2020-2021 Noelani PTA Executive Board
Executive Board
President: Maria Su
Maria Su is the current PTA president. She has two kids associated with Noelani. Her son is in the 2nd Grade. Her daughter graduated in 2020 and is currently a 6th grader at Punahou. She has been with PTA since 2015 when her family moved from San Francisco to Hawaii. She has been involved in different committees such as May Fair Silent Auctions, Jogathon and served as a PTA VP during the school year 2019-2020 and a Treasurer from 2017-2018 and 2016-2017. Maria enjoys outdoor activities and yoga. She loves hanging out with all the wonderful PTA volunteers and making the great Noelani even better.
Maria Su is the current PTA president. She has two kids associated with Noelani. Her son is in the 2nd Grade. Her daughter graduated in 2020 and is currently a 6th grader at Punahou. She has been with PTA since 2015 when her family moved from San Francisco to Hawaii. She has been involved in different committees such as May Fair Silent Auctions, Jogathon and served as a PTA VP during the school year 2019-2020 and a Treasurer from 2017-2018 and 2016-2017. Maria enjoys outdoor activities and yoga. She loves hanging out with all the wonderful PTA volunteers and making the great Noelani even better.
Vice President: Stanford Togashi
Stanford Togashi is the current PTA vice president. He has two daughters at Noelani, Risa who is in the second grade and Quinn who is a kindergartener. Stanford is relatively new to Noelani, but has enjoyed assisting as a Noelani dad for the last couple of years and helping out at various activities including Grandparent’s Day, Trunk-orTreat, Book Fair, Craft Fair, Jogathon, and May Fair. He has met many families through the volunteering opportunities provided by the PTA and hopes to meet even more despite the challenges created by Covid. He would like to thank all those who have attended the online PTA meetings and would like to encourage those who have not yet done so to give it a try. Stanford enjoys playing tennis with his daughters, attending their ballet practices and performances, listening to their piano lessons, going to the beach/parks and most recently fishing with the entire family. He’s started surfing again and looks forward to surfing with Risa and Quinn one day. He is very thankful that his daughters were able to get a GE into Noelani and felt like it was finding the golden ticket!!
Stanford Togashi is the current PTA vice president. He has two daughters at Noelani, Risa who is in the second grade and Quinn who is a kindergartener. Stanford is relatively new to Noelani, but has enjoyed assisting as a Noelani dad for the last couple of years and helping out at various activities including Grandparent’s Day, Trunk-orTreat, Book Fair, Craft Fair, Jogathon, and May Fair. He has met many families through the volunteering opportunities provided by the PTA and hopes to meet even more despite the challenges created by Covid. He would like to thank all those who have attended the online PTA meetings and would like to encourage those who have not yet done so to give it a try. Stanford enjoys playing tennis with his daughters, attending their ballet practices and performances, listening to their piano lessons, going to the beach/parks and most recently fishing with the entire family. He’s started surfing again and looks forward to surfing with Risa and Quinn one day. He is very thankful that his daughters were able to get a GE into Noelani and felt like it was finding the golden ticket!!
Secretary: Lorelei Saito
This is Lorelei Saito's second year as Recording Secretary with the Noelani PTA Board. The Saito family joined the Noelani Elementary community when Tory (now 4th grade) started in kindergarten. Her oldest daughter is a junior at Punahou School. Lorelei, and husband Reid, enjoy participating in various Noelani events serving as classroom mom for two years, volunteering for Grandparents' Lunch, Jogathon, Ice Cream Social, Keiki Swap Meet, and May Fair. Lorelei loves watching her daughter's athletic activities, music recitals, and school events. This is a dynamic and challenging year, but the PTA is looking forward to engaging with all of you!
This is Lorelei Saito's second year as Recording Secretary with the Noelani PTA Board. The Saito family joined the Noelani Elementary community when Tory (now 4th grade) started in kindergarten. Her oldest daughter is a junior at Punahou School. Lorelei, and husband Reid, enjoy participating in various Noelani events serving as classroom mom for two years, volunteering for Grandparents' Lunch, Jogathon, Ice Cream Social, Keiki Swap Meet, and May Fair. Lorelei loves watching her daughter's athletic activities, music recitals, and school events. This is a dynamic and challenging year, but the PTA is looking forward to engaging with all of you!
Treasurer: Jennifer Dacumos
Jen Dacumos is the current PTA Treasurer. She has three children, two at Noelani (3rd grade, 1st grade) and a preschooler at Waiokeola Church Preschool. Jen joined the PTA in 2017 and has been involved in the Craft Fair Committee, Keiki Swap Meet and is in her second term as Treasurer. Jen enjoys keeping up with her kids, spending time outdoors, and reading. daughters' athletic activities, music recitals, and school events. This is a dynamic and challenging year, but the PTA is looking forward to engaging with all of you!
Jen Dacumos is the current PTA Treasurer. She has three children, two at Noelani (3rd grade, 1st grade) and a preschooler at Waiokeola Church Preschool. Jen joined the PTA in 2017 and has been involved in the Craft Fair Committee, Keiki Swap Meet and is in her second term as Treasurer. Jen enjoys keeping up with her kids, spending time outdoors, and reading. daughters' athletic activities, music recitals, and school events. This is a dynamic and challenging year, but the PTA is looking forward to engaging with all of you!
