2026 Guest Speakers/Mentors: February 26th Deadline
Falanai Ala Professional Guest Speaker and
Mentor Series for Schools
Falanai Ala was a Facilities Manager in the Long Beach Unified School District, past NPIEN president, and one who believed in providing role models for Pacific Islander students, as we are underrepresented in many professions. Most of our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students have never seen a professional for our community in Education, Business, Medicine and many other fields. This program reaches out to about 1,000 students annually and is now available virtually. The speakers will participate in Career Days, Classroom Visits, Assemblies, Read-Alouds and school mentoring programs
Falanai Ala had heart surgery and is recovering in Long Beach, California and thanks everyone for your work.
We have visited many schools and students at Bethune Middle School, Chrisman High School, Bridger & Bingham Middle School, Lee’s Summit North High School, Truman High School, California State University Los Angeles, Del Amo Elementary School, Dr. Richard Vladovic Harbor Teacher Prep Academy, Hayward High School, Lakewood High School, Los Angeles County of Education, Morse High School, Paramount Unified School District, Poly High School,
Orange Coast College, Salt Lake Community College, St Anthony Padua, Taylorsville High School, University of Southern California, University of California Davis, University of Utah, Will Rogers Middle School, over 1,000 students! Total = 1,140 students
Through this program, students are being inspired to pursue learning new instruments, as they experienced handson learning during presentations. A student even recalls a peer saying that “she would maybe go ahead and give a stringed instrument a try at home”, and how it gave them confidence and courage to learn a new instrument. A student referred to it as “an incredible experience”. This goes to show how inspiring and patient the guest speakers were to the students. Students also enjoyed hearing about speakers’ Polynesian culture and backgrounds. They learned about the speakers’ career backgrounds as school administrators, principals, associate principals, social workers, teachers, campus minister, executive director, coach, community liaison, non-profit chapter president, and business owners. Students were really appreciative of hearing more about the guest speakers, their passions, backgrounds, and careers.
Speakers: Vaka Faletau, Social Work, Tongan American Youth Foundation; Alicia Megofna, High School Principal, Paramount USD/Odyssey STEM Academy; James Paul Gumataotao, Teacher and Campus Minister, Cristo Rey Boston; Raymond Ramirez, Associate Principal of Tiered Supports, Oak Grove High School; Dr. Victor Thompson, Executive Director, NPIEN; Delphine Fano-iA, WEO, Notary Public Services, Plus; Lupe Moe, NPIEN Board Secretary, Community Liaison and Dr. Jonathan Tovey, Past Midwest Chapter President; Wayne Manu, NPIEN President Elect, Teacher, Coach; Alyn Toalepai, Business Owner, Koko Creations Company, President, Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce
Schools Participating: Roger Anton Elementary School, San Bernardino USD, Will Rogers Middle School, Lawndale ESD, St. Anthony of Padua School, Gardena, CA, Hayward High School, Hayward USD, CSU Los Angeles and Los Angeles USD, Compton High School, Compton USD, Del Amo Elementary School, LAUSD, Heritage High School, Liberty Union High School District, Morse High School, San Diego Unified School District, Chrisman High School, Independence School District, Missouri, Dominguez High School, Compton USD Hawthorne High School, Centinela Valley UHSD, Odyssey STEM Academy, Paramount USD, West Jordan High School, Utah, Centennial High School, Compton USD, Fullerton High School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, LA County Office of Education, May Day Counts (19 schools)
Speakers: Sisa Grey, Actress, Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson, Pearl Harbor Child, Dr. Victor C. Thompson, Retired K-12 Educator and Ukulele Artist, Alo Coleman, CEO, Faux Media L.A., Ben Raju, Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Emalina Thompson, Musician and Associate Director of Admissions, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, Dr. Robert A. Underwood, President Emeritus, University of Guam, Dr, Keith Camacho, Professor, UCLA, Anjani Varma, Assistant Director of Student Services, Earth & Planetary Sciences, Stanford University, Lorraine Tuala Logoai, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Southern California Community Response Team (SoCal PICRT), Dr. Alfred Peredo Flores, Assistant Professor, Harvey Mudd College, Donny Faliliu, Director, After-School All-Stars , Vaka Faletau, Social Worker, DCFS, Chris Maumalanga,former NFL player and American Football Institute Founder, 1,483 students
Falanai Ala Guest Speaker and Mentor Series concluded with 2,283 students and 16 Speakers:
Schools: Urbita Elementary School, Martin Luther King Middle School in San Bernardino, Heritage High School in Brentwood, Paramount High School, Dominguez High School, Hayward High School, Chrisman High School in Missouri, Will Rogers Middle School Career Day in Lawndale, CA, Compton High School, CSULA, Del Amo Elementary School Career Day, Morse High School (Includes High School Conference), Buena Vista High School (Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Event), Odyssey STEM Academy, Lakewood High School for Pacific Islanders Education Voyage Graduate Celebration.
