This year, I had the chance to meet some new members of our school community. Each one brought not just skills and experience, but stories that made me pause and reflect. Their journeys reminded me why education is never just about facts—it’s about people, passion, and small everyday discoveries.
Michelle Hastings: A Global Educator
When I first met Michelle, she spoke about her life as one long adventure around the globe—from Australia to Nigeria, and back to Kailua. I could almost picture her classrooms filled with students in Singapore, then France, then South Korea. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1993 in political science and started teaching government and economics in 1995.
Now, she leads the Lower School Summer Program. Michelle has taught French, English, and economics in many different settings. She speaks fluent French, and at home in Kailua, she shares her life with her daughter Kendall ’17 and two lively dogs. Meeting her made me think: teaching is like a journey—you carry experiences from every place and every student you meet.
Carissa Leonida: Coordinating with Passion
Carissa’s energy is contagious. As the new Iolani Fair Coordinator, she combines a background in operations, sales, and marketing with genuine love for the school. She also volunteers as an Ohana Representative for the Class of 2024.
I asked her what she loves most about Iolani. She smiled and said, “It’s the people. Every face tells a story.” Together with her husband Kevin ’92, she raises two children, Maya ’24 and Alex ’23. Watching her in action reminded me that enthusiasm can ripple through an entire community.
Vergel Jepas: Musician and Tech Specialist
Vergel is not just our new Audio Visual Specialist—he’s a musician and storyteller. He previously worked as a program aide and sound technician for former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. He is also a songwriter under Mountain Apple Company and will release a CD this summer.
Vergel earned an associate degree in Culinary Arts from Leeward Community College. At home, he and his wife Paula raise their son, Ku. I love imagining him balancing sound boards and guitar strings, blending technology with music. It’s a perfect reminder that creativity wears many hats.
Dean Shimamoto ’94: Tech and Sports Mentor
Dean joined as a user support specialist in the computer department, but his mission is bigger: bringing technology into the curriculum. A proud Iolani alumnus and member of the 1994 state championship basketball team, he also ran his own web development company for over ten years.
Dean has coached boys’ basketball for sixteen years and now leads the varsity program. With his wife Teresa, an Iolani biology teacher, he raises their son Dane. I noticed something about him—he moves seamlessly between coding problems and coaching plays. To me, that’s the perfect metaphor for education: balance, creativity, and care.
Mentor Jack Kay Named Distinguished Teacher
I’ve always believed that one great teacher can change a life. Jack Kay is that teacher. Over nearly fifty years at Iolani, he has guided, taught, and mentored countless students. Recently, he received Whitman College’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
Alumna Taylor Chock ’08 nominated him, writing about his “boundless dedication to teaching.” She credits him for inspiring her to major in biology and for giving thousands of students opportunities and inspiration both in and out of the classroom. Moments like these remind me that teaching is not just a job—it’s a ripple that lasts for decades.
Retired Faculty & Staff Return for a Holiday Concert
On a crisp December evening, I watched former faculty and staff return to campus. Familiar faces, warm smiles, and laughter filled the Lower Gym. Chorus and Band 4 performed a variety of festive music.
Standing there, I realized that traditions live not only in memory but in moments like this. Music can connect past and present, showing us that the school is more than walls and books—it’s the people who pass through them.