Hawaii Education Matters (HEM) has developed an organization with a variety of resources for parents, teachers and community leaders to address issues related to learning and policy that influence outcomes in Hawaii's schools. HEM encourages family and community involvement at all levels of education and have partnered with various organizations to help implement appropriate programs for our communities.

Initially developed to address 17 furlough days implemented in the public schools in 2009, HEM has expanded their programs to include health education and other tools to help children excel in schools and parents get involved. In a state with limited resources and a notoriously poor public education system, HEM has provided a measurable impact with validated programs that improve the quality of our public schools. As a parent and an educator, I highly endorse HEM.