Founders: Aunty Macayla and Aunty Amanda

We are passionate educators with extensive experience in childhood education who founded Keiki Roots to help children connect with nature through hands-on exploration and play.  Our goal is to inspire a lifelong love for nature while nurturing creativity and independence in every child.

Aunty Amanda has dedicated her career to working with keiki from preschool through high school. She began in early childhood education before transitioning to elementary teaching, gaining experience across private and public schools in kindergarten through sixth grade. Beyond the classroom, she also worked with high school students as a cross-country and track coach. In 2020, she joined Huaka’ilani School, and when the school closed, she and her colleague Aunty Macayla co-founded Keiki Roots. Together, they continue to create a supportive, nature-based learning environment on the very same grounds where they saw students thrive.

Aunty Jenel brings a wide range of experience working with families and children. Her career has included roles as a behavioral specialist and as an instructor at a day program for children and adults with disabilities. After homeschooling her own daughter, she discovered a passion for supporting a love of learning in others. With her joy for being outdoors and her connection to the ʻāina, she is grateful to be part of Keiki Roots, where she can combine her love of nature, teaching, and working with children.

Aunty Stephanie brings over 15 years of experience in early childhood education and a deep love for learning through nature. Originally from the East Coast, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education from Neumann University, followed by a Master’s degree in Special Education from Drexel University, with concentrations in Autism and Language and Cultural Issues.

In addition to her classroom experience, Aunty Stephanie is a certified Nature-Based Teacher through the Association for Nature-Based Education. She has served in many roles over the years, including preschool teacher, special education coordinator, preschool director, and environmental educator. While each role shaped her teaching journey, her most cherished role is being a homeschool mom.

Now living in Hawaii, Aunty Stephanie spends her days exploring the island with her two children, weaving curiosity and connection into everyday learning. She is passionate about supporting young keiki as they build confidence, independence, and a lasting relationship with the natural world through hands-on, play-based experiences.