I was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to an American father and a Japanese mother. We moved to Hawai‘i when I was eight and for me the Islands will always be home, as well as the most beautiful place in the world. A “third culture kid,” I’ve also lived on the East and West Coasts of the U.S. and in Argentina. I thrive in novel and adventurous settings, and love learning more about the mysterious world and times we live in.
My journey as a communicator began at a young age, when I learned to navigate between three languages as a preschooler (Japanese, English and Swahili). While I later replaced Japanese and Swahili with French and Spanish, my facility with languages has helped me to connect meaningfully with my ever-changing surroundings. My father was a fine artist by trade, and growing up with his influence also gave me a keen sense of aesthetics and visual beauty.
Shortly after graduating from Brown University with a degree in Religious Studies (my thesis examined the role of traditional Hawaiian spirituality on the contemporary movement for political sovereignty in the Islands), I moved back to Hawai‘i for more firsthand experience in community organizing and journalism. I freelanced for our local weekly newspaper while writing grants and doing communications for environmental and cultural nonprofits.
When I felt it was time to test bigger waters, I moved to San Francisco and worked for an award-winning news organization, where I eventually became communications director. San Francisco was lovely, but I still wanted to reconnect with the world beyond the U.S. I moved to Argentina, where I founded a monthly newspaper and cultural magazine dedicated to the vibrant historic district of Buenos Aires. I also published a book on the area with the support of the government of Buenos Aires.
Several years later, family matters called me back to Hawai‘i. I entered the nonprofit educational sector, working first as a magazine editor for the country’s largest private K-12 school, then as director of campaign communications for a historic $176 million fundraising campaign. In this role, I broadened my toolbox from print and online storytelling to video and social media, and successfully led an interdepartmental team of more than 30 to implement a comprehensive, multi-channel communications strategy. Several of these campaign initiatives garnered national and international awards from CASE, the leading association for educational philanthropy.
I am currently traveling through Europe with my husband and two young children. I have refocused on freelance communications in order to give motherhood the space I believe it deserves, but am always interested in inspiring projects and enriching partnerships.