Mahalo Nui Loa to Melanie Parker, Celebrating 8 Years of Service with Namahana Bridget Thorpe, Sarah Wright Assume Role as Interim Co-Directors
Melanie with Kauʻi signing the purchase documents for Namahana’s permanent land.
On January 31, Melanie Parker will be celebrating 8 years of service and stepping-down from her role as Executive Director of Namahana Education Foundation to focus on her ʻohana at a critical time. The full school, foundation, boards, and staff are deeply grateful for her transformative impact.
Melanie helped achieve milestones that many thought impossible: securing the charter, purchasing land for the school, raising over $10 million from our incredible supporters, and—most importantly—watching the inaugural 7th and 8th grade students walk onto campus for their first day of class this past August.
The Board is thrilled to announce Bridget Thorpe and Sarah Wright have been appointed as Interim Co-Directors. Both coming from within the Namahana organization, they provide a seamless transition to the next chapter, and their wealth of knowledge, leadership skills, and deep historical ties with our community will be foundational to our success for years. Their complementary strengths are exactly what this next chapter requires, allowing the Foundation to transition from its startup phase to a long-term sustainable organization focused on the needs of our keiki and overall community.
Mahalo nui loa to Melanie for her steadfast leadership, dedication to Namahana, and friendship.
- Kau’i Fu, Board Chair, NEF
Melanie and Kapua celebrating the signing of the school’s charter.
“What we have accomplished is monumental, yet I have been most impacted by the relationships we grew together along the way. Working alongside Dr. Kapua Chandler, our esteemed school and foundation boards and staff, and a truly amazing community of supporters and donors, has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Mahalo for believing in me, for investing in our vision, and for your unwavering support of our North Shore keiki. I look forward to celebrating Namahana’s continued success alongside you.”
- Melanie Parker
As Sarah and Bridget move into these roles, their focus remains on supporting our community. For questions regarding operations or finance, please email Sarah Wright. For inquiries related to fundraising or partnerships, please email Bridget Thorpe. They look forward to sharing more about a new team member next month!
