Paul Waite, a Hau'ula resident, will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year award to be selected this fall. Kahuku Elementary School's library will receive a core archive of history books and materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History announced the list of winners today.

The award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher of American history from each state and U.S. territory. This year, only K-6 teachers were eligible for nomination.

The selection of the state winner is based upon several criteria, including: at least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history in elementary school; a deep career commitment to teaching American history, which includes local and state history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom that address literacy and content beyond state standards; close attention to primary documents, artifacts, historic sites and other primary materials of history, including oral history; and evidence of thoughtful assessment of student achievement.