Hui Laulima

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns:she/her

Place of Birth: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

‘Āina you live on now: Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi

Aloha mai kākou! ʻO ʻĀnela koʻu inoa. No Kāneʻohe mai au. Aloha, my name is ʻĀnela and my family and I are from the ahupuaʻa of Kāneʻohe in Koʻolaupoko of Oʻahualua. I am deeply invested in my community and volunteer my time in health and educational aspects. I currently work at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as a Graduate Assistant while I work towards my doctorate in Education. My yoga practice has gotten me through the difficulties of balancing work, school and my physical and mental health. My teacher would remind me that some days just getting to my mat is an accomplishment. Through the ups and downs of life, my yoga mat became my safe place. I use my background in Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to create classes that respect and recognize the place we are in while holding a safe space that enables the physical body and mind to relax and renew. My hope is that yoga can become a means of health and wellness for my community, especially for Kānaka Maoli.

“Ma ka hana ka ʻike” “In working, one learns”

- ʻŌlelo Noʻeau Mary Kawena Pukuʻi

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns: ʻoia 

Place of Birth: Kāneʻohe

‘Āina you live on now: Kāneʻohe

Aloha mai kākou. ʻO Hiʻilani koʻu inoa. No Kāneʻohe, Oʻahualua mai au. Noho au i Kāneʻohe. Oʻahualua. Aloha all my name is Hiʻilani😊 I was born and raised on the eastside of Oʻahu in Kāneʻohe and that is where I currently reside. I am a wahine kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiian woman) with a deep love for my people and community. I recently became a yoga teacher through PKY but have many years of practice. My hopes is to use yoga as a means to help people, especially the Native Hawaiian community heal. 

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it:

“You shame you starve.”

- My papa Abraham Akau Sr.

CONTRACTOR

Preferred Name: Jo

Pronouns: she/they

Place of Birth: Oʻahu, raised in the moku of ‘Ewa, ahupuaʻa of Honouliuli (Ewa Beach) and the moku of Kona, ahupuaʻa of Waikiki (Makiki)

‘Āina you live on now: Mōʻiliʻili

Living through Yoga helped heal trauma, sparked evolution, and revealed transformative kuleana and tools for justice. My journey to co-leading PKY’s teacher trainings with Laura began in 2000, then by 2006 I understood: I have to share this light! Teacher trainings that followed were yin and yang: a 6mo 250hr course with a Buddhist monk and healthcare professionals, then  Sivananda ashram immersions in India for another 200hr and a 500hr where I was initiated as a yogacharya. I taught trauma-informed Yoga to marginalized communities globally, then co-owned and learned at Third Root Community Health Center in Brooklyn. As my Karma Yoga initiative started to gain in impact and recognition, I learned about decolonialism and felt I should stop teaching for money, focusing  instead on trades and Yoga in mental health spaces (Maui wildfire victims, Tripler AMC, Harvard’s MMHC fellowship). Now, I’m a Yoga teacher trainer, consultant, and integrative clinical psychologist with specialties in Yoga, trauma, decolonialism, Indigenized wellbeing for Kānaka ʻŌiwi, and mindfulness. Thanks to sādhanā I can connect with nā ākua and nā kūpuna – so grateful for the guidance!

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it: “

Without community, there is no liberation.”
― Audre Lorde

CO-FOUNDER

Pronouns: she/her

Place of Birth: Orange, CA

‘Āina you live on now: Pūowaina

I have come full circle with PKY. Having lived in NYC for 10 years, Boston for 4 years, and CA for 18 years. I came to Hawai’i, the place of my parents out of curiosity, learning, and remembering. Curious about the choices we make that affect each generation to come, learning about myself and my familial practices, and remembering the resilience that was always there.

Along that journey, I found trauma-informed Yoga. In NYC, I trained and taught with Liberation Prison Yoga to teach to the transgender ward at Manhattan Detention Complex and Riker’s. I apprenticed with Lineage Project and taught movement and mindfulness to incarcerated and at-risk youth and I used these skills to create PKY.

I currently sit on the Board of ICAAD (International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination) and I am a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelors in International Relations.

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it:

“‘Why?’ is an evolutionary question.”

