I ka nānā no a ʻike.
By observing, one learns.
— ʻŌlelo noʻeau no. 1185
Welina mai to a critical, Indigenous, wahine ʻŌiwi space to speak back to the "Ivory Tower" of academia through humanizing reflections on my ongoing educational and career journey.
I use this blog to document personal updates, book reviews, and reflexive writing. Mahalo for taking the time to engage with me.
Building Pacific Islander & Asian American Futures at Berkeley and Beyond
Remarks and reflections on the 2026 AA & PI Homecoming event featuring members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Transpacific Futures cluster.
Some Manaʻo to my Younger Self: Remarks for College Horizons 2026
In this post, I share an excerpt of remarks presented to Indigenous high school students during the 2026 College Horizons program hosted on UC Berkeley’s campus.
Reflections on Inaugural Thriving in Teaching Program
In this post, I share reflections of my experiences in UC Berkeley’s Inaugural Thriving in Teaching Program.
AAPITF 2025–2026 Speaker Series
This post presents information on a speaker series featuring Kumu Kimeona Kāne and Ethan Chang.
A New Year, A New Semester
In this post, I share a brief letter to students, present and future in response to a reflective activity on teaching for racial equity.
A Reality Check on Collective (Un)Wellness
In this post, I reflect on a recent temperature check in an undergraduate class (Fall 2025).
Officially PAU (with the PhD)
In this post, I reminisce on finishing the PhD and graduation.
National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Reflections
In this post, I share four points of reflection on the 2025 spring retreat for the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships.
Post-Graduate Pathway Reflections: Day 2
In this post, I share reflections and takeaways from the second day of NYU’s 2025 Faculty First-Look Program.
Post-Graduate Pathway Reflections: Day 1
In this post, I share a few key takeaways and reflections from the first day of NYU’s 2025 Faculty First-Look Program.
Enacting Kūʻē in academia
In this post, I share a brief moʻolelo of my upcoming article on a qualitative study of kūʻē (resistance) among Native Hawaiian students from 2019–2024.
Life lately: Listening, learning, and embracing my anger
This past week was jam-packed with events — a symposium, a public talk, a night market, a work day — and opportunities to reconnect with old friends and build pilina with new ones.
Deconstructing the publishing process: preparing and submitting a manuscript
After talking with friends and colleagues about publishing peer-review articles, I was inspired to dedicate a few blog posts toward deconstructing the publication process.
Revisiting Adichie's "danger of a single story" leading up to the U.S. elections
In this post, I reflect on Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2009 TEDGlobal talk "the danger of a single story," which warns audiences of the violent consequences of failing to consult multiple stories and perspectives on diverse cultures and circumstances.
Book review: “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)
A review of Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me (2015)
Aloha 'Āina, Ea, and Hoʻoulu Lāhui
This past week, I spent some much-needed time engaged in ʻāina, cultivating new friendships, and nurturing old ones. Last Saturday, I went out to a loʻi and got to talk story with college students and recent graduates about their relationship with ʻāina, and I'm always amazed and inspired by the depth of ʻike our youth have when it comes to Aloha ʻĀina work.
May 2024 recap
This month has been such an emotional rollercoaster — lots of highs, a ton of lows. Through it all, my family and friends have really shown up to kūkākūkā and kōkua.
A moment of clarity about intersectionality
This week, I was reminded about the significance of intersectionality, a framework, theory, pedagogy, analytic tool, lens, and lifestyle that recognizes the interlocking nature of social identities and their subsequent impact on an individual's experiences with systems of oppression.
April 2024 recap
This April was filled with family gatherings, community work days, critical learning, and personal growth.