Momilani Uaiwa

As Technical Coordinator, Momilani bridges the gap between technology and imagination. With almost a decade of experience in solution-based technology and innovation, Momi believes that, when used to its highest and best potential, technology is a tool to transcend cultural boundaries, uplift communities, and catalyze social change.

Along her journey, she has continued to let her academic experiences inform her professional life. As a Student Success Peer Mentor at Kapiolani Community College, she realized a passion for teaching. A lifelong musical theatre lover, Momiʻs experiences on stage and behind the scenes inspired her to stretch creatively and infused her other pursuits with a sense of performance and joy.

This intersection of passion was most salient through her involvement with ‘Au’a ‘ia, a historic play produced by the University of Hawaiʻi entirely in ʻōlelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian Language), debuting off-broadway in New York City.

In 2015 she began working for Apple, wanting to learn more about digital media and creative spaces. She went on to serve as In-Store Trainer, a competitive internship led by Apple headquarters in Cupertino. The internship saw her facilitating all in-store training programs and certifications while cultivating new learning development strategies. 

With a desire to explore new opportunities, she leveraged her interest in technology and gaming and began working at Microsoft in 2018. She began as a Product Advisor and Gaming Lead, but eventually transitioned to Education Expert, which allowed her to lead the coordination of Microsoft’s community outreach efforts. She developed and managed fundraising events, school field trips, professional seminars, and team-building workshops. Her experiences strengthened her professional foundation but they also opened her eyes to the serious lack of access and resources for schools in Hawai’i specific to education technology. 

During the pandemic, she found a love of streaming, which now offers her a new way to impact the media space and engage with a broader audience from around the world. This new platform has allowed her to explore emerging marketing opportunities, fundraise on behalf of non-profit organizations, and advocate for more inclusion in a predominantly male space.