Since the beginning of Teach for America Hawai‘i in 2006, our region has recognized the unique and profound additional impact kama‘āina and Kanaka Maoli educators can have on students. Our kama‘āina and Kanaka Maoli corps members impact Hawai‘i in multiple roles such as Hawai‘i State Teacher of Year, education non-profit leaders, healthcare system leaders, elected officials, and more. Your island home needs leaders like you with deep ties to the communities we serve to ensure all students in Hawai‘i receive an excellent education.
Kama‘āina & Kanaka Maoli Recruitment By the Numbers
234
Kama‘āina leaders
74
Kanaka Maoli leaders
94
Hawai‘i Public School graduates
16
Previously taught by TFA Teacher
Unlocking the Future of Hawai‘i Through Education
The impacts of colonialism and annexation continue to be felt by many local families today, particularly Native Hawaiian communities. We believe that to fully realize the future of a more sustainable and independent Hawai‘i, all keiki regardless of their circumstances are entitled to a high-quality education that helps them become the leaders of their local communities.
If you grew up in the islands, then you already know that education can look vastly different across the state. On Oʻahu, at private schools like Punahou, 99% of graduates enroll in a four-year college and are set up for college success with 86% of AP exams taken by seniors earning a score of 3 or higher. Compared to Waiʻanae High School, one of our largest partner schools, 16% of graduates enrolled in a four-year college, with only 2 students scoring a three or higher on an AP exam. This is not an issue of the inherent potential of students, but the result of complex, systemic socioeconomic barriers which require leaders working across many sectors to solve.
Join the movement in Hawaiʻi for change
While there is still much to be done to realize our vision, we know that kama‘āina and Kanaka Maoli corps members and alumni are critical towards making changes in our system. We also know that change is already happening: from 2015 to 2019, the number of Waiʻanae High School graduates at UH enrolled in college-level English increased 28% and the number of students enrolled in college-level math increased 28%. Our kama‘āina and Kanaka Maoli network of changemakers are creative innovators in their schools and communities:
Lord Ryan Lizardo '14 PROGRAM MANAGER, WORK-BASED LEARNING - Lord Ryan Lizardo was placed at his alma mater, James Campbell High School where he served as the head of the Academy of Public and Human Services. He has also spent the past several summers training new corps members. Taking his experience from the classroom, Lord Ryan recently joined the Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce to develop the work-based learning program that connects schools and businesses together for workforce opportunities to get students career-ready.
Isaiah Pule '18 & Kamalani Pule '19 ELEMENTARY & ENGLISH TEACHERS - Kamaile Academy PCS alumni Isaiah Pule and Kamalani Pule both returned to their alma mater to teach fourth grade and secondary English respectively. Both were taught by multiple Teach For America teachers including alum Kenny Ferenchak ('08) and kamaʻāina alum Jordan D'Olier ('09).
Piikea Kalakau '15 DISTRICT RESOURCE TEACHER - Piikea Kalakau is a Kamehameha Schools Kapalama alum who taught English at Wai'anae Intermediate School. In the 2018-2019 school year, 81% of her students passed the state assessment: 50% above the school average and 30% above the state average. She is currently a resource teacher for the Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area supporting the implementation of project-based and place-based learning.
Ryan Mandado '15 CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER - Ryan Mandado is a Farrington High School alum and began teaching at James Campbell High School in 2015. He later became the department head for the largest Special Education program in the state, empowering fellow teachers in the department serving students with disabilities. Ryan began a role in school administration for the 2019-2020 school year as the Chief Academic Officer for Dreamhouse ʻEwa Beach.
Lipoa Kahaleuahi ‘11 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MA KA HANA KA ʻIKE - Lipoa started her journey with Teach for America as a Campus Campaign Coordinator as a senior at the University of California-Santa Barbara. She was then accepted to the corps and taught for several years at her placement school, Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School. Lipoa later returned to her hometown of Hāna to work for Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke, a non-profit providing vocational training, and hands-on learning programs for youth in the community, where she now serves as the Executive Director.
Where We Work
To focus our impact, we strategically place corps members in public schools on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island. A majority of our O‘ahu corps members teach on the Leeward Coast, ‘Ewa Beach, ‘Aiea, or Wahiawa, while most of our Hawai‘i Island corps members teach in Kailua-Kona, Konawaena, or Kea‘au.
Many of our corps members and alumni have had the opportunity to return to their hometowns to teach in schools they attended growing up, and some were even taught by Teach for America Hawai‘i teachers as well!
Connect with TFA Hawai‘i
Do you identify as kamaʻāina and/or Kanaka Maoli and want to learn more about our movement for local leaders? Contact hawaiiinfo@teachforamerica.org to get connected with our local staff today.