The faculty and staff of Honolulu Waldorf School work out of a deep respect for the creative potential and spiritual nature of each human being. Teachers work actively on self-understanding and transformation as well as on remaining current in their subject areas through professional development. Their internal self-awareness and external and active participation in the world are essential to the Waldorf model of education and equip them to fulfill HWS's mission and goals.
Lynn Aaberg has been a class teacher at Honolulu Waldorf School since 2001. She has degrees in botany and biology from University of California, Riverside and UCLA, and her Waldorf Teacher Certification from Sunbridge College. Lynn was introduced to Waldorf education while exploring schools for her children, who attended Waldorf Schools in Oregon and California before moving to Honolulu to attend HWS. Her three grown children live on three continents, most likely influenced by their experience in Waldorf Schools, all of which develop students' capacities to become independent human beings! Lynn enjoys the sunrise every morning with her husband, who makes the finest cup of mocha java to be found on the island. When not involved with school activities, Lynn serves as CSO of a small company specializing in custom-made wooden surfboards.
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Mary Jo Abinader hails from Portland Oregon, where she promoted her first Waldorf class from first through eighth grade at Cedarwood Waldorf School. Prior to her Waldorf training at Rudolf Steiner College, Mary Jo taught the theater arts, directed plays, and worked with teachers in public schools on how to use music, art, and drama in the classroom - for a total of 18 years in Washington, D.C. and Portland. Her daughter attends Portland State University, having been bolstered by her strong education in Waldorf K-12. Mary Jo is thrilled to be part of the Honolulu Waldorf School Community.
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Frances was born and raised, then married and raised three children in Mo-town, Michigan. Ill-armed with a degree in art education, she taught in public schools for a number of years then vowed never to set foot in a classroom again. But when her husband stumbled across the Detroit Waldorf School, France broke her vow. After Gerald completed his training, Frances took her Waldorf training part time as she chauffeured her children to and from Waldorf and was active in the school PTO. She slipped back into the classroom after working first in the school kitchen, then in the accounting office, and in specialty subjects. Ultimately she had the joyful experience of being a class teacher. In 1987 she followed her husband to Honolulu and continued to class teach. After almost 40 years with Waldorf, she continues to learn more about this remarkable education.
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Evelyn was born and raised on a very tiny island called Jamestown, located in the very tiny state of Rhode Island. Her twin sister loved to play basketball and mow lawns, but Evelyn tumbled into the world of gymnastics. Evelyn's love for movement leaped out of gymnastics and into dance. She was searching for a form of movement that brought forth the soul spiritual nature of the human being, rather than simply emphasizing the physical body. She was also seeking a movement that worked not only with classical music, but poetry as well, for she had an ardent love of writing. Evelyn was 19 when her mother discovered a movement art called eurythmy and knew that eurythmy was what her daughter was seeking. Evelyn began her four year training that year at the American Eurythmy School, and graduated in 2007. Since then she has taught in Alaska, California, Washington, D.C., and Cape Cod. However, Evelyn finds teaching in Hawai‘i to be one of the happiest times in her life thus far.
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Petra was born and raised in Germany, lived and worked in Sri Lanka, and came to the United States in 1997. While on a snowboarding vacation in Switzerland, Petra met her husband, Jarda Ruzicka, a retired professor and chemist. She received her Waldorf teacher training in Germany with a focus on Special Education, then moved to Seattle, where she and her family lived for 10 years. Her two children attended the Seattle Waldorf School, while Petra worked in a German language school. The family grew tired of the cold, and moved to Hawaii in search of warmer weather. In 2006 she sought out the Honolulu Waldorf School for her children, who transitioned smoothly into first and eighth grade. Petra worked as an aide in the HWS Kindergarten, while teaching German language in the middle grades and the high school. Petra continues to offer her abundant energy as a Kindergarten aide and as an avid parent volunteer with HWS's Annual Fund campaign. Her hobbies include hiking, jogging, snowboarding, and yoga, for which she will begin teacher training this school year.
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Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Donna moved to Honolulu in 1980, attended Brigham Young University graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa with a BA in Political Science. She found the Honolulu Waldorf School while searching for a good education for her two children. She was so taken by the Waldorf philosophy that she pursued a Waldorf teaching certificate and other teaching degrees. She holds certificates as a Paralegal, a Hawai‘i State DOE Substitute Teacher, a Kula Makua Teacher Training Graduate, and as a Kindergarten and Class Teacher. Outside the classroom, Donna enjoys swimming, gardening, and hiking.
