Dr. Mary Hattori
Executive Director
Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori is a daughter of Guåhan, a Honolulu resident for over 40 years, and an educator, mentor, poet, and community advocate committed to holistic community development and culturally sustaining leadership. She previously served as Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center and held extensive faculty and administrative leadership roles across the University of Hawai‘i System and Chaminade University. A member of the Hawai‘i State Board of Education and recipient of the 2026 APAICS Helen Ruggiero Award, Dr. Hattori is a community activator, teaching artist, and co-organizer of initiatives including the Cultural Animation Film Festival, Celebrate Micronesia Festival, and Ocean of Peace art exhibition.
Ange Ramos
Office Manager
Ange was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu. With a background spanning social services, educational program development, and governmental policy, Ange has focused their efforts on making a meaningful difference in people’s lives, particularly for the children and youth of Hawaiʻi. They prioritize creating safe spaces, fostering growth, and advocating for individual and community needs, while maintaining a strong belief in the power and strength of harm reduction. Ange finds personal joy in reading, volunteering, and exploring.
Devin Makizuru
Hawaiʻi History Day Program Director
Devin Makizuru was born in Honolulu and was raised in Kapolei. He received a B.A. in Geography and an M.A. in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Devin is the lead coordinator for the History Day program. He hopes that through the History Day program, young scholars will become engaged in the process of discovering, learning, and understanding history, and that they will take an active role in shaping a brighter future. In his free time, Devin enjoys traveling, reading, and volunteering.
Michele Mitsumori
Director of Community Partnerships
Michele was born in Honolulu and raised under a covering of Hilo rain. Graduating with a B.A. in English literature from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Michele taught English literature, writing and English as a second language in Hong Kong and Japan. She has served at nonprofits in many roles, with over a decade in development, and loves when missions, visions and strategies of different partners overlap and reinforce. She volunteers locally in areas such as recycling/reuse and civics, and relaxes by contemplating hāpu’u and raising caterpillars.