The Writing Center Staff

Dr. Isaac Wang grew up in Kona on the Island of Hawai‘i, where he fished for ‘oama, played Hawaiian music, and surfed with his five siblings. After receiving his BA and MA in English from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Isaac moved to Indiana to study at Purdue University, where he got his Ph.D. in English, focusing on rhetoric and composition. Isaac first started working in the UHM Writing Center in 2013 as an undergraduate tutor under Dr. Georganne Nordstrom, and is honored to be back home in Hawai‘i nei, directing the center where he started his academic journey.

Aloha nō! My name is Alakaʻi Antonio, and I was born and raised in Nānākuli, Oʻahu, where I still live today. Coming from this community and as a first-generation Native Hawaiian college graduate, I’ve seen how important it is to center students and their experiences in the classroom. My teaching is rooted in composition and rhetoric, but I also lean on Kānaka ʻŌiwi ways of knowing (like moʻokūʻauhau and moʻolelo) as guides for how we make sense of writing and learning. In my research, I focus on Indigenous rhetorics and writing program administration, specifically looking for ways that first-year writing can be a place for cultural grounding and community connection.

My name is Scott Nalani Kaʻalele and I was born and raised on Oahu, in beautiful Kaneohe on the windward side, and I currently reside in the Hawaiian Homelands division of Papakōlea. As a first generation Native Hawaiian college graduate, I have found that a student-centered pedagogy based in a composition and rhetoric background has allowed me to engage a student population both diverse in age and background. My recent research endeavors consist of popular culture and literary studies, with a focus on comics studies, and a bit of Shakespeare for fun. 

Hi! My name is Alyssa (she/her), and I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in English and Psychology. My family is from Laos, but I was born and raised on O‘ahu in the town of Kāne‘ohe. While my main passions are reading and writing, I’m also interested in music theory, music composition, and understanding the human mind. I especially enjoy classic literature, psychological horror/thriller fiction, and lengthy webnovels with lots of action. In my free time, I like to indulge in various games (gacha, rhythm, turn-based, etc.), bake desserts, and spend time with the people I love. I hope to expand my knowledge in different subjects, so I’m looking forward to working with writers from all kinds of fields and backgrounds!

Christelle (she/they) is a fourth-year student majoring in History and English. She is from Waipahū, ʻEwa on the island of Oʻahu. By nurturing the voices of all writers with collaboration, she seeks connection in one of the world’s greatest conduits—words. Her reading and writing interests range from research papers to poetry, and beyond. She is committed to learning about Hawaiʻi and contributing to its flourishing through her heart and hands in the ʻāina and with the people. Her other devotions include earning the view on her hikes, playing the guitar, and fueling her curiosity. 

Esmé (she/her) is a third-year English major from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Esmé’s focus of study is creative writing, specifically surrealistic fiction and poetry. She loves reading diverse literature written through a decolonial lens; some of her favorite books include God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, Nuclear Family by Joseph Han, and The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. Esmé, though primarily versed in creative writing and literary analysis, is interested in tutoring all subjects and styles to gain new insights into each respective field. Outside of school, she enjoys jumping in the ocean, expanding her never-ending music library, and watching the latest and greatest films. 

Hello! My name is Jade (she/her), and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in English. Throughout my time at Mānoa, I have found a great interest in creative writing, primarily in fiction, and literary studies. Being in an environment of collaborative discussions has greatly developed who I am as a writer, which is where I hope to create a space that motivates a positive writing experience! Besides academics, I enjoy doing some creative writing, gaming with friends, and spending time with family.

James (they/them) is a third-year student majoring in English and minoring in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. They are from Kapolei on the island of O‘ahu. James is interested in helping develop writers’ voices and cultivating stories centering identity and culture. While they enjoy working with all writers, they are most familiar with literary studies and creative writing. In their time outside of school and the Writing Center, James enjoys playing guitar, going to the beach, and watching movies with friends.

Hello! I’m Kai (he/they), a fourth-year student majoring in English and Psychology. I love music, surfing, and creative writing. The genre I’m most familiar with is fiction, but I like working with all kinds of writing. Some of the pieces I find interesting are Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, “Exhalation” by Ted Chiang, and The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On by Franny Choi. 

Aloha! My name is Kiera (she/he/they) and I’m a fourth year English major. I was born and raised here on Oahu. I love working with all kinds of writers in our community here at Mānoa to help everyone achieve their goals. My favorite kinds of writing to consult on are research and analytical pieces and creative writing. In my free time, I love to work on crafts, cook, and watch copious amounts of tv. 

Krysten (she/her) is a second year English MA student with a focus in Literary Studies in English. Born and raised on Oʻahu, Krysten hopes to stay in Hawaiʻi while pursuing a career in higher education. Her research interests include all things Asian American, pop culture, and representations of the real, lived, and personal in academic fields. She also has an increasing interest in creative nonfiction and explores her Japanese ancestry through her writing. When she’s not in class, Krysten can be found baking, trying new restaurants with her friends, and on the field with the Rainbow Warrior Marching Band. 

