Organizations

KEY Foundation:

In my sophomore year, I founded the KEY Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to spreading arts education to local youth. Since then, we have partnered with BLICK Arts Studio, HEARTS, and Family Promise of Hawai'i.

In the winter of 2023, the KEY Foundation started our Kits4Kids program, and have donated over 200 kits containing books, handmade craft activities, and educational supplies to Queens Hospital and Ala Wai Elementary School. We have also done these activities in summer craft sessions with the youth at Family Promise of Hawai'i and the Children's Discovery Center. Engaging with the youth in hands-on activities reminded me how grateful I was to have numerous opportunities to pursue art as a child.

In the summer of 2024, I organized KEY's fundraising concert at Orvis Auditorium. KEY's volunteers and members of the HEARTS organization sang together, danced hula, played piano, violin, viola, and incorporated band ensembles to raise over $2,000 for HEARTS' music program for local youth. Additionally, the concert garnered over 100 audience members, many of which were families and friends from the HEARTS program.

KEY Projects

Summer 2024 craft event hosted by KEY at the Children's Discovery Center. Summer 2024 concert with HEARTS. Donating art kits to Queens Hospital

First 'Ohana Night craft event with Family Promise in 2024 spring

Hawai'i State Youth Commission:

The HiYC is composed of 15 commissioners, each nominated by either the Governor, Senate President, or Speaker of the House. The commissioners, aged 14-24, represent islands throughout the state of Hawai'i and have the responsibility of advising the Governor and Legislature on programs, policies, and legislation that affect the youth.

While on the Commission, I have served as the Housing Legislation Topic Lead ('24-25 term) and the Secretary ('25-26 term). While serving as the Housing Legislative Lead, I led a team of five commissioners in submitting testimony for six different bills that covered housing issues such as rent increases, deed restrictions, and community kauhale living programs. Additionally, I tracked these bills throughout the season and updated the commission on referrals, hearings, and motions. Of the six, only HB431 and HB703 passed. Getting legislation to pass proved arduous, despite our numerous efforts. This experience taught me that persistence is necessary, especially when challenging entrenched, complex issues such as affordable housing. I also learned how the younger generation is impacted by seemingly non-applicable issues, such as kupuna housing programs. Our future as the youth depends on the action we take and the efforts we make in obtaining our desired goal. As a youth, learning how to get more involved (by submitting testimony) and creating opportunities for others to participate (through webinars and events) will prepare me to be civically active in my adulthood.

Hawai'i State Youth Commissioners at annual leadership training retreat (at Camp Pālehua) & swearing-in ceremony with Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and Senator Stanley Chang

So far, in the first year of my term on the commission, I have completed a few legislative projects. They include the Local Official Youth Webinar and the Affordable Housing Legislative Package of the 2025 legislative year.

Internships:

Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic

In the summer of 2025, I interned and volunteered at the University of Hawai'i's Richardson Law School legal clinic. The clinic I worked for specialized in immigration law. While interning at the Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic, I witnessed the real-life experiences of immigration lawyers. I shadowed Ms. Stephanie Haro Sevilla's trials and sat in on her client meetings. Additionally, during Mr. Danicole Ramos' naturalization workshops, I filled out G-28, I-184, and I-864 forms for green card applicants. Another one of my tasks included researching countries' conditions for asylum applicant screenings. While shadowing these lawyers and speaking to clients, I drew connections between judicial practice and current events. I noticed how complicated immigration has become, especially with new policies and orders from the current administration. Ultimately, this experience taught me the complexities of immigration law and how intertwined the law is with government.

Councilmember TDST

In the summer of 2024, I interned for the office of Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam. My role as a summer intern consisted of writing articles, speaking to constituents, and conducting historical research. The two articles I wrote focused on two of the Councilmember's priorities and how they affected locals living in District 6, the district Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam represents. I interviewed members of the neighborhood board, as well as DOE representatives, regarding the crackdowns on illegal gambling rooms and increasing the school zone speed limit. Conversing with these individuals made me realize how seemingly "small" policies or initiatives have a large effect on people's daily lives.

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