Speakers: Dr. Juliann Anesi, Assistant Professor, UCLA, Dr. Keith Camacho, Professor, UCLA, Francine Blacksher, PI Program Specialist, San Bernardino City Unified School District, Isabella Collas, Senior Admissions Counselor, UC Irvine, Estella Owoimaha-Church, Executive Director, EPIC, Kalani Heinz, Graduate Student and Archaeologist, UCLA, Amaris Leiataua, Law Student, PI Law Student Association, Tana Lepule, NHPI Researcher/Advocate, Dorinda Nicholson, The Pearl Harbor Child, Dr. Kawika Liu, Physician, Attorney, Lorraine Tuala Logoai, Program Manager, Social Worker, SoCal PI Community Response Team, Jason Pereira, Visual Artist, JP Design Company, Ben Raju, Director of Program Management, US Small Business Administration, Kiki Rivera, Storyteller, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Maria Reynoso, Administrative Clerk II, Cerritos College, Dr. Thompson, Executive Director NPIEN, Lupe Moe, Retired Social Worker, NPIEN Secretary
Thanks from Del Amo Elementary School, LAUSD
I’m back home in California, and what do I find in the mailbox? A beautiful reminder of where my journey began. 🌱
In high school, I was awarded my first scholarship from National Pacific Islander Education Network, an organization that champions the success of Pacific Islander students.
My relationship with NPIEN didn't end there. I went from scholarship recipient to an active NPIEN Board member, helping to guide the organization that once guided me. This year, I've come full circle, speaking to students in the Falana'i Ala/Mentor Speaker Series, sharing the lessons I've learned and the insights I've gained.
Organizations like NPIEN are the unsung heroes in our communities. They lay the foundations for our youth to thrive and lead. If my journey to where I am now says anything, it's a testament to the profound impact that community programs like NPIEN have.
To all the students out there: keep thriving. To everyone else: let's protect and support the programs that uplift our future leaders. Because of NPIEN, I am where I am today, and I couldn't be more grateful. 🙏🏾
Amaris is an Incoming Associate Attorney at Holland & Hart. Congratulations!!
Falanai Ala Professional Guest Speaker and
Mentor Series for Schools
Falanai Ala was a Facilities Manager in the Long Beach Unified School District, past NPIEN president, and one who believed in providing role models for Pacific Islander students, as we are underrepresented in many professions. Most of our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students have never seen a professional for our community in Education, Business, Medicine and many other fields. This program reaches out to about 1,000 students annually and is now available virtually. The speakers will participate in Career Days, Classroom Visits, Assemblies, Read-Alouds and school mentoring programs.
Falana’i Ala with Soledad Santos and Evergreen College Students
SCHOOL VISITS
ABC USD: Palms Elementary School; Artesia High School, Willow Elementary School, Juarez Elementary School
Bellflower USD: Washington Elementary School, Bellflower High School, Somerset High School, Mayfair High School
California State University Los Angeles
Centinela Valley UHSD: Leuzinger High School, Hawthorne High School
Compton USD: Davis Middle School, Compton High School; Kennedy Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School; Dominguez High School, Willowbrook Middle School, Centennial High School
Downey USD: Downey High School, Alameda Elementary School
Fullerton Joint Union High School District: Fullerton Union High School
Granite School District: Taylorsville High School
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District: Los Altos Elementary School
Hawthorne School District: Prarie Vista Middle School, Lawndale School District: Will Rogers Middle School
Hayward Unified School District: Hayward High School
Independence School District: Chrisman High School, Bridger Middle School, Bingham Middle School, Truman High School
Lawndale School District: Will Rogers Middle School
Lee's Summit School District: Lee’s Summit North High School
Long Beach USD: Stanford Middle School; Hughes Middle School, Jackie Robinson Academy, Cabrillo High School, Jordan High School, Lakewood High School; California Academy of Math and Science (CAMS); Hoover Middle School; Riley Elementary School, Long Beach Unified School District: Jordan Freshman Academy, Millikan High School, Poly High School, Hamilton Middle School, Washington Middle School, Jessie Elwin Nelson Academy, Millikan High School