Staff
Committees & Events Chairs
- Principal - Bryan Gusman
- Teacher Rep - Alex Kiyokane
- Teacher Rep - Andrew Sakamoto
Committees & Events Chairs
- After School Enrichment - Brian Gusman and Ai Yamane
- Audit - Elaine Lum - Performs yearly PTA audits
- Box Tops Rewards Programs - Lisa Imai - coordinates the Box Top reward program fundraiser
- Bylaws - Danielle Yafuso
- Craft Fair - Chair Needed Immediately to continue this fundraiser for our children - coordinates Craft and Children's Fair that features over 100 local vendors. Shadow Needed. Please contact [email protected]
- Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts Liaisons – Mika Trawick - Oversee and communicate with Pack 35 and Troop 35 as a Charter Organization Representative
- Facebook - Lisa Imai - maintains the PTA Facebook
- Ice Cream Social - Caroline Soga
- Jog-a-Thon - Stanford Togashi and Jen Yamamoto - promotes and organizes this event focused on fitness and a healthy lifestyle
- Keiki Swap Meet - Jen Dacumos
- Logistics/Storage Containers - Weylin Hokutan and Jason Dacumos (May Fair) - manages, organizes and catalogs the PTA storage
- May Fair - Mika Trawick - is a wonderful tradition at Noelani, featuring beautiful performances, exciting activities for all ages, food, fun, laughter, and moments that create memories for a lifetime.
- Membership/Alumni Database - Chair Needed- promotes PTA membership and keeps records of current and alumni members
- New Parent Orientation - Kristen Brummel - organizes event, usually held the Wednesday prior to school starting.
- Noelani Dads - Chair Needed - coordinates the Noelani Dads for projects like May Fair and Craft Fair. Logistics and heavy lifting!
- Nominations - Chair Needed - coordinates PTA officer nominations/elections.
- Parking - Chair Needed - manages parking at school events.
- Staff Appreciation Week - Kristen Brummel - coordinates activities during this week-long May event
- School T-Shirts – Lorelei Saito - coordinates order of school t-shirts at beginning of school year
- School Community Council Representative - Gail Kuroda - liaison with School Community Council
- Trunk or Treat - Caitlin Yamamoto
- Volunteer Coordinator - Corey Arakaki - coordinates parents, faculty and community members to make all the events possible.
- Website - Lisa Tulchin - maintains the PTA website
What We Do
Some of the functions that the PTA provide include
* Organizes volunteers to assist students, teachers, and staff.
* Raises money to buy classroom materials and equipment and fund art/music/P.E./Hawaiiana classes.
* Holds monthly meetings to increase communication between parents and school staff.
* Organizes volunteers to assist students, teachers, and staff.
* Raises money to buy classroom materials and equipment and fund art/music/P.E./Hawaiiana classes.
* Holds monthly meetings to increase communication between parents and school staff.
The Noelani Elementary PTA (Parent Teacher Association) plays an essential role in ensuring that all of our students have access to an excellent education. Through its focus on academic achievement, a strong sense of community, and parent involvement the PTA allows parents, teachers, staff and others in our community to work together to support our kids. Please click on the tabs below to find out more about our activities.
In 2018, the PTA was thrilled to raise over $60,000 to fund a new playground for our upper elementary students. We are so thankful for the support of our Noelani Families! In prior years our fundraising activities supported the part-time teachers (PE and Music), financed the purchase of Chrome books for students, copiers, fans in the classrooms, student planners and contributed towards the cost of School & Staff Discretionary Funds, purchase of two automatic external defibrillators (AED) machines. Annually, the PTA support student participation to Honolulu Theater for Youth and Honolulu Academy of the Arts, 4th grade Big Island trip and 5th grade Aulani trip, Robotics and other wonderful after school enrichment activities.
In 2020, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the PTA lent Noelani their storage container to store excess classroom furniture to allow for social distancing in classrooms. We provided funds for PPE and protective gear. Our monthly online meetings provided a regular forum for Mr. Gusman and staff to communicate to parents during these fluid times. Virtual PE and Hawaiiana classes are also continuing during the pandemic for all distance and hybrid learners. Events are being adapted to accommodate health restrictions. For instance, instead of a physical Trunk or Treat, we hosted a Virtual Halloween Contest.
In 2020, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the PTA lent Noelani their storage container to store excess classroom furniture to allow for social distancing in classrooms. We provided funds for PPE and protective gear. Our monthly online meetings provided a regular forum for Mr. Gusman and staff to communicate to parents during these fluid times. Virtual PE and Hawaiiana classes are also continuing during the pandemic for all distance and hybrid learners. Events are being adapted to accommodate health restrictions. For instance, instead of a physical Trunk or Treat, we hosted a Virtual Halloween Contest.
However, the PTA's purpose is not all about fundraising. Every year the PTA has organized fun school and community events like Craft Fair, Jog-a-Thon, May Fair and movie night, which are run entirely by volunteers) which enhance our keiki's already excellent academic experience at Noelani.