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It is a thrill to have Katelyn on the HWS faculty as the piano accompanist for eurythmy and chorus classes and for class plays not only for her great talent; she is a graduate of Honolulu Waldorf School's Class of 2005. Katelyn graduated from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Music and a minor in Philosophy, and is currently completing her Master's in Music Composition at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. When she's not on the Lower School campus or working on her master's degree, you may find Katelyn in a friendly, yet fierce tennis match, ever so focused and graceful as she is in her every day work.
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Through the years, Peter Della Croce has taught children and adults in Massachusetts, California, Hawai_i, and Thailand. Having earned his Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College, he continues his training there for a Masters of Arts. Raised in the small town of Pine Beach, New Jersey, his interests brought him to study music and graduate Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music. Peter brings great talent and enthusiasm for music to his students and as an interim High School Band instructor. He and his wife, Jemma, also a trained Waldorf teacher, are excited to be part of the HWS community.
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It was serendipitous that Honolulu Waldorf School was looking to hire an Early Childhood teacher shortly after Kelly's husband received notice that he was awarded a job in Honolulu. Kelly discovered her love for teaching 15 years ago while instructing courses in rock climbing at an indoor rock climbing gym in Santa Cruz, California. After leaving Santa Cruz and relocating to St. Louis, Missouri, she decided it was time for a ÒrealÓ career. After a year of teaching in the public school system in what she viewed as a harsh environment for learning, she sought a gentler, more nurturing educational atmosphere. She soon became an assistant nursery teacher at Shining Rivers Waldorf School in St. Louis, then became an assistant in the Kindergarten class, and then a lead teacher in the nursery class. During this time she completed her Bachelor's Degree in a self-designed major focusing on Early Childhood Education, Art and Spirituality, as well as her Master's Degree in Waldorf Early Childhood Education from Sunbridge College. Prior to teaching, and as a stay at home mom to daughter, Wren, now an HWS student, Kelly ran a small cobbling business that specialized in resoling rock climbing shoes.
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Simone Derow-Ostapowicz was born in Santa Barbara, California and grew up in Arkanas. Simone began her art education with Roxanna Wallace, Ozark Mountain School District. After graduating from Alread High School, she spent a year at the University of Arkansas studying Art and Drama. Simone then moved to Hawai‘i and attended the University of Hawai‘i. She continued her undergraduate education at Windward Community College, where she was inspired by Snowden Hodges' Drawing and Painting classes. After transferring to the Manoa Campus, Simone began studying sculpture with Fred Roster, Jinny Mitchell, and Frank Sheriff, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art. Simone worked professionally as a jewelry and performance artist. She was hired originally to teach Jewelry Fabrication and Block Printing at the Honolulu Waldorf High School, and currently teaches Handwork in Grades One, Two, Three, and Four.
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Cammy was brought up on the east coast in a delightful village on Long Island Sound. Major problem: WINTER! After receiving her BA in Art History from New York University, and then working as an editor for a New York book publisher, she flew off to lovely, warm Hawai'i, and never left. She earned her law degree from UH Manoa's Richardson School of Law, where she met her husband. They have three children, two of them HWS alums. In 1990 she took a sabbatical from her work as a Public Defender and volunteered at the HWS library. Twenty-plus years later, she's still in the library and still loving it. Besides children, she most enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, and laughter.
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Roberta received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she majored in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. She received her Waldorf training at Sunbridge College in New York and earned her Waldorf Early Childhood degree there. She also received the LifeWays Early Childhood certificate from the Wisconsin LifeWays training center. Her teaching experience has included working in a nursery school in Rome, Italy, in early intervention programs in the public schools, at Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School in Viroqua, Wisconsin, at Haleakala Waldorf School on Maui, and in her own state licensed child care center, "Little Friends," on her farm. She has worked with children from birth to six years old in parent child programs, nursery and preschool programs, and in kindergarten. She is the teacher of the Kukui Nursery class at our school.
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Phil's love of the practical arts and the land and his zest for life has been with him since his formative years. This love took him on decade-long journeys throughout the mainland U.S. and Hawai_i to apprentice with master craftsmen and cultural creatives. His move to Hawai‘i in 1990 led to his creating a successful computer networking company, but his love for the Earth called him away from the virtual world into the real one. He founded a farm-school in Kealakekua, Hawai‘i, where he guided apprentices in rural living, biodynamic farming, and community supported agriculture (CSA). The farm hosted daily Waldorf school classes and summer farm-school camps. Phil's work with Waldorf education traces back to the '70s while he was studying biodynamic and organic practices. He continues his studies in group dynamics and human development (anthroposophy) while teaching Earth Arts at our High School, and nurturing hope for our youth and the world they will help heal.
