TEACHING STAFF:
Samuel K. Ka'auwai holds a B.A in Business Administration, Management and Accounting from The College of Idaho and Professional Diploma in Elementary Education from University of Hawai'i Manoa as well as a Master of Arts (Major: Teaching, Specialization: Reading) degree. He has taught Hawaiian Language immersion education for over 12 years and currently serves as a Kumu Alaka'i for grades 5-6 at Kawaikini. Kumu Ka'auwai is a member of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association as well as the National Education Association. He has been the Church Choir Director at his church for over 25 years and is a board member of the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association.
Malia 'Alohilani Rogers has taught in the field of Hawaiian language education for over 14 years, where she has taught at the elementary, middle school, adult education and community college level. She has helped develop and translate materials used in the Hawaiian language education program. Kumu 'Alohilani has a BA in Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawai'i and certification in elementary education. She is also on the Board of Directors of 'Aha Punana Leo. Her goal is to see the revitalization of the Hawaiian Language and culture here in Hawai'i through the education of our kamali'i, with a specific emphasis on Kaua'i. She enjoys spending time with her 'ohana and reading, especially stories and articles from old Hawaiian Language newspapers and books. She currently works as Kawaikini's Resource Teacher.
'Ilima 'Apana currently holds the position of Kumu Alaka'i for Kawaikini's Kindergarten pae. She was born and raised in Wailua, Kaua'i and later moved to Anahola and graduated from Kapa'a High School in 2001. Upon graduation, she enrolled in the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and earned a B.A in Hawaiian Studies with an emphasis in Hawaiian Language. In 2005. Kumu 'Ilima continued her education at UH Hilo in the Kahuawaiola Hawaiian Medium Teacher Education Program and received her Teaching Certification. She completed her student teaching and taught for a year at Ka 'Umeke Ka'eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School in Keaukaha, Hawai'i. Kumu 'Ilima is very proud to return to Kaua'i and be able to give back to her 'aina hanau through teaching our keiki and perpetuating the language and culture of our kupuna.
Namomi McCorriston currently works as a Kumu Alaka'i for Kawaikini's 1-2 pae. She has taught preschool at Punana Leo o Kaua'i as well as grades K-1 at the Kaiapuni elementary school level. Kumu Namomi holds a BA degree in Hawaiian Studies from Brigham Young University Hawai'i, where she also served as the President of the Hawaiian Club. She is a dedicated educator with a passion for teaching Hawaiian culture and language.
Debra Gochros - Debra (Kepola) Gochros has been a middle school science teacher for 8 years. A graduate of University of Hawai'i Manoa, she holds a degree in Secondary Science Education. Her post graduate studies include working with NASA to improve science education, developing curriculum for Volcanoes Alive program, working with Kaua'i teachers to develop a watershed education conference and becoming a fellowship scholar for National Tropical Botanical Garden. Her favorite off hours activity is training her dog "Astro" for the Kaua'i Search and Rescue Team. She enjoys teaching students through hands-on activities and labs. She believes in place-based teaching programs and is excited about the teaching opportunities with Kawaikini. She hopes to engage the students in real world activities and problems to emphasize the importance of knowledge. Kumu Debra is a secondary teacher at Kawaikini.
Mahealani Yamashita, M.Ed. currently works as a Kumu Alaka‘i for Kawaikini’s 9-12 pae. After graduating from Kamehameha, Mahealani obtained a B.A. in Secondary Education, English, and a Professional Teaching Diploma from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. While fulfilling her commitment to the Army Reserves for eight years, she continued on with her education by receiving a Masters in Educational Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Kumu Mahealani holds State Certifications in Teaching Secondary English and Counseling for K-12. Presently, she is working on her Ed.D.in Education Leadership and hopes to encourage teacher retention in Hawaii as well as utilizing resources to improve reading scores of Hawaii’s keiki. After teaching for 13 years in Hawaii’s Department of Education, she taught ninth grade English and Beginning Speech at Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus before recently moving to Kauai. She also has experience teaching at adult community schools on Oahu. Kumu Mahealani is honored to be a part of Kawaikini’s mission to perpetuate the Hawaiian language, culture, and education of its students.
