Skip To Main Content

Counseling

The Counseling Department promotes student success by supporting and maximizing academic achievement and by fostering personal and social development.


Counselors at ‘Iolani School help students understand themselves and the challenges they face. Further concerns may be addressed by the Director of Social and Emotional Health.

There are four counselors in the Lower School (K-6) and a counselor for each grade level in grades 7-12. Two support counselors are also available for day students (grades 7-12) and boarding students (grades 9-12). There are five college counselors who advise students in grades 9-12. The student/counselor ratio in grades K-6 is 225 students per counselor, in grades 7-8 is 137 students per counselor and grades 9-12 is 90 students per counselor.

The counselors meet individually with all students in their grade level during their first year together. New students and students with academic, personal, or developmental concerns receive additional attention.

Counselors work closely with each other, parents, the faculty and the administration to ensure that special concerns are handled appropriately and consistently.

‘Iolani offers a Guidance program for all students. In grades K-6 all students have guidance lessons throughout the year. All seventh graders take a nine-week Guidance course that covers self-esteem, friendships, assertiveness, the changes of adolescence, and etiquette. Counselors teach lessons on course planning, GPA and the American Education System, during 9th grade Advisory sessions, as well as preparation for course registration. The college counselors also meet during Advisory to introduce college counseling and the college admissions process.

In August, new students come to ‘Iolani to meet school personnel and other new students and to tour the campus. Counselors meet with small groups of new students in September to answer questions about academic and extracurricular activities.

Counselors (list order by grade level):
 

Mrs. Emilyann Shupe
eshupe@iolani.org
Grades K-1

Mrs. Deanne Kanekuni
kanekuni@iolani.org
Grades 2-3

Ms. Danielle Malone
dmalone@iolani.org
Grades 4,6 (AFK)

Mrs. Jamie Shoma-Loo
jshomaloo@iolani.org
Grades 5,6 (DWY)

Mr. Patrick Tom
ptom@iolani.org
Grade 7 - Class of 2029

Ms. Lara Feldhaus
larafeld@iolani.org
Grade 8 - Class of 2028

Mr. Andrew Higa
ahiga@iolani.org
Grade 9 (A-L) - Class of 2027

Ms. Suzy Park
spark@iolani.org
Grade 9 (M-Z) - Class of 2027

Mrs. Ashley Kaonohi
akaonohi@iolani.org
Grade 10 (A-L) - Class of 2026

Mr. Cullen Arroyo
carroyo@iolani.org
Grade 10 (M-Z) - Class of 2026

Mr. Jason Hew
jhew@iolani.org
Grade 11 - Class of 2025

Mrs. Kory Kado-Fukuda
kkadofukuda@iolani.org
Grade 12 - Class of 2024

Mrs. Alyson Nakagawa
anakagawa@iolani.org
Grades 7-12 Support (day students)

Mrs. Hera Lee
hlee@iolani.org
Residential Life Academic Counselor (boarding students)

Mrs. Kelly Asato
kasato@iolani.org
Director of Counseling

Dr. Lei Ahina-Dawson
lahina@iolani.org
Director of Social and Emotional Health

Dr. Shantha McKinlay
smckinlay@iolani.org
Residential Life Wellness Counselor (boarding students)

Ms. Kim Hayashi
khayashi@iolani.org
Counseling Operations Coordinator

College Counselors:
 

Piyada Nonzee
pnonzee@iolani.org
Executive Director of College Counseling

Todd Fleming
tfleming@iolani.org
Director of College Counseling Operations

Leilani Arita-Takayama
ltakayama@iolani.org
Associate Director of College Counseling

Scott Kominkiewicz
skominkiewicz@iolani.org
Associate Director of College Counseling

Berta Liao
bliao@iolani.org
Associate Director of College Counseling

Kori Shlachter
kshlachter@iolani.org
Associate Director of College Counseling

Carol Tsukamoto
ctsukamoto@iolani.org
College Counseling Assistant

Sue Lee
leesue@iolani.org
College Counseling Secretary