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Jana Fraser is a longtime member of the Honolulu Waldorf School ‘ohana, having attended the school from Kindergarten through Grade 8. An avid athlete who loves surfing, softball, and volleyball, she holds a Master's degree in Sports Administration, and degrees in education and exercise/wellness. She has taught physical education and has coached students at Olomana School, Kailua High School, Kalani High School and Punahou, where she also implemented weight training and nutrition plans for high school athletes. Jana concurrently teaches the science of nutrition at the University of Phoenix, while balancing family life with her husband and their two young sons. Jana and her husband also run a non-profit called CHAMP (Comprehensive Health and Academic Mentoring Program) that, through athletics, provides services primarily to the youth of Waimanalo.
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Kepa was born and raised on the east side of Oahu and is a graduate of Saint Louis School. He joined the Honolulu Waldorf ‘ohana after concluding a twenty-plus year career with the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Parks and Recreation, where he managed the overall maintenance and recreational operations for several high-profile locations such as Kapi‘olani Regional Park. The transition from the City and County position to managing the physical and logistical needs of both campuses was a natural and easy one for him to make. From Tuesday through Saturday you'll typically find him on the Niu campus, maintaining the hedges, gardens, trees, and lawn, addressing plumbing issues, or beautifying the. Kepa views both campuses' physical needs with an eye for increasing efficiency. In his spare time Kepa enjoys any ocean activity and spending time with his family Ð his wife, Lindsey, an HWS 8th Grade graduate, daughter Kiley (Koa Class), and son Kainalu. Kepa's current short-term goal is to learn how to throw the javelin so he can win the challenge brought forth by the Physical Education classes in which the loser pulls weeds!
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Hillary Godwise was born and raised in Indiana where she was very active in academics, athletics, and various clubs including being a performer with the Peru Amateur Circus. She attended Indiana University, where she played volleyball, swam competitively, and earned a degree in Mathematics Education and Computer Technology while also attending classes in marine biology, chemistry, and physics for fun. She holds a degree in special education and a master's degree in Athletic Administration from Ohio University. Her keen interest in kinesiology, exercise physiology, and underwater diving prompted her to work as a rescue diver. In 2002 Hillary returned to Indiana to teach and coach volleyball at Butler University. She continued her love of diving and marine life and worked with marine mammals at the Indianapolis Zoo. She has coached young women from 4th grade to NCAA Division I level and believes that girls need more role models in order to become strong, smart, kind, gentle, confident, and independent women. Her other interests include cooking, gardening, exercising, and being a wife and mother. Hillary has also boxed professionally and proudly defeated Olympic ice skater Tonya Harding in a boxing match.
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Jason Godwise hails from Indiana and is truly a ÒRenaissance Man.Ó Jason's passion for the arts, academics, and athletics were evident in high school, having been president of the art and poetry clubs, captain of the football and wrestling teams, and in working in the school library. In college he wrestled, played football, and majored in Biology, Geology and Psychology while serving as president of Jujitsu, spelunking, and weight lifting clubs. As a school teacher Jason coached wrestling, football, track and started poetry, science, and ecology clubs. In 1995 Jason was awarded the Autobahn Award as Outstanding Science Teacher; in 2003 he won the $10,000 Lilly award for Teaching Excellence. He is experienced in the martial arts and has fought in bare knuckle matches around the world including the UFC, Vale Tudo of Brazil, and Japan. Jason has traveled extensively studying the forest ecology of America, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, and Poland. Licensed to teach Math, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Biology, English, Social Studies, Business, Vocational Technology, Health, Physical Education, and Special Education, Jason is also a licensed high school librarian. He believes people have potential they aren't even aware of and, with guidance, they can become amazing beings.
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For over twenty years, Angie has made lasting contributions towards the success of non-profit organizations by applying innovation, focus, and hard work to develop fundraising programs, build the capacity of volunteers and staff, and create systems that result in higher revenue and strong, long-term relationships. Angie has worked at Maryknoll School, the University of Hawai_i Foundation-Cancer Research Center of Hawai_i, Damien Memorial High School, and Academy of the Pacific as well as Easter Seals, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu, and Friends of the Hawai_i State Art Museum. Angie was born and raised on Maui, attended St. Joseph Elementary School, Maui High School, then moved to Oahu to attend the University of Hawai_i at Manoa. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and Speech, and received her professional diploma in speech education. Angie Òwalks for milesÓ for exercise and runs a cookie basket business as a hobby to relieve stress from fundraising.