Kawai'olu Torio holds an associate degree in specialized business and became interested in teaching while volunteering at her brother's summer camp for children with Down Syndrome or other special needs. Kumu Kawai'olu was introduced to 'olelo Hawai'i by her mother-in-law, and began Hawaiian language classes upon her daughter's entrance in to the Kula Kaiapuni program. She was then immersed with the students in Kumu Puanani Wilhelm's class as a part-time teacher. Kawai'olu has been working with Hawaiian Immersion for 15 years. She has taught grades Papa Mala'ao through six at Kapa 'a Elementary School in both Immersion instruction and in English, as a part-time teacher, substitute teacher, reading, and math tutor, direct instruction reading teacher, and summer school reading teacher. She currently serves as a kumu kokua in the 1-2 pae. Kawai'olu is a mother to two children who completed grades mala 'ao- seven in the immersion program. She enjoys scrapbooking and fitness classes.
Kanana Kuhaulua serves as Kumu Kokua to the 5-6 pae. She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools' Kapalama campus, where she learned most of her 'olelo Hawai'i. Kumu Kanana is proud to be working to perpetuate 'olelo Hawai'i and its native people. Kumu Kanana has a son, Hanohano, attending first grade at Kawaikini.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:
Leialoha Kauahi, M.Ed., is a former principal and teacher who served in the Hawai'i Department of Education for 37 years. As a co-director at Kawaikini, Mrs. Kauahi is committed to achieving the following goals: mobilizing teachers, staff, students, parents and community around a vision of a school in which all students achieve; creating an orderly and safe school environment by setting high standards for discipline and attendance; helping students acquire the habits and attitudes necessary for more than adequate progress in school, college and life; providing a challenging academic curriculum and tailoring instructional strategies to meet the needs of all students; focusing on early childhood programs to increase children's chances for success; reaching out to help parents take part in educating their children.
Chris Town, M.Ed., is a seasoned principal with over 38 years experience in Hawai'i public and private schools. Chris came to Hawai`i in 1970 to work as a teacher at Kapa`a Elementary. After teaching at Koloa Elementary School for seven years, Chris moved on to school administration in a number of Kaua'i schools. As principal of Kalaheo Elementary for 14 years, Chris worked with his staff to bring about many innovative changes including school community based management. After earning his M.Ed. along with a cadre of his Kalaheo teachers in 1995, Chris moved on to become Kaua'i Deputy District Superintendent. After "retirement" Chris served in Colorado as a principal for 6 years where he implemented school-wide improvement and a school facilities renovation. Returning to Hawai`i, Chris served on O`ahu as a private school Director. Chris has extended family on Kaua`i, O`ahu and Hawai`i, including a brother, children, and grandchildren, two of whom will attend Kawaikini. Chris lives in Oma'o with his wife Devi.
Ke'ala Bristol joins Kawaikini as the school's Student Administrative Services Assistant (SASA). Ke'ala studied both Journalism and Public Relations at Hawai'i Pacific University in Honolulu. While earning her degree, Ke'ala worked as a childcare associate and as a Kumu for the county's Summer Enrichment Program, and most recently worked for a medical clinic in Kilauea. She is excited for the upcoming school year and is working hard to improve her Hawaiian language fluency.
Kaulana Smith, M.Ed., (Student Services Coordinator) comes to Kawaikini from Kapa'a High School, where she served as a Special Education Teacher and worked with students with disabilities for 10 years. Kaulana earned a B.A. in English from the University of Hawai`i, Manoa, and a Masters in Special Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Kaulana is trained in various reading, writing, and behavioral strategies and she is a proponent of self-determination for students with disabilities. At Kapa`a High, Kaulana initiated SPED programs in technology integration, project-base learning, the Readiness Employability Program, and partnered with Hawai`i Networked Learning Communities (HNLC). Kaulana helped in the start-up of Ka Loko I`a, a Fisheries and Hatchery Facility, as well as other Workplace Readiness Projects. In keeping with the Vision and Beliefs of Kawaikini, Kaulana continues to be the alaka`i of Hanai I Ka Ipu (HIKI) Kapa`a, a leadership and mentoring program through the Pacific American Foundation, and is the Girls Varsity Canoe Paddling Coach at Kapa`a High School. Kaulana joins Kawaikini with the love and support of her family (including 3 of 4 children who have been nurtured by Ke Kula Kaiapuni `O Kapa`a) and the spiritual guidance of na kupuna, na `aumakua a me ke akua.
Sandy Reece (Business Manager) attended the University of Toledo and has worked as an Accountant for over 30 years.
