Mid-Pacific Chief Operating Officer Lesley Kaneshiro Receives National Unsung Hero Award

HONOLULU – Mid-Pacific Institute is honored to announce that Chief Operating Officer Lesley Kaneshiro has received the 2025 Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award from NBOA, the only national nonprofit membership association focused exclusively on supporting independent school business officers and business operations staff while fostering financial and operational excellence among independent PK–12 schools. “Our heartfelt congratulations to Lesley Kaneshiro, who goes above and beyond on a daily basis to perpetuate our mission and vision at Mid-Pacific,” said Mid-Pacific President Dr. Paul Turnbull. “The Unsung Hero Award recognizes Lesley’s extraordinary contributions to the entire school community and we thank her for her tireless effort.”

The award is given to independent school business officers who have made extraordinary contributions to their schools. It is named after Will J. Hancock, who always went above and beyond the call of duty during his 35 years at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in various positions, where he touched many lives and inspired countless independent school business officers along the way.

Kaneshiro was one of only nine business officers nationwide to receive the 2025 Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award. The association has over 1,500 member organizations including over 1,300 independent schools from the United States and 25 other countries around the globe.

About Mid-Pacific Institute
Mid-Pacific Institute is a preschool through grade 12 independent school in Honolulu with 1,400 students, nestled into 43 acres in Mānoa Valley. Founded in 1908, Mid-Pacific cultivates compassionate world-ready learners who make a positive impact through purpose-driven passions and creativity. Mid-Pacific is home to the Center for Advancing Education, committed to transforming education in Hawai'i through the Kupu Hou and Global Exchange Academies. First-in-Hawai‘i programs include School of the Arts, the Immersive Technology Program and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The Mid-Pacific experience empowers students to thrive with confidence, adaptability, and integrity as contributing members of their local and global communities. For more, visit midpac.edu.