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Our Team

Our Team

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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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Tiani Scott
Hula & Polynesian 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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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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Milah Wong
Kaylee Nakayama
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! 
 

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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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Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
Aby Pagala
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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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
Jenny Ballet Instructor- Na Maka Studio- Honolulu, Hawaii
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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Chardonnay Pao
Voice Instructor

Hey Gangy! I am Chardonnay, the new Voice Instructor here at Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha.

I have been performing as a solo singer/songwriter in Hawaii for about 5 years. This is my very first time teaching/mentoring for music and I’m super excited to be learning and growing with your keiki.

 
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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
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Donovan “Dre” Alos
Ukulele Instructor
Aloha! My name is Donovan “Dre” Alos, and I am a ukulele and guitar instructor here at Na Maka O Pu’uwai Aloha. As a Mililani High School valedictorian alum, I am currently working towards my pilot’s license at Barber’s Point Flight School as well as applying for the PTA program at KCC. 
 

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