ABOUT US

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“Uncle Sean” Nakayama began dancing under Kumu Hula Ed Collier of Hālau O Nā Pua Kukui. He spent ten years teaching hula at ‘Iolani School, and nearly two decades coaching various keiki sports. He is also the in-school Hawaiian Studies & hula teacher at PCHES, teaching grades pre-K to 6th. Uncle Sean is absolutely the reason our students love the choreography so much, and why they're always heard laughing during class. “Aunty Nina” is a career educator and former UH Manoa professor with her PhD in education (her dissertation was on Hawaiian cultural-based teaching). She’s the nurturing mama bear in charge of planning & prep, who the kids know has a big heart under her strict mom exterior (and who the parents know will stay on top of their kids). Their musical son Duke is the outdoor game master & ukulele/computer tutor. Their athletic daughter Violet is the craft guru & fun big sister the kids adore. Along with the addition of staff the students know fondly from the PCHES Artic teaching line, and fabulous new homework tutors & indoor activity aides from UH Manoa, we also have over a dozen wonderful junior leaders who volunteer daily throughout the week via referral by their National Junior Honor Society & Teacher Academy teachers, Student Council & Service Club advisors, or other trusted faculty at Pearl City High, Aiea High, Kamehameha, Highlands, and PCHES. They're smart, caring, kind, and cool (thus a big hit with the kids).