Cherilyn Shiinoki
Executive Director
Cherilyn truly believes that families are children’s first and most influential teachers. “As a child, I watched my mother make an impact on her community by helping families partner with their children’s schools. Now, as a mother of three boys, I am inspired to continue her work. When my first son was born, I wondered how I could be the best parent for him. I joined a parenting program that helped me get through the tough situations and the sleepless nights. I enjoyed it so much that I signed up with my second son. Shortly afterwards, I began working for the program as an early childhood teacher. Now, at Family Hui Hawaii, I hope to bring this experience to more families. As parents, we all need help and together we can build stronger families and communities, giving our keiki the best start to their education, development, and lifelong happiness!”
Cherilyn has worked in various capacities in preschools, parenting programs, and children’s ministry. She holds a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education and serves on the board of the Association for Infant Mental Health Hawaii (AIMH HI) and the Hawaii State Early Learning Board.
Johanna Nielson
Director of Operations
Johanna is a former early childhood educator that has taught in preschool and multiage kindergarten-first grade classrooms. She enjoyed her time as a teacher of young children developing curriculum and integrated studies while remaining true to teaching the whole child. Most enjoyable was developing relationships with children and their families to maximize the home-school connection to foster a love of learning at both home and school. She holds her Baccalaureate in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Johanna is a mother to two active, loud, fun-loving and silly boys. They love to eat and play, spend time with friends, swim at the beach, read and watch tv together.
Family Hui Hawaii has provided Johanna with a vast landscape of personal and professional experiences. As a parent, she is able to learn from and share with others - opening her eyes to a wealth of parenting and community resources, including support and encouragement in mindful and gentle parenting. In business, she is continuing to develop her skills related to grant funding, networking, and teamwork
Heidi-ann Allencastre
Family Programs Coordinator - Maui
Heidi-ann Allencastre is a proud mama of 3, two under the age of 8, and a Parent Leader. She was born and raised in Maui, where she currently resides. Heidi understands how important it is for parents to feel supported especially during challenging times. Heidi loves that Family Hui Hawaii provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to support each other through Parent Hui's and Parent Cafes so they not only refill their own cups but they help to uplift each other.
Being our keiki's first and most important teachers is a big kuleana and if a parent doesn't feel like they have all the skills it's important for them to be able to go to different spaces to learn and grow. Family Hui Hawaii provides that for so many parents and caregivers across the state. As they say, it really does take a village!
Heidi's hope is that every parent will find the support and the confidence they need to be the best they can be for their keiki and 'Ohana!
Carrie Barringer
Family Programs Coordinator - Oahu
Carrie holds an MS in Child Development and has nearly 15 years’ experience working in early childhood and higher education settings. She first experienced the power of hui when her oldest son, now a high school senior, was an infant.
Carrie found long-lasting support, knowledge, and connection when she gathered with fellow parents. As a military spouse, Carrie has been lucky to live abroad and on the mainland, experiencing parenting and family support in culturally diverse settings.
She enjoys sharing the joy and wonder of the early childhood years with other families and educators but believes her most important and fulfilling role has been as mother to her five boys!
Leina Henriques
Family Programs Coordinator - Hawaii Island
Leina has supported Hawaii families for over twenty years, she holds a special interest in perinatal and post partum support. As the Family Programs Coordinator, Leina brings families together to connect and share to strengthen their families and communities.
Leina lives on Hawaii Island with her husband and two children.
Traci Garma
Early Learning Programs Lead
Traci's hopes and dreams are for every family to have a support system available to them. Family Hui Hawaii is a piece of the support system puzzle. Family Hui Hawaii has given me opportunities to meet families, professionals, and co-workers who have the passion to develop and enhance a community that believes in empowering families to raise their children through providing safe, healthy and nurturing environments.
Being a Early Learning Programs Specialist with Family Hui Hawaii allows me to provide support through our LENA Program, partnerships with various organizations, and special events.
Traci has been in the early childhood/family community for over 30 years. Her journey began at working in private/church preschools, then 24 years at Head Start as a teacher, monitor, mentor, manager, & health specialist. She has a BA in Social Sciences with a focus in Early Childhood Education. Traci is endorsed by the Association for Infant Mental Health Hawaii (AIMHHI) as an Infant Family Specialist.
Traci and her husband have 2 sons, 1 daughter and a son in law, and a grandson and granddaughter. Traveling, sunset/sunrise watching, movies, staycations, spending time with family, and crafts are just a few activities Traci enjoys doing.
