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Our Team

Our Team

Mandi K. Scott
Kumu Hula, Our President

Mandi Kaleilani Scott, Kumu Hula and President of the Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha Foundation, was born and raised in ‘Oahu, Hawai’i. She grew up in both Mililani and Waipahu, and currently resides in Mililani. She graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa with a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian studies, and later obtained a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Phoenix. She was an elementary school teacher for 18 years, starting at St. Joseph Parish school in Waipahu and continuing to Leihoku elementary school in Waianae. She is also currently the Director and Co-owner of Na Maka K Prep school. Teaching was something Mandi always knew she wanted to do. Luckily, it went hand in hand with her lifelong passion, hula.

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Our Team
Keola Cabacungan
Hula Instructor

Hey Everybody! My name is Keola and I am a Hula Instructor here at Na Maka.

I have been dancing hula since I was 2 years old. Forced by my parents, as a child, I never enjoyed dancing Hula. I preferred to stay home and watch my cartoons every Saturday. Since then, Hula has broadened my imagination and my horizons. I have danced for some of the most well known Kumu Hula in the world such as Aunty Carolee Nishi, Aunty Vicky Holt Takamine, the late, great Kumu Hula O’brien Eselu and, of course, ‘Anake Mandi Scott. The latter not only my kumu, but my big sister as well. As a child, I competed in the Keiki Hula Competition every year.

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Tiani Scott
Hula Instructor

Aloha mai kākou, My name is Tiani Scott and I’m a hula teacher at Na Maka :).
I am 19 y/o and I’m currently a student at UHM perusing a degree in Hawaiian studies and TIM!! I also graduated from MHS in 2018, whooo bleed brown and gold!

I’ve been dancing hula since I was 2 y/o. Hula is my passion, it’s my way of expressing myself and connecting to my culture.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Breanne Maeda
Hula Instructor

Aloha! My Name is Breanne Maeda and I am a Hula instructor here at Na Maka ‘O Pu’uwai Aloha.

I have been dancing under the direction of Kumu Mandi Scott for over the past 19 years. During my time at Na Maka I have had the privilege of performing in Hawai’i, the mainland and in Japan, sharing my love and passion for Hula and Tahitian. In 2010, I became a Keiki Kokua with Na Maka assisting ‘Anake Mandi in her Keiki classes. In 2015, I was given the opportunity by my Kumu to teach hula at Waikele Elementary for their after school A+ program. Through these experiences at Na Maka it has guided me to become the dancer and teacher I am today.

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Jordan Domingo
Hula Instructor

Aloha! My name is Jordan Domingo, but my Nā Maka ‘ohana knows me as “Jordo”! I’ve been a part of Nā Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha for 17 years. Throughout the many years as a hula dancer I have not only gained the knowledge and skills as a hula performer but as the hula instructor that I am today.

Being a part of Nā Maka hasn’t only given me the potential as a hula instructor and performer, but it has gifted me with an extended family.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Ashley Yoshida
Hip Hop Instructor

Hi! My name is Ashley and I teach hip hop here at Na Maka.
I started dancing at a young age. I took a break in my later elementary and intermediate years, and started dancing again throughout my high school years.

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Espie Carrancho
Hip Hop Instructor

Hi Everyone! My name is Espie and I’m a hip-hop instructor for Na Maka. I’ve been dancing with Na Maka since I was a young girl and initially started with hula class. As the studio expanded, the variety of classes expanded as well. The hip-hop and Jazz classes caught my interest in particular and lead me to join.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Milah Wong
Milah Wong
Creative Movement & Hip Hop Instructor

My name is Milah Wong and I teach Creative Movement and Tots, Keiki, Juniors and Teen 1 Hip Hop.

My favorite hobbies include dancing, mixing music, watching YouTube/Netflix/Disney+.
My favorite food is noodles.
My favorite colors are orange and purple.
I love to go to Disneyland.

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Kaylee Nakayama
Hip Hop Instructor
Hi everyone! My name is Kaylee Nakayama! I’m a current instructor for hip hop. 
 
Since 2012, I’ve been dancing hip hop at Na Maka, however, I have always seen dancing as a passion. My dad took many videos of me dancing around in my room when I was just a baby. 2022 will be my 10th anniversary of dancing at Na Maka! 
 
Previously graduating from Mililani High School, I currently attend UH West Oahu. I’m a Creative Media major with a focus in Communications and New Media Technologies.
 

 

Here are some fun facts about me!!
 
⁃My favorite food would have to be either ramen or pasta!
⁃My favorite colors are light pink and black!
⁃I am a proud doggie mama! I have a puppy named Mayu who is a mixture of a Papillon, Maltese, and Pomeranian.
⁃In my spare time, I love to listen to k-pop and j-pop and I also enjoy video editing as a hobby.
⁃The emojis that best describe me are: 😣😌

 

Kaylee Nakayama
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Donnelle Alos
Polynesian Instructor

Ia orana! Kia Ora! Talofa! My name is Donnelle Alos and I’m a Polynesian Instructor here at Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha. I was first introduced to this wonderful hui since my daughter Kylie and Tiani Scott were besties in preschool and Kylie started hula. They had a special kind of friendship that bonded our families together. Approximately in 2009, I started teaching the Polynesian classes and it’s been such a blessing ever since. I truly believe we have THE BEST instructors at Na Maka. They are so talented and genuine and give so much of themselves and their talent to our students. One of the many things I love about what I do is seeing our students, of all ages, happy to learn something exciting and new.

