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.