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Since 2011, Jacob has been the ballroom dance instructor at the Honolulu Waldorf High School. Jacob trained and danced at 24-7 Dance Force for ten years. In addition to teaching jazz dance at other schools, he is a hip-hop instructor at 24-hour Fitness Center and X-Factor Dance Studio. He is also a ballroom dance teacher at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Honolulu. For the past three years he has danced with Hawaii Ballet Theatre's production of "The Nutcracker."
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Born in El Salvador, Silvia Jaimes moved to Los Angeles with her family as a little girl. She found what she was looking for in Waldorf Education Ð an education that nurtured children's bodies, hearts, and spirits. Silvia developed and intructed the Spanish language program at Santa Cruz Waldorf School for nine years before heeding the call in 2008 to come to Hawai‘i to grow HWS's fledgling Spanish program. Silvia loves sharing her culture and language with the children in the Lower School. She also enjoys dancing salsa and has found a place in the local culture by learning to dance hula and all that goes with it.
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Van James has a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and is a graduate of Emerson College in England, and the Goetheanum School of Painting in Switzerland. He teaches painting, drawing, the History of Art, and the History of Architecture at Honolulu Waldorf High School and also for the Kula Makua Waldorf Teacher Training program in Honolulu. He is an advocate for the arts in education and a regular guest instructor at training programs in California, New Zealand, and Asia. He is the chair of the Anthroposophical Society in Hawai'i, editor of Pacifica Journal, and author of several books on art and archaeology, including the award-winning Ancient Sites of O'ahu. His paintings and drawings are in numerous private collections, and his graphic designs can be found on book covers and brochures worldwide.
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While Judy wears a few administrative hats in our school, her primary role is as the school's Registrar. Additionally, she supports the school's website and database, and assists in IT as needed. Judy is a graduate of the University of Hawai_i, Hilo, with a degree in Geology and a certificate in the Marine Sciences. Judy also teaches science main lesson blocks in the High School. She loves Shakespeare, science, singing, and hula. Judy has a daughter in the High School and a son in the Lower School.
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Born in Vermont, Jennifer set out in search of adventure, self-discovery, and warmer weather at the age of nineteen. After travelling and practicing the art of Tai Chi, she settled in the Los Angeles area and began studying child development. The creative, thought-provoking lessons of a memorable professor inspired Jennifer to seek out holistic education and led her to Waldorf education. She enrolled in a Teacher Training Program in Southern California and became an assistant teacher in a Waldorf kindergarten. Now with a husband and two young children, Jennifer and family decided to move to Hawai‘i, and became part of the HWS 'Ohana in 2005. During this time, Jennifer worked as a substitute and aide in the Early Childhood progam. She continued her studies in early childhood and graduated from the Kula Makua Waldorf teacher training program in 2008. In the fall of 2008, Jennifer became a lead kindergarten teacher. She is the grateful recipient of a life filled with creative endeavors, music, mountains, and the laughter of little children!
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We welcomed Irene Knuuti to the HWS ‘ohana in October 2012, just as she was searching for something new and challenging. She brings a wealth of expertise in fiscal management and forecasting in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors, most recently as Division Controller Ð Condominium and Timeshare Division for Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, and as Chief Fiscal Officer for Waianae Coast Community Mental Health Center, where she was responsible for its annual budget, and administered and provided fiscal management for the Center's three separate nonprofit organizations: a mental health service, a legal service, and a community economic development organization. Irene has worked as an accounting consultant, and was a part-time lecturer at the University of Hawai‘i, Leeward and Kapiolani Community Colleges.
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Mie joined the HWS ‘ohana as a parent in April 2010, shortly after experiencing the tragic March 2010 earthquake in Japan. She immersed herself in the HWS community by volunteering in The Enchanted Forest and in the advanced Japanese language classes at the high school. She soon became a substitute teacher in the Early Childhood Program, which deepened her interest in Waldorf education. Fluent in Japanese and English, Mie was also a Japanese language instructor for children ages 2-6 as well as an assistant Kindergarten teacher in Japan. Mie holds a B.A. in Policy Management from Keio University in Japan. She also has an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Community Development from the University of Fairbanks, Alaska, where she was also a nature guide. Mie is passionate about all she does, especially in her desire to create wonderful classroom experiences for children every day. Along with her desire to make HWS even better for children and their families, Mie loves origami, Japanese folk songs and tales, cooking, baking, knitting, and sewing.
