As Namahana’s first School Leader, Dr. Kapua Chandler brings tremendous knowledge, history, and talent to the position. Born and raised in Kīlauea, Kapua is a kupaʻāina and lineal descendant of Koʻolau and Haleleʻa. In 2018, Chandler joined the Kauaʻi North Shore Community Foundation to plan and implement the community engagement process for creating a north shore charter school. This process led to the development of Namahana School’s values, mission, vision, and educational model.

Taeko brings over 30 years of experience as an educator. She has co-founded two schools and served as the principal of one in New York since 2007. Taeko is passionate about balancing the unique needs of individual students with those of the community, and she is grateful to be closer to her family on Oʻahu now.

Tamra, born on Kauaʻi and raised in Kīlauea, is a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate and has dedicated years to serving our island community. She has taught at various schools across Kauaʻi, served as Vice-President of the Kīlauea Neighborhood Association, and worked with Waipā Foundation teaching ‘āina-based curriculum.