Anuhea’s entire professional career has been spent in academia. Prior to joining Namahana as a kumu, she worked for the University of Hawaiʻi as a Distance Education Academic Support Specialist at Kauaʻi Community College. Her background includes teaching transitional courses for new freshmen focused on executive functioning skills and social emotional learning, with continued support throughout their high school journey. 

Erika Sakamoto brings nearly three decades of dedicated classroom experience to Namahana. Born and raised on Kauaʻi, she has spent her career championing culture-based education and literacy, most recently serving as a Lead Kumu for Kamehameha Schools, where she focused on building strong, collaborative partnerships with 'ohana.

Coming soon!

Rachelle Ricardo was born on O’ahu and began her teaching career in the fall of 2000, interestingly enough, at the public elementary school she attended as a kindergartener. She brings with her 25 years of classroom experience, having taught in a variety of schools, both public and private in Hawaii, California and even Paris, France.

Eric did his undergraduate work at U.C.L.A. and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He completed a Master’s Degree at Chaminade in special education with a thesis focused on Multiple Intelligences. Through the Hawaii Department of Education RISE Program, Eric is certified to teach special education and middle school math, language arts, social studies and science.

Jonathan brings 24+ years of experience as an educator. His teaching journey began at a small inquiry-based school on Oahu, Epiphany School, where he learned how student interest can drive education. In his multi-age grade 1 and 2 classroom, students asked questions, researched individually and collaboratively, and presented topics of interest to ohana and community members. 

With a lifelong passion for alternative education and six years of middle school teaching experience, Adriana is thrilled and honored to be a Namahana founding kumu. Adriana believes in creating an inclusive, engaging classroom that amplifies student voice and centers around the values of kindness and curiosity, and the practices of reflection and metacognition.

Annalise was born and raised on the east coast of the United States in a multicultural, multigenerational family consisting of her maternal grandmother, parents, sister, and brother. After earning her B.S. in Biology, Anna moved to Hawaiʻi in the fall of 2022 to begin her role as an upper watershed field technician on the Alakaʻi plateau.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Abigail was born and raised in Southwest Missouri and lived in Southern Colorado before settling on Kauaʻi in 2018. She joins Namahana School as the founding Student Support Coordinator.