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Keiki O Ka ‘Āina > About > Key Personnel
| Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Key Personnel
Momi Akana
Executive Director
Momi Akana is the founder and Executive Director of Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers (KOKA). Initially opening in 1996 with 30 keiki and their parents, the program has grown to serve over 2,000 keiki and parents this past school year ('06-‘07) at 40 community sites on Oahu and Maui.
Momi was a speaker at the Native Hawaiian Education Conference in 2002, organized the first Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters Conference in Hawaii in 2003, expanded program services to the neighbor islands and the Women's Correctional Center in 2004, received the Hawaii's Outstanding Parent Friendly Business Award in 2005, received the Losos National Award for Excellence in 2006 and was chosen by the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Program this year as the recipient of a new residence and Community Center.
Momi has been an advocate for family-based education programs. She is a certified PAT (Parents As Teachers) and HIPPY (Home Instruction For Parents Of Preschool Youngsters) Program Supervisor. She has been the Project Director for six D.O.E. (Department Of Education) Native Hawaiian Education Act Grants, and several community-based and state grants. She has also served on the Voyager Charter School local school board and the Kalihi Neighborhood Board, the Honolulu Council of Ho'owaiwai Na Kamali'i and The Good Beginnings Alliance Oahu Council. She is currently serving on the Task Force for Children of Incarcerated Parents, the Eleu Group, and the FINE group of Early Childhood Administrators. Momi has two sons and two daughters who continually remind her of the pleasures and challenges of parenting, and her experiences add depth, perspective and delight to her understanding of child rearing.
Contact Momi Akana by email
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Dr. Vicki Draeger
Director of Early Childhood Programs
Vicki Draeger is program director of Parents As Teacher (PAT), a nationally acclaimed home visiting program for parents of children 0-3. She is also the Director of Early Childhood Programs for the agency and lends her expertise to all Keiki O Ka 'Aina Early Childhood programs within the agency.
Vicki received her Bachelors degree in Education and English, her Master's in Teaching Language Arts, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. She is certified by the American Montessori Society preschool through grade three, having attended the St. Nicholas Montessori Teacher Training Centre in London, England and The College of New Rochelle in New York. Dr. Draeger has extensive teaching experience and is the Founder of Christy Park Montessori Preschool in St. Louis, Countryside and Country Day Academy in Largo, Florida, and Clearview Girls School on Maui. Former Head of School of Montessori of Maui, Dr. Draeger has served as adjunct staff at Chaminade University on O'ahu, and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. She has been a guest lecturer in Japan, Russia, and Nicaragua.
Contact Vicki Draeger by email
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Jack Randall
Administrator
Jack Randall is the administrator for the organization. He is responsible for coordination of all financial, planning and organization, human resources, facilities, equipment, office services, information systems, research, evaluation, and governmental reporting requirements. Jack has an MBA in Marketing and an MA in Educational Counseling. He has held president, vice president, and executive director positions in health care, service, and manufacturing industries in both the profit and non-profit arenas. Of note, he has participated in several start-up businesses and has served as president of a multi hospital preschool program for employees and the community. Jack has been active in both community and professional organizations as a board member and as a volunteer.
Contact Jack Randall by email
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LaKeasha Ruffin
Administrative Assistant
LaKeasha is responsible for and taking care of the administration in the offices and provides direct support to the office manager. Lakeasha also assists with the day to day operations of the office, as well as providing support to all five programs of the organization.
Lakeasha came to Hawaii by way of Korea and Japan. Growing up in counties other than the United States, she understands the value of culture and to people to whom they belong.
Lakeasha attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, studying International Relations and spent several years working at the University before coming to Keiki O Ka ‘ Āina. After receiving her B.A., she gained her leadership and administration experience working as an Advisor and the Operations Manager of the undergraduate student government at the University.
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‘Ānela Gueco
Office Manager and Executive Assistant
 ‘Ānela received her Bachelors Degree in Hawaiian Studies and Minor Certificate in Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa.
‘Ānela started out as our Hawaiian Cultural Curriculum Specialist, went on to teach in our Bilingual (Hawaiian/English) Preschool in Ko`olaupoko and is now working in Administration. She also works in our SPAFT Program at the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua. She is also responsible for facilitating and running our monthly Staff Developments as well as operating as KOKA's main communication hub. In addition she is one of our spiritual, cultural and language advisors.
‘Ānela has worked as a teacher, working with families and children ages birth -18 years old. ‘Ānela has worked in the Hawaiian community for almost ten years with children, parents and kūpuna (treasured elders). She has also traveled the world working in diverse cultures and places.
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Mili Kawaa
Parent Participation Preschool Coordinator
 Mili Kawaa is a native Hawaiian from the Island of Moloka`i. She was born and raised in the valley of Halawa where her family cultivated kalo (taro). She comes from a native speaking family who nurtured the land and environment just as they nurtured their own families. Her roots and foundations which are the basis for her innate wisdom and knowledge (of Hawaiian spiritual and cultural values) are birthed from all of the above. She also received training in traditional cultural practices such as Ho`oponopono and La`au Lapa`au. Outside of her family, she has studied under teachers such as Aunty Malia Craver and Papa Henry `Auwae.
Mili graduated from the University of Hawai`i in Hawaiian Language. She also has a business administration background working with Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center for 30 plus years. In her last seven years at the Center, she was the Culture Specialist and Coordinator that she spent countless invaluable hours learning and assisting Aunty Malia Craver with Hawaiian spiritual and cultural training within the organization and state-wide.
As our Preschool Coordinator, Mili leads and cares for our entire Preschool Staff. She is also our lead cultural advisor, as well as one of our language and spiritual advisors. In addition, she is responsible for our monthly Staff Development training where she facilitates staff training and staff care. She also, works in our SKIP Program by supporting care givers of children whose parents are incarcerated.
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