Experienced educators take top leadership positions in Hawaii’s Catholic Schools
Six Hawaii Catholic schools are welcoming new administrators this year, with a couple more yet unnamed. They are as follows:
- Damien Memorial School: Arnold Laanui, president and CEO
- Maryknoll School: Chelsea Malefyt, interim division head, grades PreK–5; Dan Nagami, division head, grades 6-12
- St. Anthony Preschool, Wailuku: Marisa Rodriguez, director
- St. Elizabeth School: Sister Alma Amancio, OP, principal
- Saint Louis School: Timothy Los Banos, principal
- St. Catherine School, Kapaa: principal, to be named
The interim principal of St. Joseph School, Hilo, for the past year, Maile Kipapa, has been promoted to principal.
St. Anthony Preschool, Wailuku
Marisa Rodriguez, Director
Marisa Rodriguez is the new director of St. Anthony Preschool in Wailuku.
She is from Pontiac, Michigan, and attended Pontiac Catholic High School.
She previously lived in South Lake Tahoe, California, entering the early childhood field in 1999. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in early childhood education from Ashford University.
She taught in Massachusetts for five years at Smith College’s Center for Early Childhood Education before moving to Maui in 2018.
Rodriguez said she enjoys “the wonder and discovery that young children engage in when learning about the world around them and facilitating that learning by providing enriching environments and experiences.”
One of her greatest accomplishments was when she was named by her peers “Mentor of the Year” and “Master Teacher.”
Her hobbies are bike riding, hiking, and doing anything creative.
Rodriguez looks forward to working with others to create new and fun experiences for children, families and teachers.
Maryknoll School, Honolulu
Dan O. Nagami, Division head, grades 6-12
Dan O. Nagami’s title at Maryknoll School has changed from vice president to division head for grades 6-12. He has been an administrator at Maryknoll for 22 years.
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 is married with three children, all graduates of Maryknoll School.
Maryknoll School, Honolulu
Chelsea Malefyt, Interim division head, grades PreK–5
Chelsea Malefyt has been named interim division head for grades PreK–5 at Maryknoll School.
She was born and raised on Oahu and is a graduate of Kaimuki High School.
She has three daughters, ages 8, 4 and 15 months. The older two attend Maryknoll.
She graduated from the University of Hawaii-Manoa with a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education.
She has been at Maryknoll for nine years teaching third grade and serving as a PLTW (Project Lead The Way) teacher.
Prior to that she worked at the State Department of Education as a Pre-K special education instructor.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to be the interim elementary level division head,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the awesome support of the Maryknoll community I would not be where I am today. I am most proud of the teachers in PK-5.”
St. Elizabeth School, Aiea
Sister Alma Amancio, OP, Principal
Sister Alma Amancio, a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines, is the new principal of St. Elizabeth School in Aiea.
Born and raised in the Philippines, as one of eight children, she is the product of public and Catholic schools.
She has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a master’s degree, and a doctor of education degree in educational management.
She was principal or president of six schools in the Philippines, and for nine years served as superintendent of 13 Dominican schools. She taught at St. Elizabeth School from 2018-2019.
Her last position was as principal of Holy Angels School in Colma, California.
“In my almost five years in U.S. Catholic schools I have found a great integration of Catholic values in the curriculum,” she said. Catholic Identity is given more emphasis by the entire school community.”
Damien Memorial School, Honolulu
Arnold Laanui Jr., President and CEO
Arnold Laanui Jr., is returning to his alma mater, Damien Memorial School, as its new president and CEO. Prior to his appointment, he was a district education specialist with the Hawaii State Department of Education and director of extensions at Waipahu High School.
Before that he was an FBI special agent serving as a researcher and program manager within the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence. He was also an advanced instructor for the FBI Academy.
Laanui has a B.A. in political science from Pepperdine University, a juris doctorate from the University of Hawaii and holds a doctor of education from the University of Southern California.
“Returning to my alma mater as the next president and CEO of Damien Memorial School fills my heart with the deepest sense of obligation, humility and joy,” Laanui said in a news release.
Dr. Laanui is married and has three children.
Saint Louis School, Honolulu
Timothy Los Banos, Principal
Timothy Los Banos is the new principal of Saint Louis School in Honolulu. He has 30 years of experience as an educator at the only all-boys K-12 school in Hawaii.
A fifth-generation Filipino-American “military brat” born on Oahu and raised in Schofield Barracks, Hilo and Honolulu, Los Banos attended public schools as well as St. Joseph, Hilo, Star of the Sea and Saint Louis High.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Asian studies at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and a master’s degree in educational administration at Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Prior to becoming principal, he taught four levels of high school Filipino (Tagalog) and Japanese at his alma mater. He is inspired by the schoolwide alignment to Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical “Laudato Si” in its efforts to restore the indigenous environment of the campus, and witnessing successful growth in Crusaders of all ages and backgrounds.
St. Joseph School, Hilo, Hawaii
Maile Kipapa, Principal
Maile Kipapa has been promoted from interim principal to principal of St. Joseph School in Hilo where she was born and raised. Her mother graduated from St. Joseph School in 1972 and is one of the 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.
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.
Being 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, interim principal and now principal.
