ST. FRANCIS, MANOA
Casey Asato
Head of School
For the first time in its history, St. Francis School will have a male leader. Casey Asato, a Damien Memorial School graduate and the current director of curriculum at Seabury Hall on Maui, will take over.
Before Asato, all previous St. Francis heads of school were members of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, which founded the Catholic school in Manoa. Asato takes over from Sister Joan of Arc Souza, who finished as the school’s leader in June.
“My vision for St. Francis would be a world class college preparatory school in which students are pursuing their interests, they’re engaged with their learning and they find meaning and purpose through their contributions to society,” Asato said in an Aug. 9 press release.
Asato interviewed Sister Joan of Arc Souza as part of his 2017 doctoral dissertation and praised the outgoing administrator.
“My sister graduated from St. Francis in 1984 and she had Sister Joan of Arc Souza as a teacher,” he said. “She always admired Sister for her down-to-earth, approachable style.”
Asato is a lifelong Catholic and a 1989 graduate of Damien. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in Japanese from Santa Clara University, a master’s degree in social studies from Columbia University, a master’s degree in Asian studies from the University of Hawaii-Manoa, and a doctorate in professional education practice from UH-Manoa.
He has been a teacher for close to 25 years and has worked at Seabury Hall since 2006 as both a teacher and administrator.
Asato and his wife of 10 years, Mariangela, recently adopted a four-month-old daughter. He loves to travel and has been to 24 countries, including four motorcycle trips in Japan and a cycling trip through France.
HOLY FAMILY, HONOLULU
Celeste Akiu
Principal
Holy Family Catholic Academy, the parish school of Holy Family Church in Honolulu, has picked as its new principal a Sacred Hearts Academy grad who has worked as an educator on the Mainland for the past 27 years.
Celeste Akiu was the unanimous choice of the school’s principal search team. She started July 1.
Born in Hawaii, Akiu attended St. Elizabeth School in Aiea as well as Sacred Hearts. She has lived on the mainland for the past 27 years serving a teacher and principal at River Middle School, in Napa, California.
Her return to work in Hawaii had been a long-time desire.
“Without hesitation, I want to return to Oahu and work with children in Hawaii to support them on their journey to become responsible, respectful, self-motivated learners who make positive contributions to their communities,” she said. “I am certain that my upbringing in Hawaii and my education have contributed to the individual I am today.”
Akiu received her bachelor of arts degree in professional studies/business administration from the University of Hawaii. She later studied at Central Michigan University, earning a master’s in administration. She has also earned California single subject teaching and administrative credentials.
Akiu completed her doctoral studies at Brandman University this June and will be earning an EdD in organizational leadership next May.
The administrator of Holy Family Church is pleased with the choice.
“Ms. Akiu brings to us rich, diverse, and accomplished educational leadership abilities,” said Father John R. LeVecke. “I am sure this opportunity is a wonderfully personal blessing for her and her family, as it certainly is for our entire Holy Family ohana.”
SACRED HEARTS, LAHAINA
Miguel Solis
Principal
Miguel Alejandro Solis, a southern California Catholic educator who focused his doctoral dissertation on Hawaii Catholic Schools, is the new principal of Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, the parish school of Maria Lanakila Church.
The new principal received his master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University and his doctorate from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.
Before coming to Hawaii, Solis served for 17 years as a teacher and administrator in both small parochial schools and large settings such as Chaminade College Preparatory in Chatsworth and West Hills, California, serving more than 1,500 students. There he was a religion, Spanish and assisted English teacher of international students. This particular experience spurred his interest in current trends in teaching.
Solis believes education is more than academics. He holds the view that teaching the love of Christ with morals and values is just as important in developing the whole student. He understands how important it is to share his faith journey with his students, not only to raise awareness of the need to serve but to actually go beyond school borders to serve with the passion Jesus has instilled in all of us.
He is thrilled to bring to his educational leadership best practices he has gained through his research and practice. He is also eager to continue to build on long-lasting positive effects he will have on students.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Solis comes from a family of six children. He married Lisa Zamora in 2015 at St. Raphael Church in Koloa, Kauai. His wife is also a USC alumna and former principal from Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School in Canoga Park, California. They have a 2-year-old son.
DAMIEN MEMORIAL, KALIHI
Kyle Atabay
Principal
Kyle J. Atabay is returning to his alma mater to serve as its principal.
“Atabay adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to our leadership team,” said Damien Memorial School president and chief executive officer Wes Reber Porter. “He is a career educator with a counseling and social emotional learning background.”
The Damien grad has spent the last 17 years at Kamehameha Schools, most recently since 2013 as vice principal of Kapalama Middle School.
“I am very excited to return to my alma mater as part of a talented leadership team and as the next principal,” Atabay said. “I have seen how the school is changing and has benefitted from a student-first approach.”
“Damien Memorial School is poised to do great things,” he said, “and I’m humbled and honored to have a role in shaping the school’s future.”
Atabay graduated with the class of 1984.
He received a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences and a master’s in counseling psychology, both from Chaminade University of Honolulu. He earned a doctorate in professional educational practice from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Atabay also studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and earned professional certificates from Hawaii Pacific University in the fields of organizational change management, global leadership and sustainable development, and national and community change and development.
Before he worked at Kamehameha Schools, Atabay headed the Kapolei Middle School counseling department. He also served as a counselor and grade level chairman at the Hawaiian language immersion school, Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Anuenue.
Prior to that, Atabay was a case manager at the Institute for Human Services and an admissions counselor at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Atabay has also worked since 1987 as an entertainer with Robert Cazimero’s hula halau.