Our Team
__________The Hawaii International Science Experience is a student-led effort backed by dedicated educators, mentors, and community leaders. Meet the hardworking teams behind the programʻs founding, operations, and continued growth.
HISE 2026 Student Board
The HISE 2026 Student Board Leaders are the designers, developers and hosts of the Hawaii International Science Experience. They lead program development, fundraising, participant recruitment and selection, while collaborating with community partners to make HISE possible.
Luke Gee
Student Board President
Luke Gee is a senior at Kealakehe High School who is a leader in statewide student government, youth transportation policy, and community innovation programs. He believes HISE helps combat Hawaii's "brain drain" by showing students that world-class STEM, culture, and career opportunities exist right here at home.
Jiel Jeon
Program Leader
Jiel Jeon is a rising junior at Waiākea High School who is active in student government and community service. She is passionate about STEM, leadership, and helping others. After attending HISE in 2025, she returned to the program to help create new opportunities for Hawaii Island students.
Keoni Randolph
Program Leader
Keoni Randolph is a Hilo High School senior who combines leadership and STEM as a former student body president, JROTC battalion commander, and robotics competitor. He believes HISE helps change the narrative that Hawaii lacks STEM opportunities and gives local students a real pathway to future success.
Rafan Rahman
Program Leader
Rafan Rahman is a junior at Waiākea High School involved in engineering, technology, debate, NexTech, and RYLA. He credits HISE 2025 for strengthening his passion for STEM and has joined HISE 2026 so more Hawaii Island students can access transformative STEM experiences.
Vincent Galvan
Program Leader
Vincent Galvan is a Parker School senior focused on medicine, biology, and research. Through his work with the Hawaii Marine Mammal Consortium and Parker Med Club, he learned the power of hands-on STEM learning. After attending HISE 2025, he joined the Student Board to inspire the next group of island innovators.
Zoe Russo
Program Leader
Zoe Russo is a Parker School senior who brings experience in astronomy research, community service, and student leadership to HISE 2026. After attending HISE 2025, she gained confidence, new connections, and a deeper appreciation for culture and community—and now helps create those same opportunities for others.
HISE 2026 Logistics Team
The Logistics Team is made up of Waiakea High School students and educators who are tasked with managing logistics of meals, housing, transportation, recognition, media, and participant registration and safety. Waiakea High School is a co-sponsor of HISE 2026.
Jennifer Nakano
Logistics Team Leader
Math Teacher • Academy of Industry and Technology
Nathan Waters
Recognition Team Lead
Math Teacher • Academy of Arts and Communications
Tori Hironaga
Registry
Math Teacher • Academy of Health Services
Jonathan Williamson
Logistics Team Member
Math Teacher • Academy of Industry and Technology
Kama Paulo-Galsote
Media Team Lead
Media Instructor • Academy of Arts and Communications
Danica Yanagisawa
Student Specialist
Recognition and Media Team • Academy of Arts and Communications
Maya Wong
Student Specialist
Recognition and Media Team • Academy of Arts and Communications
Noah Gagne
Student Specialist
Logistics Team • Academy of Industry and Technology
Gabriel Oliveros
Student Specialist
Logistics Team • Academy of Industry and Technology
HISE 2025 Student Board
The HISE 2026 Student Board Leaders are the designers, developers and hosts of the Hawaii International Science Experience. They lead program development, fundraising, participant recruitment and selection, while collaborating with community partners to make HISE possible.
Louis Perroy
Student Founder & Team Leader
Louis Perroy is a Waiakea High School graduate who helped found and lead the inaugural HISE program in 2025. His involvement as a leader, school ambassador, robotics engineer, and programmer demonstrates his profound passion and commitment to STEM.
Rylan Colbert
Program Leader
Rylan Colbert is a Waiakea High School alumnus whose educational and inspirational efforts have impacted hundreds of students across Hawaii Island. Rylan demonstrated his passion for STEM through scientific research and projects that have excelled at state and international levels.
Sarina Lam
Program Leader
Sarina Lam is a Hilo High School student, class of 2027. Her ambition, determination, and passion led her to support the inaugural HISE program in 2025, and to achieve remarkable feats in engineering and science as a high school freshman and sophomore.
Benjamin Tang
Program Leader
Benjamin Tang is a Parker School alumnus whose leadership, academic engagement, and community service have made a notable impact in the local community as well as internationally.
Azalea Thorp
Program Leader
Azalea Thorp is Kealakehe High School senior who supported HISE in her junior year. She has been awarded numerous state and national-level championships for her science efforts, and serves as a team engineering lead for her school's MATE ROV competition.
Ethan Loo
Program Leader
Ethan Loo is a Kamehameha Schools student, class of 2026, who is passionate about leadership and STEM. Throughout high school, he has actively engaged in student government and tutoring, honing his leadership skills and fostering a commitment to helping others.
HISE Student Founders
HISE began in 2025 with a group of students who saw the potential for something bigger — a program that could connect Hawaii’s “living laboratory” with international peers and a shared passion for science. The Founding Students laid the groundwork for the program’s success and continued growth.
Micah Tajiri
Student Team Lead
Micah Tajiri was class valedictorian of Waiakea High School's c/o 2024 and now studies mechanical engineering at UH Manoa. Throughout high school, he served as a leader and project manager for various in-school projects, extracurricular activities, and organizations.
Connor Gonzalez
Program Leader
Connor Gonzalez was the class salutatorian of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii's c/o 2024. He worked tirelessly in high school to support his school and local community as a four-year class officer, earning him the 2024 Po'o Kula Award. He is now double majoring in Data Science & Computer Science at Northwestern University.
Bransen Hatakenaka
Program Leader
Bransen "Space Man" Hatakenaka was one of 16 valedictorians in Hilo High School's c/o 2024 and an outstanding leader in his community. His involvement in the High School Student Government and the Hawaii State Student Council earned him various school and state positions. He is now pursuing a degree in astronautical engineering at the University of Southern California.
Isabella Mow
Program Leader
Isabella Mow was one of 32 class valedictorians of Waiakea High School's c/o 2024. She has dedicated hundreds of hours to serving her community in various service projects and events while honing experience in science and leadership through various roles and internships. Isabella now studies computer science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
HISE Board Officers & Directors
The Board Officers and Directors are part of the Hawaii International Science Experience nonprofit organization that supports and cosponsors HISE each year in partnership with Waiakea High School.
Beverly Heikes
Board President
Mary Beth Laychak
Board Vice President
Michelle Agbigay
Board Secretary
Jairus Iwasaki
Board Treasurer
Nakana Labrie
Board Director
Micah Tajiri
HISE 2026 Program Manager
Gail Takaki
HISE 2026 Executive Director
Donate to Support HISE
Our work would not be possible without the generous support of businesses, organizations, and individuals like you. Donate today and join us in our mission of helping Hawaii students broaden their perspectives and cultivate science creativity and leadership. Hawaii International Science Experience is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.