Jasmine Anderson
Family Programs Specialist - Oahu
Jasmine looks forward to support families in connecting, reflecting, and growing together. Jasmine enjoys theater and performing, and will use her skills to support others to empower themselves and find connections in all aspects of life.
Jasmine utilizes her storytelling expertise to engage children and families at local libraries and community centers through her specialized program “Story Time With Jasmine”, focusing on learning about interactive reading skills while having fun!
Chelle Galarza
Maui County Family Programs Specialist
Chelle believes in living life with an open mind and an adventurous spirit filled with compassion and heart. She is committed to service through leadership in the community, and looks forward to connecting families with one another across Maui County.
Sade Kahue
Family Programs Specialist - Maui
Being born and raised on Molokai, then later moving to Maui, I understand the importance of community and know that even the smallest changes can make the greatest impacts. I believe that everyone needs someone that they can count on. I enjoy my work as a teacher in early childhood classrooms and I extend that joy into my work with Family Hui by providing support and appreciation to parents and caregivers island-wide
Lauren Danner
Community Engagement Specialist
Lauren believes that giving aloha and educating people is an important part of her journey, being born and raised in Hawaii. Lauren looks forward to helping her community connect with resources and bring 'ohana's together during struggles and success.
Liana Pagan
Family Programs Specialist - Maui
Liana is a Maui mom looking forward to providing support and programs to other Maui families. Liana has a passion for providing keiki with positive early experiences, and hopes to build connection and a network of support for other families through her work with Family Hui Hawaii.
Lyn Constantino
Family Programs Specialist - Maui
Lyn was born and raised on the island of Maui. She has two children, a 14 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. Her educational background is in Early Childhood Education through University of Hawaii Maui College and West Oahu and has been working with young children and their families for 18 years as a Registered Behavior Technician, Preschool Teacher and Preschool Director.
She is passionate in strengthening her community through service, improving equity and advocating for children and families. She enjoys being an active member in the community as the Board President of an intergenerational preschool, Secretary of Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children (HiAEYC) and Social Chair of American Association of University Women - Maui Branch (AAUW).
She looks forward to creating Huis to support families, educators and other service providers. Families, educators and other service providers deserve the best support and resources so that they can continue to love and care for our community's keiki.
Aurora O’Brien
Family Programs Specialist - Oahu
Aurora grew up on the windward side of Oahu and now lives on the west side. She is a proud mother of three wonderful boys who have taught her a great deal about the parent she aspires to be.
Aurora became involved with Family Hui Hawaii during her senior year at the University of Hawaii at Manoa while completing her bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. She initially joined as an intern but enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to join the team full-time. Her goal is to help her community access the valuable resources that Family Hui provides.
Jamie McOuat
Extended ‘Ohana Lead and Resource Caregiver
Jamie, a former talent agent to major Hollywood stars and global publishing professional, feels parenting is her most challenging and satisfying calling. She is a licensed resource caregiver (foster parent), a Child Advocate on many boards, a graduate of The Parent Leadership Institute and, in her fifth decade, a proud Advanced Maternal Age mom. As a writer and former journalist, she loves stories and helps parents across Hawai’i ensure that their ‘ohana tales are grounded in a sound knowledge of child development gleaned from the supportive environment of a Hui. “It’s all about relationships and those first bonds formed that let you know you’re not alone in this high-octane circus called early childhood; they’re all “our kids” after all.”
Jamie and her husband first participated in an Infant Hui when their son was 6-months old. She then led two Toddler Hui, became an advisory board member for Hui and has worn many Hui work hats since 2016. She has a Bachelors in Communications from Rider and a Masters in International Publishing from Oxford.
Jennifer Neely
Engagement Support Specialist
Jennifer works with Family Hui Hawaii to support their data coordination and evaluation of grants and programs. Jennifer first became involved with Family Hui Hawaii after participating in a Neighbourhood Hui in 2019 in Kaimuki, with her daughter who was born in 2018. Jennifer specializes in Program Evaluation and supports family hui with reporting impact, outcomes and telling the story of our programs. Jennifer has a MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Leilani Novak
Communications & Engagement Coordinator
Leilani was born and raised in Rhode Island and moved to Hawaii in 2014 to attend Hawaii Pacific University. While there, she completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Communications with an emphasis in multimedia and digital marketing. Post graduation, she has worked as an Adjunct professor whose research interest surrounded digital marketing and the media's role in personal and professional development with a focus on the non-profit sector.
She lives on the North Shore of Oahu with her husband and three dogs and hopes to continue sharing her communications background to help Family Hui Hawaii grow.