Photo by Dallas Nagata White of D'Amour Photography
Aloha! My name is Iwalani and I am the mother of 2 keiki, Nainoa (6) and Makalewa (1). Becoming a family child care provider has been a blessing to our 'ohana, allowing me to malama my keiki until they enter school and have a program that is built upon my beliefs about how keiki learn and develop.
After having my son, Nainoa, I decided to begin my educational career at UH Maui College and pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education. My interest in learning about young children now became personal and relevant to my life. While attending college, I also was able to volunteer and work in different early childhood programs.
I started at Maui Family Support Services' Kupukupu Infant & Toddler Child Care Center, where I worked with infants and toddlers up to 3 years old. During summer break, I worked for Kama'aina Kids at Ala Lani where I was a teacher for keiki ages 2-3 years old. I completed my first teaching practicum at the Head Start on campus and worked for a year at Kansha Preschool and currently have been running my own child care program for the past 2 years.
After achieving my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education, I decided to continue further with my education and am about a year until completion for my Bachelor's Degree in Social Science with a concentration in ECE. I treasure my learning and teaching experiences at each early childhood program. It has helped me to shape and build my program; connecting my passion for working with young children with who I am as a Hawaiian and enable me to share it with others.