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Lynn Weiler Liverton graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor's of Architecture degree in 1988. After practicing Architecture in Boston and Honolulu for 4 years, she attended UH and received her M.F.A.. Lynn began teaching at Waldorf in 1996 and teaches Grades 6,7 and 8 woodworking and Grades 9-12 in a variety of mediums. Lynn works as a professional artist in media ranging from monumental bronzes to small scale sculpture utilizing found objects. Her work can be found throughout the city of Honolulu and in private collections nationwide. "The discipline of architecture as a profession and the training I received while working as an architect has continuously served me in my approach to creating art. Gaining my Masters of Fine Arts honed my skills with various media and exposed me to many interesting aspects in the field of fine art. Working with students both inspires and exasperates me, keeping me on my toes and the students in my heart."
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Born, raised, and educated in Germany, Nicole and her family came to Honolulu after finishing her master's degree in clinical psychology. For many years she taught at HWS and earned her Waldorf teacher certificate as well as her Hawai'i State teaching certificate. She was one of the founding faculty members of the Honolulu Waldorf High School in 1994. Four years later she and her family returned to Germany, where she continued to work at Waldorf schools in Munich and Darmstadt. She also had her own private psychological practice providing psychotherapy, coaching, crisis management, and mediation. Her youngest son attends HWS currently. Nicole feels very fortunate to be back in Hawaii and to continue her life-long learning within the Waldorf community.
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Regina was born and raised in the countryside of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She was active in dance and movement, springing into a career as a P.E. teacher. She found Waldorf Education through a Eurythmy class that launched her all the way to England in 1989. At the Peredur Center for the Art she studied Eurythmy and discovered Bothmer Gym/Spatial Dynamics, for which she obtained her certification. She was one of the gym club teachers in Michael Hall Waldorf School for two years. In 1997 she moved to Hawai_i, enrolling her eldest child in the Honolulu Waldorf School. Once her youngest was old enough to attend, Regina joined the faculty, jumping into the Movement program. To deepen her understanding of the correlation between movement and academic learning, and to assist the school in providing additional support for students faced with learning challenges, she attained her certification in Remedial Training from the Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California.
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Stephanie Luuloa is a cheerful and dedicated Waldorf Graduate, having attended HWS from preschool through Grade 8, before the founding of the High School. She went on to graduate from Assets School, then studied at Honolulu Community College before graduating from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa with a B.A. in Religion. To fulfill her desire to work in HWS's Early Childhood program, Stephanie attended Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento and completed its Early Childhood teacher training. Stephanie leads the Early Childhood After Care Program, for which she organized an instructional manual that is used by the After Care teachers, and is an assistant and substitute in the Kindergarten. In addition to guiding her young, energetic students, she loves presenting puppet shows and telling stories. Stephanie and her husband, Kipp, a wonderful father who sings and plays folk and rock guitar with bands and clubs in Honolulu, share the parenting of their daughter, Samantha. Stephanie gives charitably to good causes--including the Honolulu Waldorf School.
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Machiko is the parent of an HWS high school student, and discovered Honolulu Waldorf School while seeking the best education for her son. In pursuit of her own educational development, Machiko earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, studied with the Kula Makua Waldorf teacher training program, and has worked as an Early Childhood assistant. As the Grades After Care teacher, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and talents with HWS students. Machiko also enjoys downloading new ideas.
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When he's not serving the various technological needs of our faculty, staff, and students, Frank can be found at the Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, where he is Assistant Club Manager in food service. With a steady 18 years in the customer service industry, primarily in food service for hotels and restaurants, Frank's computer knowledge was integral in his managing of restaurants, namely as the key tech advisor to point of sale software and internal networking. Frank earned certificates in A+ (pc hardware and software) and Network+ (computer network translation) from Applied Computer Technology and Training. Frank enjoys short walks on the beach that lead to a fun barbecue with friends and family, and spends nearly every weekend on the Waipio soccer fields watching either his sons or his wife play for their club teams Ð Rush and No Ack. His dream is to watch his children become successful in whatever they wish to do.
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Ikuko Nishimoto was born in Kochi, Japan, and moved to England to further her studies in English and Art History. After working for two years at a Japanese news agency in London, Ikuko vacationed in Japan and met a University of Hawai_i student who would become her husband. They moved to Honolulu together and had a son. After two years as a K_hala Elementary School teacher , she became the Japanese language teacher at Honolulu Waldorf, where she has been sharing her talent and knowledge for over 27 years. A proud parent of a Waldorf graduate, her appreciation of the Waldorf pedagogy grew as she attended courses at Kula Makua and Rudolf Steiner College. Ikuko's goal is for her students to learn basic Japanese phrases to gain confidence in interacting with Japanese people in Hawai_i and Japan. An avid tennis player and cyclist, she recently spent ten days pedaling around France on a solo tour of the countryside.
