Compiled by the office of Hawaii Catholic Schools
Hawaii Catholic Schools
Diocese of Honolulu
Mandy Thronas-Brown
Associate superintendent of schools
Mandy Thronas-Brown was named the associate superintendent of schools on July 1.
She was the last principal of St. Ann School in Kaneohe which closed at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. She has worked in Hawaii Catholic schools for 20 years.
She and her husband, Ryan Brown, have two daughters, Agnes and Emily. Her family are devout Catholics very active in service to the faith. She is very familiar with our diocesan processes, policies and procedures. The Catholic schools office is confident that she will serve all the schools with her expertise, wisdom, gifts and aloha.
Hawaii Catholic Schools
Diocese of Honolulu
Deacon Raffy Mendoza
Accounting manager
Deacon Raffy Mendoza joined the Hawaii Catholic Schools office team early last year. He currently serves four schools as their accounting manager: St. Joseph, Hilo; St. Joseph, Waipahu, St. Michael, Waialua; and St. Theresa, Honolulu.
He and his wife Maria Sofia have three sons. He has been serving the Diocese of Honolulu as a deacon since 2018, serving first at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa and as of 2019, at Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Waialae-Kahala.
St. Catherine School
Kapaa, Kauai
Sister Gina Senapilo, OP
Interim Principal
Sister Gina Senapilo, a Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Philippines, is the new interim principal of St. Catherine School, Kapaa, Kauai.
Sister Senapilo attended high school at Notre Dame Lagao for Girls, now called Notre Dame Siena College of General Santos City. She earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, General Santos City, Philippines.
She obtained a Master of Arts degree in educational management from St. Louis University in Baguio City and a Master of Arts in counseling from the University of St. Tomas, Philippines.
For 25 years, Sister Senapilo has taught in different grade levels at several of her congregation’s mission stations. She was sent to the Diocese of Honolulu in 2016 to help at Immaculate Conception Church, Lihue, as director of religious education.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the St. Catherine School, Kapaa, community,” she said. “I believe I am only an instrument of God who is using me to journey with the people entrusted to my care.”
St. Anthony School
Wailuku, Maui
David Kenney
Head of school
David Kenney, new head of school of St. Anthony School, Wailuku, Maui, is originally from Massachusetts where he benefited from a Catholic high school experience, attending St. John’s Preparatory School, run by the Xavierian Brothers, in Danvers.
He is a proud member of the 1989 centennial class of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He also has a Master of Education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
Kenney is blessed to have grown up in a family with the strong faith and richness of Portuguese and Irish heritages.
Initially trained and credentialed as a school psychologist, Kenney has more than 30 years’ experience in education, most of it spent in administration and leadership positions. He has worked extensively with teachers to determine effective learning approaches and interventions to address a diverse range of students.
He worked as a special education administrator for 15 years in Massachusetts before moving to Maui in 2016 with his wife Kathleen. Prior to coming to St. Anthony School, Kenney was an educational officer with the Hawaii Department of Education, serving as a District Educational Specialist in the Maui District. Among other responsibilities, he supervised the Baldwin Kekaulike Maui Complex Area’s School-Based Behavioral Health program.
The Kenneys enjoy theater, concerts, travel, and time with friends and family. They are parishioners of St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku, where he serves as the organist for the 7 a.m. Mass on Sundays.
St. Joseph School
Hilo, Hawaii
Matthew Eftink
Interim Head of School
Matthew Eftink has been named interim head of school for St. Joseph School, Hilo, Hawaii.
Eftink holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Parks College of St. Louis University, and a Master of Science degree in software engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
He has worn many “hats” during his seven-year tenure at St. Joseph School, including, but not limited to, math and science teacher, robotics coach, STEM chairperson, and IT administrator.
He was crucial to creating the school’s COVID-19 return-to-school protocol, and for launching its online learning program, allowing the students to return to the classroom and to experience a full year of quality curriculum.
Prior to joining St. Joseph School, Eftink spent more than 20 years as a software engineer for various startups and Fortune 100 companies. He also served in Operation Desert Storm/Shield in the Navy Seabees.
When Eftink is not busy at the school, he enjoys home remodeling, automobile projects and software projects.
St. Joseph School
Hilo, Hawaii
Maile Kipapa
Interim principal
Maile Kipapa was born and raised in Hilo, a proud product of her community of Keaukaha where she serves as a worship leader at her church. Her mother graduated from St. Joseph School in 1972 and is one of the main reasons she chose to work there.
Kipapa is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Kahakaula o Keelikolani, the college of Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language.
While in college, she worked for a non-profit organization Na Pua Noeau, the center for gifted and talented Hawaiian children. She also tutored and mentored students in an after-school program.
Right out of college, she taught one class in the Hawaiian language at St. Joseph School. By her fourth year, she was teaching Hawaiian language and history full-time, and was the International Program co-director and student council chair.
Having been trained in school administration by Susan Wehrsig, St. Joseph School vice-principal and academic dean for more than 30 years, led Kipapa to her role as vice-principal and then interim principal.
“Although I may face many challenges, and may not know all the answers, I am confident that I can serve St. Joseph School in my new role as principal,” Kipapa said. “I promise to serve the school in faith, humility, loyalty and aloha; to be the strong leader that my students, teachers, and families need me to be.”
Maryknoll School
Honolulu
Dan O. Nagami
Vice president
Dan O. Nagami has been Maryknoll School’s vice president since April 1.
Born and raised in Aiea, Nagami went to public elementary school and Iolani School for middle and high school. He received a bachelor’s degree in education and professional development from the University of Hawaii.
He worked as a Hawaii public school teacher for 11 years in elementary and special education and as a high school athletic coach. He has been an administrator at Maryknoll School for the past 21 years.
Married with three children, all graduates of Maryknoll School, he said he is “humbled, honored and blessed to be given the opportunity to serve our Maryknoll School community.”
Maryknoll School
Honolulu
Jon Hermosura
Middle school division head
Jon Hermosura is the new middle school division head for Maryknoll School. Born and raised in Pearl City, he attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Pearl City and Damien Memorial High School.
He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a graduate degree in physical education. He is also taking classes in educational leadership at Chaminade University.
Hermosura has been a religion, music and physical education teacher at Maryknoll Middle School for 25 years. He also taught middle school physical education at St. Louis School last year.
He and his wife Janette have two sons, Riley and Gianni, both proud graduates of Maryknoll School.
“I am excited to learn and be part of a new administrative team at Maryknoll School,” Hermosura said. “I am even more excited to be working again with a loving and dedicated team of middle school teachers and seeing what we can accomplish together and how I can support them in their vocation to service in Christ.”
Maryknoll School
Honolulu
Kimberly Gonzalez
K-5 division head
Kimberly Gonzalez is Maryknoll School’s new K-5 division head.
Born in Honolulu and raised on the windward side, Gonzales is a proud Maryknoll alumna. She has two sons in college, the youngest just graduating from Maryknoll.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Colorado State University and a Master of Arts in teaching reading from National University.
Gonzales taught first grade in San Diego for 12 years, first grade a Sacred Hearts Academy for a year, and kindergarten and second grade at Saint Mark Lutheran for five years.
At Maryknoll she taught kindergarten and first grade Mandarin immersion classes for five years.
“I am beyond blessed and excited to serve as the head of our elementary division,” she said, “and feel truly honored to work with such dedicated and amazing teachers and faculty.”