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Aby Sarmiento
Polynesian Instructor

Hiii! My name is Aby & I’m a polynesian instructor here @ Na Maka.

The emoji’s that would best describe me would be 😈💕 “I’m stubborn & feisty but if you show me it’s safe behind the wall I’ve built up, I’m very loving, loyal, & affectionate”.

All colors amuse me depending on the day but my all time favorite colors are pink and baby blue.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Xena Santos
Polynesian Instructor

Aloha! My name is Xena. I often go by “Xe”. I teach keiki poly here at Na Maka.

My favorite hobby is dancing Tahitian. I love the drumming and how it makes my body want to move and groove. I love all colors but if I had to choose one color, it would be pink. My Favorite foods are burgers and french fries.. can’t forget the ranch!

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Dora Kubota
Jazz Instructor

Hello! My name is Ms. Dora and I have been with Na Maka studios teaching jazz since 2014. My dance background includes jazz, contemporary, hip hop and ballet.

I took my first dance class when I was a sophomore in high school. My best friend and I looked up “dance studios” in the yellow pages (prehistoric times) and caught the city bus to a small studio near Waikiki. My instructor reminded me of the dance teacher from the TV show “Fame” – intense, full of passion, and super scary. I got over the fear, stuck with it and have been dancing ever since.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Katlin Schendel
Jazz Instructor

Hi!! My name is Katlin Schendel and I am a Jazz instructor at Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha.

I have been apart of the studio since 2010 and have participated in the Hip-Hop, Tap, Jazz and Voice programs. I started off teaching when I became a part of the Keiki Kokua (Teacher’s Aide) in 2012.Since then I haven’t been able to step away. I was proud to get my own class a couple of years ago and I have been so blessed to be able to share my love of dance with my students. I have seen a lot of them grow up since I started helping with classes and now one of them is even my own Keiki Kokua.

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Jenny Riley-Doyle
Ballet Instructor

Since childhood, ballet has been a big part of Miss Jenny’s life. She started ballet classes at the age of 10 at her hometown theater in Nordhausen (former East Germany). She devoted all of her efforts to becoming a professional dancer only to discover at age 15 that her body type was not suitable for this career. She trained recreationally until the age of 17, and during that time performed – under the direction of Monika Honti – in a number of professional ballet productions, including Coppelia, Sheherazade and Esmeralda at the Theater Nordhausen. She went to college in Kaiserslautern to study business administration and continued her dance training at several studios in the area including  the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern.

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Jenny Ballet Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Johanna
Johanna Doyle
Ballet Instructor

Johanna started her serious ballet training at the age of 10 at her moms ballet studio in Germany, Grace Studio. Besides her own ballet training, she also helped her mom as a teacher assistant in ballet classes for the little dancers. By the age of 12, she had advanced so quickly that she earned the role as Clara in the Nutcracker. After that, she expressed interest in becoming a professional ballerina and auditioned at the prestigious Academy of Dance in Mannheim, Germany. She got accepted and studied for 2 years there in level 3 and 4 under Mrs. Prelle and Mr. Ping and excelled exceptionally. She was sad to quit her dance training there due to her move to Hawaii.

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Rayna Chong
Voice Instructor

Aloha, Rayna K. Chong here …. I’ve been a part of the Na Maka family since 2000 as a musician, singer and Keiki Choir Instructor. I’ve added Vocal Coach to that list 8 years ago.

I’ve been a Singer🎤 all my life and graduated from the Kamehameha Schools & Leeward Community College.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Jonah Davis
Ukulele & Guitar Instructor

Aloha everyone! I am Jonah Davis, an Ukulele & Guitar Instructor here at Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha. I have been a part of the Na Maka Ohana for about 7 years as an instructor and look forward to many more.

I have been performing as a musician here in Hawaii for over 20 years as a part of the bands Ka’ena, Tropic50, and currently as a solo artist. I have been teaching and mentoring in music for the last 12 years and found it to be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I have ever done in my life.

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Bryant Sadiarin
Ukulele Instructor

Aloha, my name is Bryant and I am a ukulele instructor here at Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha.
Music has been a strong passion of mine for as long as I could remember. It is also one of my favorite hobbies to do, besides drawing and gaming, whenever I have free time. My musical journey began in the summer of 2008 when I enrolled in a mathematics ukulele course taught by Glenn Medeiros. During this time was where I discovered my love for music and the ukulele. I joined the Na Maka family shortly after to further pursue my interests in singing and playing my instrument.

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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii