At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Island Pacific Academy celebrated the retirement of three beloved members of our community, Kerri Vincent, Momi Kuahiwinui, and Lisa Uesugi. Their decades of unwavering dedication have profoundly shaped our school, leaving a lasting impact on our students and the IPA community. We deeply honor and celebrate them and their remarkable contributions, which have enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues.
Kerri Vincent, Elementary Office Manager
As a founding member with 20 years of dedicated service, Elementary Office Manager Kerri Vincent leaves a legacy of warmth and commitment. The excitement of those early days, witnessing the evolution of May Day, the heartfelt end-of-year videos created with the Elementary team, and the thoughtful contributions to her rubber duck collection are just a few highlights of her incredible journey.
Her daily interactions and connection with students have been the heart of her experience, “It’s them who bring life to the school, just their joy and their fun. I learn things from them every day,” she shares. The relationships she has built with students, parents, and colleagues are what she treasures the most, making her 20-year tenure feel like a heartfelt journey of growth and community building.
“Mostly, I will miss the generosity and loving kindness shown to me by students, their families, and colleagues,” she shares. She hopes to be remembered for her loving, kind, caring, and helpful nature. “IPA has been my happy place,” she says, reflecting on the honor and privilege of being part of the wonderful IPA community and helping it become a premier school.
As she steps into retirement, she looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren, playing more pickleball, and finally indulging in activities she never had time for before.
Momi Kuahiwinui, Kindergarten
For the past 19 years, Kindergarten Teacher Momi Kuahiwinui, known as Ms. Momi, has nurtured IPA’s youngest students and promoted the appreciation of Hawaiian culture. Working alongside her daughter, Makana, a former ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi teacher at IPA, they expanded the school’s Hawaiian program, integrating language and culture into the curriculum and school traditions like IPA’s beloved annual May Day celebration.
She leaves IPA with a treasure trove of fond memories, from helping a struggling reader gain confidence and read proudly to the class, to the cherished visits from former students, now in college, that bring her joy. She will miss laying the kahua (foundation) for young minds and working with her Kinder Team. She hopes to leave behind a legacy of sharing her aloha for Hawaiian culture and the traditions of her kupuna.
In retirement, Kumu Momi looks forward to spending time with her ‘ohana, traveling the world, and possibly teaching hula. “I just want to love life and enjoy the Lord’s blessings,” she shares.
Lisa Uesugi, Grade 5 Teacher
After eight inspiring years as a teacher at IPA, and many more as a parent volunteer, Grade 5 teacher Lisa Uesugi leaves behind a legacy of dedication, passion, and inspiration. Among the most memorable highlights of her time at IPA was the development of engaging projects, like the American Revolution Museum PBL. The many initiatives she helped bring to life have significantly enhanced the Elementary curriculum, helping to foster an environment of exciting learning and engagement.
One of her greatest joys has been working closely with students. “Witnessing their growth and development over the years has been one of the highlights of my career. It’s inspiring to see them not only succeed academically but also flourish as people,” she shares. And it’s the relationships that she will miss the most as she leaves IPA.
“The faculty and staff, and especially my teaching partner, have become like family to me, and their unwavering support, camaraderie, and ability to brighten my day have been invaluable,” she said. She will also deeply miss the students – their enthusiasm, the ‘lightbulb’ moments during lessons, and the lively discussions that made every day special.
As she steps into retirement, she looks forward to spending quality time with her nearly two-year-old grandson, volunteering at the local library or farmers market, and indulging in her love for gardening. And she is excited to finally catch up on reading, exploring a stack of books she has been meaning to dive into.
As we honor these remarkable individuals, we reflect on the profound impact they’ve made on our school community. Their legacies at IPA will be remembered through the countless lives they’ve touched, the passion for learning they instilled, and the warm relationships they nurtured. We wish all three of them the best in their well-deserved retirements, knowing they will always hold a special place in our hearts and in the history of IPA.