-Adrienne Maree Brown

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns:  he/him/his

Place of Birth:  Gilroy, CA

‘Āina you live on now:  Oʻahu

Lawrence is an RYT 500 yoga and qigong teacher passionately bringing his learnings to all folks to experience the healing and transformative benefits of breath, movement and awareness.  His first teacher 15 years ago inspired him to honor and practice yoga rich in eastern and indigenous wisdom and philosophy, bringing this to his own practice and classes offered over the last 12 years.  His focus has included yoga and qigong for seniors, at risk teens, cancer patients and folks managing trauma.

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it: 

“¡Si se puede!” 

- Dolores Huerta 

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns: she/her

Place of Birth: Ohio 

‘Āina you live on now: Oʻahu

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it: “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible!” Audrey Hepburnahu , Ewa Beach

Hi my name is Lily! I'm a mom to a lively toddler and a sweet 6 month old baby, as well as a fur parent to a 5-year-old dog. I've cherished island life with my husband for the past 3 years. When I'm not embracing motherhood, you can find me indulging in my favorite treat – chocolate and raspberry ice cream. I have a passion for teaching Keiki breathing practices, fostering a sense of calm and mindfulness in little ones. 

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it:

“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible!”

- Audrey Hepburn

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns: She/her

Place of Birth: Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Āina you live on now: Kāneʻohe

Mpho, a first-generation South African immigrant, is of IsiZulu and SeSotho heritage. Her lineage of women traditionally utilise sacred medicinal gifts and rituals to serve the well-being of those they encounter.

Mpho incorporates Karuna Reiki, Sound Alchemy, and Yoga as powerful tools to hold brave spaces for healing, transformation, and reflection.

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns: She/her

Place of Birth: Kealakekua, Hawai’i

‘Āina you live on now: Kaimuki, Oʻahu

Nicole enjoys exploring movement in all forms as a way of connection - connection to curiosity, strength, self, and community. She works in the psychology field and is a yoga facilitator for Project Koa Yoga and a mentor with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment’s Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga. 

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it:

“All grown-ups were once children…only few of them remember it.”

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry from The Little Prince

DATA & REPORTING

Pronouns: She/her

Place of Birth: Anchorage Alaska

‘Āina you live on now: New York, NY

Growing up in Alaska lead me to find passion in all things outdoors and adventurous. I love hiking and exploring new places, and I have a goal of doing Kokohead 100 times this year! I fell in love with PKYʻs mission because for many years, I worked in a low-income clinic by day and taught expensive fitness classes in New York City by night, and the disparities between the two were evident and painful. I could see how much my patients could benefit from a practice like yoga, but whenever I brought it up to them the answer was always the same “I can’t do yoga”... which was both a physical thought as well as an emotional one, where the space was not always felt to be the safest. I am so happy to be a part of an organization that seeks to diversify the faces of yoga in Hawaiʻi and create safer spaces for more people to be able to connect with the practice of yoga because for me, the practice of yoga has been life changing.

YOGA PROGRAM TEACHER

Pronouns: she/her

Place of Birth: Kaua’i 

‘Āina you live on now: Maui 

U'ilani is a mom of five and ocean lover. A generational hula dancer, she infuses her yoga practice with culture and grace.

 200 hr YTT with Sattva Yoga Academy, she teaches an integrative yoga journeys with Himalayan Meditation, Breathwork, Kriya, Kundalini, Hatha Vinyasa, and more.

As a Sensual Somatic Facilitator and Trauma-Informed Coach, U'ilani creates a safe space for exploration and healing. Her deep love for the Great Mother inspires all her work. 

Favorite inspirational quote + who said it: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” -Mary Oliver 

CO-FOUNDER

Pronouns: She/Her

Place of Birth: Cocoa Beach, FL

‘Āina you live on now: Oʻahu

Victoria Roland, PKY’s Co-Founder has over 15 years of professional experiences in direct services for victims and survivors from marginalized communities. Victoria became a 200hr certified yoga teacher through PKY’s 1st cohort. She prides herself with being a Black and Filipina "blasian" healing, body affirming, and safe person for others as well as a career social injustice disruptor, blaring advocate, compassionate community builder, and warrior fighting against exploitation.