Teacher
Profile - Ms. Moana Leong
I was born in Honolulu and moved to Lana‘i with my family when
I was 12 years old. I graduated from Lana‘i High and Elementary
School in 1973 and then attended New Mexico Highlands University for
2 1/2 years. My roommate was a Native American (Acoma Pueblo), and through
her and my other friends, I became very close to all things Native American.
I transferred home to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and graduated
with a B. A. in Hawaiian Studies in 1978, followed by a P. D. in Elementary
Education in 1980. I recently graduated from Nova Southeastern University’s
online Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning program in 2002. The
NSU campus is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My action research project
was entitled: "Perpetuating Hawaiian Ancestral Values: Making Historical
Connections and Contemporary Applications." This topic is extremely
important to me and teaching my students to live these values is an
ongoing goal for me every year.
I have always taught at Kamehameha. I began in 1979 as a 1/5 time Hawaiian
language instructor for grades K-3. Keiki Kawai'ae'a and I piloted
the
first Hawaiian language program for elementary students here at Kamehameha!
I subsequently did my student teaching here and was hired the next
year
to teach first grade, which I did for five years. I then taught second
grade for 11 years and am happily teaching fourth grade now for nine
years. (Fourth grade has the Hawaiian Studies and History curriculum!)
I collect unicorns and enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction books.
(I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan!) I also enjoy Jean Auel’s
Earth’s Children series (The Clan of the Cave Bear, The
Valley of Horses, The Mammoth Hunters, The Plains of Passage
and The Shelters of Stone) and Linda Lay Schuler’s novels
about ancient America (She Who Remembers, Voice of the Eagle,
and Let the Drum Speak).
Other interests: feng shui, interior design
Favorite colors: blue, black, and silver
Favorite foods: crab, sushi, poi, mango, Hawaiian and Thai food
Favorite beverages: root beer, tazo chai (Starbuck's), orange dream
(Jamba Juice)
Favorite music: Makaha Sons, Enya, R. Carlos Nakai, Josh Groban
Pets: Shadow (deceased), Foxy and Oreo
Top
row: Brother-Robert, Sister-Susan, Ms. Leong, Sister-in-law-Norine
Bottom row: Kimberly, Mom-Violet, Dad-Lawrence, Ryan
(Robert is an environmental engineer for Hickam Air Force Base. Susan
works for Dr. Osamu Fukuyama at Kuakini Medical Plaza. Norine works
for the C&C of Honolulu. Mom lives at Moonlight Vista Care Home
in Pearl City. Dad lives in the Pearl City Nursing Home. He has Parkinson's
disease. Kimberly (7) and Ryan (11) both attend Kanoelani Elementary
School.)
My
beloved Shadow Cat of 17 years passed away on May 7, 2004. I will always
miss him!
Foxy
(left) and Oreo (right) are my new kitties that I got from Joey's Feline
Friends on June 26, 2004. They are from different litters and were both
abandoned (one at the Valley of the Temples and the other at the dump)!
These boys are very playful, affectionate, and fun to watch!
