By Nathan Park

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Q: Where were you born? Were you born in Hawaii?
A: I was born on Hana, Maui.

Q: Was it an awesome place to live?
A: I loved it when I was there. I left in the 70s, that was the big Hippie era, where they all came to Hana because it was the cool place to live. So it was like I don’t know, I felt like I had to leave in the 70s. So when I was 18, I left Maui. When I returned back it was like Waikiki. And I didn’t like that at all.

Q: How do you [like it here] so far?
A: So far? We’ll I’m in total confusion. I’m a seasoned teacher but new teacher to this school. I don’t know where anything is; I don’t know the people; half the time I’m lost, but people here are very friendly. I like the classes, the staff, the staff here is very nice. So, I’m comfortable even though I’m lost.

Q: What do you like to do on your spare time?
A: I like to do stand-up paddling. It was like a form of exercise for me. We go to Ala Moana Beach Park and I would go across from one end to the other. And do as many laps as I can. Now we only go on the weekend but in the summer we would go every day. So my family my husband and daughter, they surf, and they drop me of at Ala Moana Beach and then they would go off to the rock pile.

Q: What do you expect out of your class this year?
A: I want them to learn and gain knowledge so they can go to the next step. That’s what I want them to do.

Q: Your favorite food?
A:  Spicy ahi bowl.  I am so hooked on it; I could eat it every night! My husband and my daughter found a way to make it last night. They got ahi and they scraped it and chopped it all up. Then they mixed it up and they made spicy ahi and we put it over rice. Oh, the sauce was so good. The sauce was perfect.

Q: In your opinion are tomatoes fruits or veggies?
A: It’s a fruit because it has seeds.