About

History

Compassionate Koʻolaupoko was founded in 2019 by Windward District administrators and community partners. In 2024, we shortened our name to Compassionate Koʻolau to reflect our reach to all of our Koʻolau (Windward) schools across Koʻolaupoko and Koʻolauloa. We want to mahalo our Compassionate Koʻolau Advisory Committee for your support last year—CAS Sam Izumi, CAS Lanelle Hibbs, Principal Derek Minakami, Candice Frontiera, Nathan French, Sydney Wicklund, Cristyn Tamashiro, and Windward Community College Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg.

Who we are

Cherilyn Inouye, PhD

Compassionate Koʻolau District Educational Specialist

Dr. Cherilyn Inouye started in the role of District Educational Specialist in August 2024. Cherilyn grew up in Kailua and began teaching social studies, English, and the AVID Elective in 2005 at Ilima Intermediate. She served as the Hawaiʻi AVID State Director and a community organizer for Kanu Hawaiʻi. She returned to the Windward side in 2013 and served as vice principal of Waimānalo Elementary and Intermediate School and as principal of Kaʻelepulu School. She is passionate about school, community and family partnerships (also the topic of her dissertation), aloha ʻāina, serving her community, making lei, and being a mom to her 2 daughters, Emma and Lili.

Kelsey Matsu, PhD

Compassionate Koʻolau Resource Teacher

Dr. Kelsey Matsu started as the Compassionate Koʻolau Resource Teacher in December 2024. Kelsey is an Expressive Arts Therapist, documentary storyteller, and counselor. Kelsey grew up in Moanalua and Mānoa but started her career as a counselor at King Intermediate and is happy to be back in the Windward District.