“… the biggest way the EdD program has impacted me is that it has opened my eyes to the changes that need to be enacted to help our keiki receive a more holistic education that values the past, recognizes them in the present, and prepares them for the future.”

Hometown

Kailua, HI (moved from Fiji at the age of 3)

Department

Educational Administration

Related Degrees

• EdD, Professional Education Practice

Where do you work?
I just transferred this year (2025–26) to work at Kailua High School where I teach Transition to High School. Previously, I taught 8th-grade math and algebra to students at King Intermediate School. Jokingly, I tell my current students at Kailua High School that we transitioned into High School together.

How did you become interested in the field of education? The EdD in Professional Practice Program?
I knew when I was at Kailua High School that I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t know what I wanted to teach, but I knew that teaching was for me. I don’t know if there was any main event that caused me to go into education, but I just remember feeling that it felt natural and true to who I was. I ended up choosing math because it was a topic that I really struggled with, and I always felt like my struggle through math would give me skills that would help other students learn the tricky concepts that math has.

I earned my undergraduate degree in math education from BYU, and it was eye-opening to see how much research was happening in the field of math education. I stayed at BYU to complete a master’s degree in math education, then moved back to Hawaiʻi and taught at King Intermediate for 10 years. After eight years of teaching at King, I felt ready for the next step. I knew I didn’t want to travel abroad or pursue a 100% online degree, so I looked into the PhD and EdD programs at UH Mānoa. Turns out, the EdD program was starting a new cohort that fall, and I told myself, “I will just apply and if I don’t get in, that’s okay—less stress—and I can at least say I tried.” When I was accepted, I was both excited and terrified because I knew it would push me to my limits, and it has. I’ve been very fortunate to be part of a cohort of very intelligent, open-minded doctoral students who have supported me through this journey. Additionally, the professors in the program (Dr. Ideta and Dr. Kahomoku, especially) have been invaluable guides along the way.

How has the COE program impacted or benefited your career path?
I would say that the biggest way the EdD program has impacted me is that it has opened my eyes to the changes that need to be enacted to help our keiki receive a more holistic education that values the past, recognizes them in the present, and prepares them for the future. It has also given me tools to help enact that change, as well as tools (such as improvement science) to help convince others that change is both necessary and helpful.

Is there anyone in particular who inspired you to pursue a career in education?
Both of my parents were educators in the DOE. My brother and his wife are in education, so I joke that education is in my blood. When I told my dad that I wanted to be a teacher, he told me not to. He always wanted me to be a doctor so I could buy him a boat. When he passed away 16 years ago, seeing his students come to his funeral was an eye-opener. It caused me to think about the legacy we leave for the future. It caused me to think about the truest and most honest way for me to leave a legacy of learning for the future, and my conclusion was I could do that by teaching.

What are your future plans?
My future plans are to retire. Before that, I plan on being a better math teacher. I hope to use the lessons I learned in the EdD program to help make steps in the right direction. Also, as crazy as it sounds, I would love to be involved with educational research that can help to grow the Hawai’i DOE into something we can be even more proud of.

Anything else you would like to include?
Thank you for doing this. As a teacher, I wonder about the type of impact I leave on students. Especially when it comes to math, I know it can be an intimidating subject, but those shoutouts help me to know that I am on the right track. I appreciate what you are doing and I think it is very noble…so thanks!

Shoutouts from former students