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Golden Pine"apple" Awardees Announced

June 6, 2025

Congratulations Esther Amano of Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Sister Katherine Francis Miller, SS.CC. of Sacred Hearts Academy! 

Both have been named this year's recipients of the Hawaii Catholic Schools Golden Pine"apple" Award for the Teacher and Administrator of the Year.  Esther Amano is the awardee for Teacher of the Year while Sister Katherine Francis Miller is this year's Administrator of the Year.  Both awards recognize excellence in outstanding teachers/specialists and administrators within the Catholic Schools in the State of Hawaii.  The Golden Pine"apple" winner was announced last month at the annual Hawaii Catholic Schools Recognition Luncheon sponsored by Benefits By Design, Friendzy, HiEmployment, and Renaissance.  Both winners received $1,000 total from HCS, Chaminade University and John C. and Mary Lou Brogan, a big screen smart TV, and $1,500 for their respective schools to be used for Staff Development from Augustine Educational Foundation.   

When presenting the award, Dr. Dale Fryxell shared that Esther has been at Our Lady of Good Counsel School for over 35 years. She is the first to arrive to school, last to leave, and always the first to lend a hand and encouragement. Esther continues her legacy of excellence by preparing her students for high school with grammar skills so strong high school teachers ask for her methods. Not only is she an impactful teacher rooted in faith, compassion, and purpose, but also a loving mentor, humble guide, and quiet force of grace and strength.

Pictured above from left to right:  Father Santhosh Thottankara, SS.CC., Our Lady of Good Counsel School Principal Chantelle Luarca, Dr. Llewellyn Young, Superintendent for Hawaii Catholic Schools, Awardee Esther Amano, Dr. Dale Fryxell, Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Science at Chaminade who heads the selection committee for the Golden Pine"apple" Awards, and Sister Davilyn Ah Chick, OSF who hired Esther to work at Our Lady of Good Counsel School.

Photo Credit: Hawaii Catholic Herald  

For the Administrator of the Year award presentation, Dr. Dale Fryxell shared why Sister Katherine Francis Miller was the 2025 recipient. To start, she been at Sacred Hearts Academy for nearly 60 years making her the longest serving member there. It is clear that her life has been a living testament to faith, service, and unwavering commitment to Catholic education. She doesn't just build programs like taking the students to serve food at a transitional shelter, she builds people. A student who served with her on mission shared, "this experience reshaped how I see mission work, not as a one-time event, but as a lifelong calling." This is evidence of how Sister Katherine Francis Miller has been shaping the lives of generations of young women, inspiring lifelong transformation.

Pictured above from left to right: Bishop Larry Silva, Dr. Llewellyn Young, Superintendent for Hawaii Catholic Schools, Awardee Sister Katherine Francis Miller, SS.CC., and Dr. Dale Fryxell, Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Science at Chaminade who heads the selection committee for the Golden Pine"apple" Awards.