About Me
Local Girl with DC Roots
I was born in Washington, DC and raised between DC and Hawai‘i. In DC, my classmates were the children of US Senators, diplomats, and other government officials. I had the unique opportunity of learning about US politics through my childhood friendships, and regularly participated in major national events like the Inauguration of President Barack Obama or the 100th anniversary of the Suffragettes' march through DC.
Haumana Hula
I began dancing hula when I was five years old with Hālau O Aulani in Washington, DC. When I moved back home to Hawai‘i when I was 12, I danced hula for Punahou School, where we won 1st place in the Wahine division at the 2018 Malia Craver Hula Kahiko Competition. I now dance for Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine.
Seeker of Knowledge
Undergraduate Thesis
One of the most challenging but rewarding projects of my life was writing my undergraduate thesis "Aloha ‘Āina as Commitment to Demilitarization." Over the course of my senior year, my thesis cohorts and I spent countless hours researching, writing, and reading one another's work. When we all gathered together with the final copies of our theses, we felt incredible pride for ourselves and one another.
Eugene Lang Dean's Honor Symposium
During my junior year, I was selected to present my research on the intersection of Militarism and Tourism at Pearl Harbor. A link to the presentation can be found on my Opportunities page.
Freedom Scholars Program
The Freedom Scholars program at The New School is a four-year scholarship program where cohorts study intersectional movement building. During my time as a Freedom Scholar, I studied various tactics for community organizing, visited various organizations throughout New York City, and engaged with movements on and off campus.