Hi there! I’m Mac Uchimura (he/they), and I’m a first-year student in the English MA program with a focus on literary studies. I was born and raised on O‘ahu, and I currently live in Pearl City. I’d love to teach at the collegiate level in Hawai‘i. I love ancient and Renaissance literature (my two favorite books are Statius’s Thebaid and Shakespeare’s Macbeth), and my research focuses on the ways in which queer and trans theory can be used to offer new, diverse analyses of these classic stories. Outside of class, I enjoy drawing, birdwatching, spending time with my two dogs, brushing up on my ancient Greek, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.

Mason (he/him) is a second-year English MA student with a focus in Cultural Studies in Asia/Pacific. Raised between the rolling hills of Hauʻula and dancing waves of the Pacific, Mason writes of individuals caught between worlds and identities, intersections wrought with both pain and love. In his prospective career as a high school English teacher, he hopes to uplift indigenous communities by building confidence in writers and helping them find their unique voice, especially in creative and advocacy writing.

This is Marie, a first year graduate student with an interest in composition and rhetoric. She just received her BA in English this past Spring and decided to dive headfirst into the English MA program this Fall. Does she feel like she’s in over her head? Yes. Will she act like she knows what she’s doing? Also yes. In all seriousness, Marie is looking forward to working in the writing center this semester and exercising her idle brain cells in her grad level English courses. Marie thoroughly understands that words can be tricky and has dedicated her academic career to honing her skills in persuasive writing and learning how to speak good. A little bit about her personal life: she was born and raised in Kāneʻohe, is well acquainted with the world of live theater, and enjoys geeking out over interesting stories. 

Melia (she/her) is a first year M.A. student in English with a concentration in cultural studies. Melia graduated in December of 2024 with a BA in English from UHM and takes special interests in Asian American diaspora and creative nonfiction. She grew up in the Sierra Nevadas of Northern California trekking through the mountains, wading through rivers, and stargazing from below the pines. Outside of academia, Melia enjoys following San Francisco Giants baseball, watching 2000s rom-coms, and dissecting music and pop culture. 

Michael (he/him) is an MA student in Second Language Studies with research interests in critical discourse analysis, multilingual education, and indigenous language revitalization, particularly in the Philippines. Having worked with learners from nearly all ages and levels since 2018, he has taught in Taiwan, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and the US and holds a Cambridge Delta with a Business English specialism, as well as a Trinity TYLEC (Teaching Young Learners Extension Certificate). He has backpacked in over 40 countries and enjoys writing and blogging, learning new languages, and making and performing music. 

Nani (she/her) is a first-year MA student who was raised by poetry and spoken word. Daughter of the Kanikoʻo rain of Heʻeia, Oʻahu, Nani orbits around orality, wai, chosen sanctuary, and desire on the page/stage. She is passionate about helping writers awaken and cultivate stories; and often meets her grandmothers whenever she writes. Outside of Kuykendall Hall, Nani is most likely on Facetime with her sister, saving another newspaper for a collage project, or baking a new batch of banana bread.

Rin (she/they) is a second-year English MA student with a focus in Literary Studies in English. Originally from Ohio, Rin plans to keep moving wherever she can continue to learn and wants to be a lifelong student. Her research interests consistently return to queerness—theory, histories, and futurity—often explored through topics ranging from classical literature to ecological studies on fungi. When she is not trying to balance her spreadsheet of this semester’s assignments and readings, she is browsing JSTOR, watching women’s sports, or trying to touch grass while walking her dogs.  

ʻAnoʻai ke aloha! My name is Saedy and I am a third year undergraduate student pursuing my major in Secondary Education with a focus in English. I hope to one day become a high school English teacher! I am from Waipahu in the ahupuaʻa of Waipiʻo on the moku of Oʻahu. However, when I was young, I had to trade the beautiful mauna and the sparkling kai for the scorching desert of Las Vegas, Nevada. I have since returned to my one hānau for college with hopes to reconnect with my kūpuna, my ʻāina, and my culture. As a result, a lot of my work is rooted in both ʻike Hawaiʻi and the struggles of diaspora communities. When I’m not drowning in a sea of assignments and deadlines, I can be found diving for shells in the beautiful moana, playing music and singing with my family at my Tūtū’s house, or cruising down the H1 with my friends as we embark on another adventure around the island. 

Hello! I’m Shannen (she/her), a second-year undergraduate student majoring in English who hopes to become an author one day. I enjoy all genres of writing, but am most well read in fiction and fantasy! I’ve lived on O’ahu for four years, but before that I was born and raised in South Korea. I speak mostly conversational Korean, and am continuing my studies in the language in order to move back after I graduate. I’m looking forward to seeing writing about a variety of topics, and working with writers from various fields! 

Hi, my name is Yuka Chubachi (she/her). I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Second Language Studies at UH Mānoa. I have supported writers who are just starting out with academic writing or who use English as an additional language. My research interests include online collaboration between students from different countries (also called telecollaboration or virtual exchange) and project-based learning in EFL settings. I enjoy hiking, swimming, playing tennis, and pickleball. I’d also like to try surfing someday. Besides English and Japanese, I speak Spanish, as I spent two years volunteering in Nicaragua in a program similar to the Peace Corps.