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Yuka was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Davis in Human Development and Education, she continued on a path to find an education that aligned with all the components of her core beliefs and values. Her accrued experience in various teaching positions in Japan, Montessori schools, and group homes for emotionally challenged adolescents led her to Waldorf education. After earning her Waldorf Teaching Certificate, she continues to work on her Masters of Art from Rudolf Steiner College. She is excited to be part of such a warm HWS community and to be close to her mother, who resides in Waikiki.
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Originally from cold and dry northern California, where she attended Stanford University, Bonnie came to Hawai‘i in 1967 as a newlywed and completed her B.A. in Anthropology at UH. She joined Honolulu Waldorf School in 1972, working in the kindergarten for five years before becoming a subject teacher and then a class teacher, training on the job. She served as Administrative Director for 3.5 years. She has completed three 8-grade teaching cycles. During a brief hiatus from teaching, she was assistant editor of the Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, published in 1984. She has three grown children (all HWS alums) and three grandchildren, two currently enrolled at HWS. She loves to read, hike, and travel with her husband, also an HWS teacher.
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Bibiana Potter was born and raised in Germany, were she completed her four-year training as a Waldorf Kindergarten teacher at the Waldorf Kindergarten Seminar in Stuttgart, Germany. During her volunteer year at the Honolulu Waldorf School Kindergarten, she met her husband, Bart. They have two teenage daughters who have attended HWS since they were three years old. Bibiana has been an early childhood teacher at HWS for over twenty years, and has taught German language and handwork in the grades school, and is a member of the Kula Makua teacher training program in Honolulu. She loves to hike, swim, and travel with her family during the summer.
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Ernie Provencher is a versatile and accomplished bassist who has played as a freelance performer while living in Boston, N.Y.C., Helsinki, Santa Cruz, CA., Hong Kong, and Honolulu. Ernie has played for recordings, Broadway shows, and live appearances worldwide. He has written numerous compositions for modern dance and has been on the staff at the Theater Academy of Finland and the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. In addition to performing, Ernie is active in music education in Honolulu including as the band teacher at Hanahau'oli School, a string teacher at Honolulu Waldorf School, a lecturer in Music in The Theater and Dance Dept. at U.H. Manoa, and in private students. Ernie has played with Michael Franks, Eartha Kitt, Joanne Brackeen, Curtis Fuller, Chico Freeman, George Gruntz, Mick Taylor, Dan Hartman, Georgie Fame, and many others. In Honolulu he has played with Jeff Peterson, Bill Tapia, Mihana Souza, Makana, Gabe Baltazar, Del Beazley, The Hot Club of Hulaville, Ginai and Pierre Grill, and the Balkan fusion band, Partners in Time.
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Carubie Rodgers is an HWS alumna, and an alumna of the Kula Makua teacher training program, receiving her Waldorf teaching certification in spring 2012. Carubie stepped in as HWS Fourth Grade substitute main lesson teacher for the 2011-2012 academic year, and is currently the Lower School Teaching Intern. She holds the Bachelors of Arts degree from Sophie Newcomb College, Tulane University, with a major in Fine Arts (Oil Painting), and has done advanced university level studies in Graphic Design (Computer Generation). Carubie has worked as Intern Design Curator at the New Orleans Children's Museum of Art, Arts Instructor for Montessori School, Bowling Green, Kentucky, and as Coordinator for Children's Arts Programs, for City Libraries, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Having spent her youth living on Kaneohe Bay, and now having returned to Hawai‘i Ð and her alma mater Honolulu Waldorf School Ð Carubie is a keen board surfer, intramural coed kickball aficionada, and, with her commitment to HWS, continues her love for artistic expression and belief in human growth through Waldorf education.
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Ulrike Scherer grew up in Germany and came to the US in 1963 for "a year abroad." After getting acquainted with Waldorf education, she decided to stay. She did some teaching at the then fledgling Green Meadow Waldorf School, then went back to school herself, completing a masters degree at Adelphi University and a Waldorf teacher training in Garden City, both on Long Island. She then became a class teacher at Green Meadow and took a class through eight years. At the end of this period, Ulrike was asked to come to Hawai‘i to teach the first seventh grade at the school. She graduated the first eighth grade and continued as a class teacher for another set of upper grades. After the birth of her daughter, she became a subject teacher, teaching German, Handwork, Math, Recorder etc. for many years. Six years ago she joined the High School faculty to teach German, History of Music (in Grade 11), and to work with the language department. She is now semi-retired and has more time to devote to her favorite activities: handwork, reading, singing and visiting grandchildren.
