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When something matters, you don’t wait for someone else to fix it. You step in and do the work.
A life of service.
A commitment to our Community.
I didn’t grow up dreaming about running for office.
I’m a mom, a small business owner, and someone who has spent most of my life working, building, and serving the people around me. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how the gap between our community and the people meant to represent it is very real and how it affects families every single day.
I started working when I was fourteen. By the time I was in college, I was supporting myself while balancing classes and multiple jobs, and I had nearly $100,000 in student debt. It took years of long days and late nights to pay that off. That experience still guides me today. When something matters, you don’t wait for someone else to fix it. You step in and do the work.
That’s the same way I’ve built my life here in Kāneʻohe.
My husband is a veteran, and together we’re raising our children in a place that still holds a strong sense of ʻohana, a place where neighbors look out for each other, and families are trying to build something stable in an increasingly difficult environment. I don’t take that lightly. It’s something worth protecting and strengthening.
My work has always centered around people, especially keiki, families, and those who need support the most.
Rooted in Family,
Grounded in Service
Education
I’ve taught in classrooms from preschool through high school, including political science and economics. I’ve worked in school leadership, overseeing staff and daily operations, and helping families navigate their children’s education. And when I couldn’t find the kind of early education program I wanted for my own children,
I built one.
A Record of Building and Service
Small Business
A Windward-based early learning program I founded was born out of a gap. Families needed a part-time, family-centered option that aligned with their values, but waitlists were extensive. What started as something for my own keiki has now served dozens of families on the Windward side. That experience taught me how to build something from the ground up, really listen to what people need, and follow through.
Community Service
Beyond education, I’ve worked directly with kūpuna navigating housing challenges, supported individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and volunteered in recovery programs and with women in need. These experiences have shown me where systems fall short and how often communities step in to fill the gap.
Serving Kāne'ohe and Maunawili with Care
District 49 includes both Kāneʻohe and Maunawili. They are not the same, and they shouldn’t be treated that way. Each community has its own character, concerns, and priorities. But both deserve consistent communication, real advocacy, and leadership that is present and accountable.
In the end, my decision to run came down to something simple but important: our library.
Like many families, we relied on it. Then it closed, and the reopening kept getting pushed back again and again. No clear answers and no real timeline.
At town hall meetings, my eight-year-old son stands up and asks the same question: “When will the library open?”
The answers have changed, and the timeline has shifted. The last answer we were given was “soon.”
But after over two years without a library, “soon” is not enough, and more importantly, "soon" is not a plan.
That moment made something clear to me. This isn’t just about one project. It’s about a pattern of unclear communication, a lack of accountability, and a growing disconnect between our community and the people meant to represent it.
And I’m not someone who sees that and walks away.
I’ve spent years working inside our community, not just talking about what needs to change, but actually building, serving, and stepping in where there are gaps. I understand the pressures families are under, the challenges small businesses face, and how important it is to have leadership that is present and responsive.
Kāneʻohe and Maunawili deserve that kind of leadership.
Why I'm Running
"Soon" is not enough, and more importantly, "soon" is not a plan.
A Grassroots Campaign,
Not Politics as Usual
I’m not a career politician, and I don’t have the kind of big political money that our current representation relies on.
That’s by choice.
I can’t be bought, and I won’t be influenced by anything other than what is best for our community.
This is a grassroots effort, and I believe the best solutions don’t come from the top down. They come from listening, from real collaboration, and from people who are living these challenges every day.
How I Approach Leadership
Someone once asked me how I plan to take on complex issues at the state level. For me, the answer is simple.
It’s like a loʻi kalo.
When you step into a loʻi, the water isn’t clear. It’s muddy, it’s heavy, and it’s hard to see what’s underneath. You don’t rush to drain it or force clarity. You take your time. You learn the flow. You shape the boundaries. You let things settle and start to make sense.
Over time, what once felt unclear begins to produce something steady and sustaining, not because the water disappeared, but because you learned how to work with it.
A loʻi kalo doesn’t fight the water. It turns it into something that feeds the community.
That’s how I approach leadership.
A loʻi kalo doesn’t fight the water. It turns it into something that feeds the community.
Ready to Do the Work
I’m running because I believe we can do better. Better for our families. Better for our schools. Better for our community.
I’m ready to do the work to make that happen.
It would be an honor to serve Kāneʻohe and Maunawili, protecting what we work so hard for every day.
This campaign is about showing up, listening well, and following through. If you believe in that kind of leadership, I invite you to be a part of it.
Together, we can build a stronger Kāne'ohe and Maunawili.
Let's do the work.
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