N. KAʻIAKO TAGAB-CRUZ
Program Coordinator, Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Associate Professor of Hawaiian Studies
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 380-34
(808) 934-2616
tagab@hawaii.edu
BA 2007, University of California, Santa Cruz
MA 2017, Union Institute and University
N. Kaʻiako Tagab-Cruz is an Instructor and the Coordinator of I Ola Hāloa - Hawai`i Life Styles program. She holds a B.A. in Community Studies and a M.A. in Leadership, Public Policy, and Social Issues with a focus on Native Hawaiian Leadership. Kaʻiako is an ʻūniki ʻailolo graduate of Hālau o Lilinoe and Unukupukupu.
DR. TAUPŌURI TANGARŌ
Director of Hawaiian Culture and Protocols Engagement
Professor of Hawaiian Studies
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 389B-103
(808) 934-2575
taupouri@hawaii.edu
BA 1992, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
MEd 1995, Heritage College, Washington
PhD 2004, Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, Ohio
BOR Excellence in Teaching Award, 2009
Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 2009
Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō is a professor of Hawaiian Studies at Hawaiʻi Community College, and serves as the Director of Hawaiian Culture and Protocols Engagement, with direct report to HawCC and UHH chancellors, respectively. He holds a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies, an M.A.Ed. in Professional Development, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies. He is an ʻūniki ʻailolo graduate of Hālau O Kekuhi, and positions hula as the anchor for building capacity in indigenous leadership through academia.
ERIK KALANI FLORES
Professor of Hawaiian Studies
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Pālamanui Campus 502-152
(808) 969-8875
ekflores@hawaii.edu
BA 1982, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
PELE KAIO
Associate Professor of Hawaiian Studies
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 389B-104
(808) 969-8875
pelekaio@hawaii.edu
AA 2010, Hawai'i Community College
AAS 2010, Hawai'i Community College
BA 2013, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
MA 2015, Union Institute and University
Aloha kāua. ʻO Pele Kaio koʻu inoa. My father's side of the family is from Lāʻia (Lāʻie), Oʻahu and my mother's family is from ʻAiea, Oʻahu and Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi. I teach courses in hula, Hawaiian studies and 'ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language) at Hawaiʻi Community College. Currently, I serve as the Kīpaepae Protocols Committee Chair at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College. I received my A.A.S. in Hawaiian Studies - Hula and A.A. in Liberal Arts here at Hawaiʻi Community College. I completed my undergraduate studies in Geography with a minor in Hawaiian Studies at UH Hilo and received my M.A. in History and Culture from Union Institute and University. I am an ʻūniki ʻailolo of Unukupukupu and the kumu hula of Unulau. I love to meet new students, learn with them and tap into their potential - everyone has the potential to succeed and make meaning out of life.
I ola e nā kini ē!
TRACY KUʻULEI KANAHELE
Associate Professor of Hawaiian Studies
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 389B-107
(808) 934-2605
tracyk@hawaii.edu
BA 1998, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
MA 2001, Central Michigan University
Tracy Kuʻulei Kanahele is an instructor at Hawai`i Community College's Hawai`i Life Styles program. She holds a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies, a M.A.Ed, and is a PhD candidate in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization. Aside from teaching at the college, Kuʻulei also volunteers at Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo public charter school, where she teaches Hawaiian language to faculty and staff.
ĀKEAMAKAMAE KIYUNA
Hawaiian Studies/Language Culture Pathways Coordinator
Associate Professor of Hawaiian Studies
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 380-34
(808) 934-2609
akiyuna@hawaii.edu
BA 2010, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
MA 2012, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
ʻO wau nō ʻo Ākeamakamae Kiyuna a he kupa kēia no ka ʻāina ʻo ʻAiea, Oʻahu. I am from ʻAiea, Oʻahu, with roots also in Hōnaunau, Hawaiʻi. I did my undergraduate studies in Hawaiian Studies and Linguistics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and received an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I have been teaching at the college and university level for the past six years and I absolutely love my job and working with students because I learn just as much from them as they do from me. I hope that I am fortunate enough to learn from you!
MONICA BURNETT
Educational Specialist
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 380-34
(808) 934-2604
mburnett@hawaii.edu
AS 1992, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Community Colleges Leadership Champion, Generation XI Monica was born in Honolulu and raised in Kaūmana and Puna, Hawaiʻi. A proud alumna of Hawaiʻi Community College, she has been working at the I Ola Hāloa Center since August of 2000. Monica enjoys helping as well as getting to know the students. She believes that every student has the opportunity to be successful at HawaiiCC and beyond. On her days off, she loves spending time with her ʻohana.
TIFFANY NAEA
Educational Specialist
I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles
Manono Campus 380-34
(808) 934-2603
naea@hawaii.edu
AA Liberal Arts 2011, Hawaiʻi Community College
BA Communication 2012, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
BA Psychology 2014, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Aloha nui! My name is Tiffany Naea ☺ I was born in Hilo and raised in Oʻahu... but I moved back to Hilo about 30 years ago to raise my children on this beautiful Moku o Keawe. Iʻve been married for 32 years, and I have 3 children and 2 grandchildren who all live in Hilo. Hilo is home.
I work at the I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles Office as an Educational Specialist. Iʻm also a Hawaiʻi Community College student majoring in Hawaiian Studies. Iʻm a lifelong learner and am so excited and thankful to be a part of this Hawaiʻi Community College Hawaiian Studies Program.