Nicknamed "Mr. Standards" by his principal and colleagues at Honowai Elementary School in Waipahu, fourth-grade teacher Leonard J. Villanueva has developed a program called Art All Day, Every Day, which allows students to meet state and national standards through art.
Villanueva is the author and illustrator of two best selling children's books, Kaipo & The Mighty `Ahi, a story designed to teach rhetorical devices, and The Hungry Pua`a and the Sweet Sweet Potato, inspired by Villanueva's experiences growing up in a family with eleven children. The latter received the Ka Palapala Po`okela Award for Excellence in Children's Illustrative or Photographic Books.
Villanueva has presented district workshops on strategies to help students develop their writing skills and is chair of his school's Technology and Science Committee.
In 1987, he earned the College of Education Endowment Award from the University of Hawai`i.
This past fall, Villanueva played the role of Giles André in Palikū Theatre's production of The Phantom of the Opera and was honored with The Hawaii Theatre Council's Po`okela Award for Featured Male in a Musical.
1987 University of Hawaii - Manoa, B.A.
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