Hawaii law protecting education workers advanced Monday as Gov. Josh Green signed two measures intended to shield Department of Education staff from harassment and violence. The new law sets training standards, offers state legal assistance and makes violations a misdemeanor.
At the bill signing, Green warned that those who threaten or assault school employees will face consequences, saying violators could receive up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. He added that no educator should feel unsafe at work.
Hawaii law protecting education workers enables AG support
For the first time, the measures authorize the state Attorney General to help threatened education workers, including sports officials at DOE campuses and public charter schools, seek temporary restraining orders against aggressors.
Previously, the department often resisted restricting aggressive parents or others, and workers were left to manage cases as private matters, including hiring their own attorneys. Momentum shifted after a Dec. 4, 2025 attack on Moanalua High School Assistant Athletic Director Natalie Iwamoto was captured on surveillance video and widely shared online.
Green and lawmakers credited Iwamoto and Lindsay Chambers, a former DOE communications director who endured years of threats and harassment from a parent before leaving for the private sector. Both were recognized at the ceremony and received signing pens.
Green said it was regrettable that it took a violent incident to spur passage after earlier attempts failed. He noted that while some laws arise from extreme events, most do not.
Chambers called the day a chance to close a chapter and thanked the small group that supported the bills over years. She said the goal was to ensure the state can no longer tell workers targeted by harassment or assault that they are on their own. In the past, she said, employees had to conduct their own investigations and pay private legal fees to secure restraining orders or other protections.
Iwamoto declined to comment because of the pending state case against Aukusitino Noga, who is accused of assaulting her. Noga’s wife, Jamielee, pleaded no contest in June to harassment and received a $1,000 fine and a two-day jail sentence satisfied by time served.
‘Signs society has lost its way’
Asked where the line sits between passionate advocacy and harassment, Green said aggressive behavior has grown in society. He said the challenges faced by educators mirror issues confronting emergency responders, healthcare workers and others.
Green urged more civility, saying laws should often be a last resort and people should resolve disagreements respectfully. He said it is fine to criticize school systems or offer ideas but never acceptable to attack individuals. He added that when conduct becomes physical or includes direct threats of harm, the line has clearly been crossed.
Social media has compounded the problem by giving cover to anonymous threats, Green said, noting that online amplification can be painful for public servants and educators alike.
Private sector impact
While the statute applies to public education, it may influence private employers’ approaches to worker safety. The law reinforces the broader legal principle that employers bear responsibility for protecting employees on the job.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines workplace violence as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening behavior at the work site, and emphasizes zero-tolerance policies that cover all who interact with employees.
Though school staff frequently have direct contact with the public, threats and violence have been rising nationwide against judges, healthcare workers and others. Government data show about 750 violent acts across public and private sectors led to fatalities in 2023.