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Yoshiko Scion was born in Japan and grew up in California. She spent her childhood keeping her hands busy and spoke little. She enjoyed collecting unwanted dolls with broken parts from her neighborhood, repairing them, and clothing them so that they looked fairly new. When her son was five years old, she stumbled into Honolulu Waldorf School, of which she had no prior knowledge. Her son insisted that it was Òhis school,Ó so she decided to give it a try by enrolling him and volunteering in the school store, in the office, and in classrooms, while learning about Waldorf education and loving every moment. She eventually became a Special Subjects teacher in handwork, and teaches sewing toy animals and clothing with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. She has also taught beginning Japanese to high school students and doll-making for Kula Makua Adult Education.
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Stephanie was born in the Philippines and, with her family, moved to Tampa, Florida as a young child. Always curious about foreign languages, she began to study Spanish at a young age and continued throughout high school and college. She earned her B.A. in Spanish at Florida International University in Miami, with a Minor in Education as well as a Minor in Italian. She began her teaching career at a public high school in South Florida where she taught Spanish and Italian to non-native speakers. She moved to Oahu from Miami during the summer of 2011 in hopes of discovering and learning about different cultures and ways of life. Always striving to learn more, Stephanie loves to cook, play piano, dance, read, and travel as often as possible. She is very excited to be continuing her teaching career and sharing her passion for languages with the students at HWS.
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When she was 22 years old, Pia Solywoda was offered a teaching position at Monmouth University in New Jersey and spent the next 9 years teaching math to undergraduates, supervising math education students in the field, and creating services and programs for special needs students. In 1990, she moved to Hawai‘i and for the next four years, continued teaching college students at Leeward and Honolulu Community Colleges. In 1993, she received a Masters in Secondary Math Education from U.H. Shortly thereafter, Pia and her husband, Barry, started a family and continued to raise their three children together in East Honolulu. Pia has a passion for education, parenting, volunteering, and cooking.
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Violinist Darel Stark has performed in over a dozen countries on three continents, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Also a violist, conductor and composer, he is one of Hawai‘i's most active solo and chamber music performers. He is concertmaster of the Bach Chamber Orchestra, teaches private violin and viola lessons, and coaches chamber music at Iolani School. With the Honolulu Symphony for sixteen years, he is associate principal violin of the new Hawai‘i Symphony. He can be heard on CBS Masterworks, Musica Baudino, Beauport Classical and SONY Classical. Born in New York City, he graduated from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and studied violin with Nicole DiCecco, Lazar Gosman and Berl Senofsky. At age eighteen he joined the Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra as its youngest member. His many accolades include prizes at international competitions in Italy and Switzerland.
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Andrew was born to two Waldorf teachers and attended the Chicago Waldorf School through high school. In 2001, he graduated from Beloit College with a double major in Mathematics and Philosophy and a minor in Computer Science. After doing some part-time math teaching at the Chicago Waldorf School, Andrew moved to Austin, Texas where he worked in the computer industry for two years. In the summer of 2004, Andrew decided to go to graduate school and completed his M.S. in Applied Mathematics one year later. He then took a full-time job teaching mathematics at the Chicago Waldorf High School. After teaching in Chicago for three years, Andrew moved to Honolulu, where he currently resides with his beautiful wife Erika (a class teacher) and their son, Eoin. In the minute amount of free time that he has, Andrew enjoys golfing and going to the beach.
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Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Erika did her undergraduate studies at Soka University of America, a small liberal arts school in Southern California. She then moved to Keene, New Hampshire for a Master's program in Elementary/Waldorf education. Erika and her wonderful husband, Andrew, moved to Honolulu in 2007, and welcomed a son, Eoin, in 2011. Together, they enjoy the water, swimming, and going to the beach.
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Greg grew up in a big family in Central Minnesota as the youngest of six children. He loved playing sports as a child, especially ice hockey, baseball, and football. Greg attended high school at St. John's Prep School in Collegeville, Minnesota, and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in English and German and also played baseball and rugby. He has lived, worked, and/or studied in Germany, Austria, India, Jamaica, and Bali. His wife, Kaori, is from Japan and is an Early Childhood assistant at HWS. Greg's hobbies include surfing, traveling, and backcountry camping. Greg worked in the fields of Outdoor and Experiential education for many years before he discovered Waldorf Education. He did his Waldorf teacher training in Eugene, Oregon, and also studied for a year at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California, where he focused on Goethean Studies and Biodynamic Agriculture.
