The Milken Education Award is one of the most prestigious awards presented to a school educator. It recognizes an educator who has demonstrated exceptional educational talent, outstanding accomplishment and leadership, and an engaging and inspiring presence that impacts and motivates students and the community.

On October 14, 2003, DOE Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto and Complex Area Superintendent Betty Mow announced that Moanalua High School teacher and music director, Elden Seta is a recipient of the 2003-2004 Milken National Education Award and one of only 100 teachers nationwide selected for this honor. Mr. Seta has crafted and communicated a vision of excellence for high school music education that is unmatched. While many "elective" high school programs have decreased in the midst of increasing requirements for core subject areas, the Moanalua High Music Program under the direction of Elden Seta has experienced unprecedented growth combined with extraordinary success. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has grown by 12%, the Marching Band by 20%, and the Symphony Orchestra by 100%, and the total music department enrollment has increased by 42% to service 765 students in 2003.

In 1998, the Moanalua High School Symphony Orchestra was the first high school orchestra in the nation invited to perform in Carnegie Hall, one of the highest accomplishments for any public high school music program. The Menehune Marching Band has represented the state of Hawaii with exceptional performances in the Rose Bowl Parade in 1990 and 1995, the Orange Bowl Parade in 1997, the Osaka Midosuji Parade in 2000, and the London New Years Parade in 2002. The Moanalua High Symphonic Wind Ensemble has been selected to represent the United States in the prestigious International Band Festival in Hamamatsu, Japan in 2004.

Clearly, the level of accomplishment has been outstanding, consistent, and sustained over a time period of nearly fifteen years - a result of the leadership he has exhibited for his profession. Mr. Elden Seta is the epitome of Hawaii's most outstanding educators. Always attributing the excellence and success of the music program to his students, parents, and fellow teachers, he is a role model like no other - visionary yet pragmatic, charismatic yet humble, demanding yet compassionate. His dedication to teaching is unmatched … his work efforts are seemingly timeless - often spending nights and weekends in practice or preparation .. and he redefines the meaning of "year round education."

Congratulations Mr. Seta! You are so deserving and we are so proud of your achievement - thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for the students of Moanalua High School!