Chanel is an educator with over 14 years experience in the DOE, Charter Schools, and ʻĀina Educational Based Nonprofits. She believes that education can be utilized as a tool for social justice, sustainability, and the health and wellbeing of the people of Hawaiʻi. Her foundation as a kumu and as a kanaka rests in her aloha for ʻāina.

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. 

Daniel Leland has experience teaching U.S., World, and Ancient History in diverse school settings across Minnesota for 11 years. He has taught both mainstream and accelerated courses with a focus on experiential learning and student-centered inquiry, most recently serving as an Honors Humanities and Social Studies teacher for 6th grade in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Ysanel is a multidisciplinary artist and educator whose work bridges art, culture, and community.  Over a decade of painting large-scale murals taught her that the true power of public art lies not just in transforming walls, but in fostering dialogue, connection, and a sense of place. 

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.

Makaela Weathers grew up on the windward side of Oʻahu, between Kailua and Kāneʻohe, where her deep love for the ocean began at a young age. That passion led her to pursue a degree in Marine Biology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, with a specialization in shark ecology. She spent two years conducting shark research at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology.

Originally from Uganda, East Africa, Sarah Mirembe brings to Namahana School a rich and varied background that reflects a lifelong commitment to service, learning, and community engagement. Her path has not been linear, but it has always centered on one guiding question: How do we help students grow into who they are meant to be? This question has shaped her journey through policy research with the Parliament of Uganda, mediation work in California courtrooms, outdoor education in the Midwest, and classroom teaching in diverse urban learning environments.

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.

As Namahana’s first School Leader, Dr. Kapua Chandler brings tremendous knowledge, history, and talent to the position. Born and raised in Kīlauea, Kapua is a kupaʻāina and lineal descendant of Koʻolau and Haleleʻa. In 2018, Chandler joined the Kauaʻi North Shore Community Foundation to plan and implement the community engagement process for creating a north shore charter school. This process led to the development of Namahana School’s values, mission, vision, and educational model.

Taeko brings over 30 years of experience as an educator. She has co-founded two schools and served as the principal of one in New York since 2007. Taeko is passionate about balancing the unique needs of individual students with those of the community, and she is grateful to be closer to her family on Oʻahu now.

Tamra, born on Kauaʻi and raised in Kīlauea, is a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate and has dedicated years to serving our island community. She has taught at various schools across Kauaʻi, served as Vice-President of the Kīlauea Neighborhood Association, and worked with Waipā Foundation teaching ‘āina-based curriculum.