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Kaori Stock was born and raised in Chiba, Japan. She holds an associate degree in Home Economics from Obirin Junior College in Tokyo, Japan, and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Honolulu Community College. After working at several different childcare centers in Honolulu, she became a volunteer and substitute in the HWS Kindergarten while also taking Waldorf teacher training classes. She became a kindergarten assistant teacher in the Kamani class in 2010, and she recently earned her Waldorf Kindergarten Teacher diploma from the Kula Makua teacher training program. Kaori loves surfing and travelling. She also enjoys gardening, yoga, hula and handwork – as long as there are no waves!
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Born and raised in Utah, Annalisa moved to Hawai?i several years ago. Annalisa has degrees in Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Business Management, the latter of which makes her particularly suited for her work in the Business Office. Annalisa and her husband enjoy all the outdoor activities Hawaii has to offer, which includes spending her free time dancing hula and learning about Hawaiian culture.
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Cindy was born and raised in Honolulu and has childhood memories of sunshine, sand, salt water, waves, and volleyball games. She graduated from Punahou School, where she played varsity tennis. After studying fine art and art education at various mainland colleges, she returned to Honolulu, married Florian Sydow, and with him became a founding member of Kahumana Farm and Community in Waianae. For seventeen years they lived and worked there to develop community life, raise three children, work with the emotional and developmentally handicapped, and farm. The first year that teacher training was offered at HWS, Cindy and her three children moved into Honolulu to begin her teacher training and their Waldorf schooling. After assisting in the Kindergarten for a year, she was offered a Kindergarten class of her own. She has been teaching in the EC since and has attended many workshops and conferences on Kindergarten work, music, arts and Anthroposophy. She continues to enjoy swimming and learning to play various musical instruments.
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Born and raised in the Black Forest, Germany, Hans was originally a master organ builder who built church organs in his own shop for twelve years. With five employees (over the years he trained ten apprentices), he also constructed various string instruments such as violins, guitars, and harps. Hans later earned a B.A. in Education from Alanus- Academy in Bonn, Germany, and became a Waldorf teacher. He taught for nine years in Germany before moving to the Big Island of Hawai‘i two years ago to be the class teacher in a small private school. During that time he attended Kula Makua, the HWS Waldorf teacher training program. Hans is delighted to be on his First Grade class journey. Hans is also a gifted musician who plays the guitar beautifully.
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Astrid is not only a parent of two wonderful Honolulu Waldorf School students; she is an Eighth grade graduate! Her family has supported and been involved with HWS for many years. After working with her husband in the family business, Astrid now assists faculty and staff in the lower school with all their administrative needs. She has a strong belief in Waldorf education, having experienced it first-hand, and is uniquely suited to welcome both students and parents to the school.
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Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Kathy Wong is constantly amazed to find herself working at the Honolulu Waldorf School even after her two children have graduated. Starting as a parent volunteer in the library, Kathy has worked at the front desk, AP, AR, Technology, Facilities, and as an 'ukulele teacher. Kathy teaches Hawai‘ian Studies to HWS Grades and High School students, and coordinates our annual May Day program. She is also a kumu hula with N_ Hanona o ka H_lau Hula P_ Ola Kapu.
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Margaret Yamashita was born and raised in Honolulu. She received a B.A. in Japanese Language from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and an M.A. (Applied Linguistics-TEFL) and Ph.D (Japanese Sociolinguistics) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She did her dissertation fieldwork in Tokyo. Margaret is the co-author of Nihongo, Vol I, II, a secondary Japanese language textbook. She developed the Linguistic Advantage elementary level Japanese curriculum offered in after school enrichment programs at different locations in Honolulu. She has experience teaching elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students in Hawai‘i and abroad, and most recently taught at Assets School for 10 years. Margaret has two sons, and enjoys cooking and gardening in her free time.
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Ulrike was born and raised in a remote corner of upper Austria. Growing up in a family hotel business. She completed a culinary and catering training, traveled for a year, returned to Austria and completed the eurythmy training in Vienna with further studies in Dornach, Switzerland and England. She met her husband and moved back to Vienna to raise their first son. The family moved to Hawai‘i in 1992 where their second son was born, and joined Kahumana Community. Ulrike spent 17 years there working in many capacities and home-schooling her children. She completed the curative eurythmy training in England and began working as a curative eurythmist. Since 2007, she has brought her varied experience to her work as assistant in the kindergarten and after school program at the HWS.
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