ABOUT ME
I am a Research Technologist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and a Human-Centered Computing PhD student in the Ka Moamoa Lab, advised by Dr. Josiah Hester (Kanaka Maoli), at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Leveraging deep systems expertise from both industry and academia, my work is focused on reimagining computing for sustainability, with applications in critical infrastructure design, workforce development, and commmunity-oriented chagemaking.My approach to human-centered computing is driven by the notion of relationality, an indigenous way of knowing which teaches that all life holds stories, memories, and relationships. This worldview directly informs my perspectives on interconnected systems and people, allowing me to easily connect with and innovate across complex socio-technical systems. I apply this philosophy to technology by bridging deep technical knowledge and organizational strategy with a human-centered mission in education.
While my work is technical, my mission is deeply personal. I am a researcher of Sāmoan and Native Hawaiian descent, and my heritage informs the fundamental belief that research is ceremony.
My work is an effort to give back to the communities that sheltered and nourished me, using technology to connect others to a future they, too, can proudly wear.
Through it all, I’ve come to my current goals:
ignite action, honor the ancestors, grow community
culturally grounded
empower the next generation of technology makers and problem solvers
sustainably-minded
create healthier, joyful, and sustainable technology systems to serve and uplift community