Los Angeles USD: Carson High School, Hope Street Elementary School; Trinity Street Elementary School, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Del Amo Elementary School, Bethune Middle School, Dr. Richard Vladovic Harbor Teacher Prep Academy
Los Angeles County Office of Education: Camp Gonzalez, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Central Juvenile Hall
Lynwood USD: Vista High School, Abbott Elementary School, Lynwood Middle School
Manhattan Beach Unified School District: Pennekamp Elementary School
Montebello Unified School District: Applied Technology Center High School
Newport Mesa USD: Costa Mesa High School
Orange Coast Community College
Oxnard Union High School District: Hueneme High School
Paramount USD: Paramount High School West Campus, Paramount High School, Lakewood Elementary School, Buena Vista High School, Paramount Park Middle School
Salt Lake Community College
San Diego City School District: Morse High School, Del Rio Elementary School
St Anthony Padua School
Windward Community College, Kaneohe, Hawaii
Everett (Washington) Public Schools
California State University, Long Beach - Pacific Islanders Association
Long Beach City College Pacific Islanders Association
University of California Davis
University of Southern California, PULE
University of Utah
University of Washington
Teila Robertson speaking at Willowbrook Middle School
GUEST SPEAKERS
NPIEN thanks the following who have visited our students and schools:
Education K-12: Long Beach USD Deputy Superintendent Ruth Perez Ashley, Educator Rata Hannemann, , Dr. Mark Jones, Director/Principal, Compton USD, Dr. Dyahn Lal, Retired Superintendent, Lynwood USD, Renee Tiedemann Maravel, Teacher, Lennox Middle School, Martha Donnenfleid, Educator, Donny Faaliliu, After School Program Director, Mark Kailiponi, Principal, Somerset High School, Sokhom Phou, Tosin Balogun, Dr. Monica Sanchez, Tauvaga Ho Ching and Dr. Victor Thompson, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Dr. Diana Faatai, Dean/Teacher, Carson High School and Principal, E&T STEM Academy, Los Angeles USD, Will Safotu, Counselor, Los Angeles USD and Long Beach USD, Alicia Megofna, High School Principal, Paramount USD/Odyssey STEM Academy, James Paul Gumataotao, Teacher and Campus Minister, Cristo Rey Boston, Raymond Ramirez, Associate Principal of Tiered Supports, Oak Grove High School, Wayne Manu, NPIEN President Elect, Teacher, Coach
Education: College and University: Pomona College Director Iosefa Aina, Dr. Keith Camacho, Professor, UCLA, Dr. Michael Perez, Professor, CSU Fullerton, Brittany Jean Noelani Valdez, Graduate Student, USC, Dr. Kalani Beyer, Dean, Pacific Oaks College, Renay Laguana, Counselor, Cypress College, Teila Robertson, Administrator, Long Beach City College, Mace Porotesano, Graduate Student, D. Kalani Heinz, Graduate Student, Juliann Anesi, UCLA, Shirley Arceo, Cerritos College and Student Ambassadors, Sean Cully, Long Beach City College, Emalina Thompson, Rutgers University, Art Medina, California State University, Long Beach, LooLoo Amante, Long Beach City College, Brian Alofaituli, UCLA, Kiri Saliata, UCLA, Michelle Erai, UCLA
Medicine: Pua Palei, Researcher at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Dr. Mafutaga S. Tagaloa-Tulifau, Podiatrist, Dr. Raynald Samoa, Endocrinologist, Dr. Jonathan Tovey, Past Midwest Chapter President, Ophthalmologist
Educational Support and Community Services: DCFS Social Worker Vaka Faletau, Mahonri Sapiga, DCFS Social Worker and Adjunct Professor, CSU Dominguez Hills, Robert Holguin, DPSS, Vanessa Tuione May, Tongan Community Service Center, Raisa Mataalii, Office of Samoan Affairs, Phong Luu and Stacy Lewis, APIASF, Lieutenant Poe Siavi'i Jr., Long Beach Police, Carmen Moncure, Long Beach Police, Mahonri Tupou, Census 2020, Emerald Leiataua, Youth Development, Lupe Moe, NPIEN Board Secretary, Community Liaison
Business: Maleine Manumaleuga, Hitachi Ioane Taeleifi, Mortgage Company CEO, Henry Dang, Horace Mann Companies, Ben Raju, Small Business Administration, Chris Maumalanga, former NFL player, Delphine Fano-iA, WEO, Notary Public Services, Plus, Alyn Toalepai, Business Owner, Koko Creations Company, President, Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce
Law: Attorney Meghan Blanco
Arts and Music: Uncle Henry Kamae, Ukulele Instructor Jewel Castro, Artist, Tui Letuli, Pacific Arts Academy, John Harrington, Musician, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, Artist, Sisa Grey, Actress
Government: Melody Ngaue Tu'uholoaki, Field Deputy, Long Beach City Councilman Al Austin
Author: Daniel Pouesi, Juliann Anesi
Author: Daniel Pouesi, Juliann Anesi