications of the Ten Principles of Economics. Culturally responsive teaching strategies were built into the curriculum, making the lessons especially relevant for Hawaii's diverse learners.
Growing Reach, Lasting Impact
Since the program began in 2021, the summer workshop has trained 116 educators, reaching an estimated 10,000+ students across the state annually. Each teacher walks away with new skills, classroom-ready materials, and a stronger foundation in personal finance and economic education.
“This program supports teachers on the frontlines of preparing students for their financial futures, and we are very grateful to Chaminade University for making this powerful learning opportunity possible,” said HawaiiUSA’s Financial Wellness Program & Community Lead, Bryan Yucoco. “By investing in teachers, we’re empowering thousands of students across the state to make informed financial decisions and build stronger futures.”
From Classroom to Community
At HawaiiUSA, we know teachers are powerful agents of change. When educators are confident in financial concepts, they bring those lessons to life for students, and those lessons ripple outward into families and communities. This workshop is one of the many ways we’re fulfilling our mission to support lifelong financial learning across Hawaii.
Explore additional teacher resources provided by HawaiiUSA. To learn about the Chaminade program or future offerings, visit the EECE website.
