Our Mission
Hawaii Yoga Institute (HYI) provides nationally recognized yoga teacher training programs and continuing education courses that empower students and faculty to develop their unique yoga teaching style through service based yoga. HYI specifically reaches out to include students and faculty members who represent a strong diversity of race, class, gender, size, physical ability and spiritual traditions to inspire and empower them to model and teach skills for improving physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health for all people within their community.
Our Team
KILTY INAFUKU (SHE/HER)
What does Kilty teach: Yoga asana, philosophy, gross and subtle body anatomy, ethics, hands-on adjustments, business
Has roots in: Grew up in Kāne'ohe and now resides in Pūpūkea on O'ahu, Hawai'i
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Nature. Everything about it puts me in awe- its power, its energy, its intricacy and simplicity
Favorite word or phrase: I love the word/sound "mmm"
Favorite way to spend time: Surfing, mountain biking, sport climbing, snowboarding, travelling, learning, laughing
SONA DESAI BUCHANAN (SHE/HER)
What does Sona teach: Yoga history, yoga and social justice, Sanskrit, Ayurveda, philosophy, ethics, hands-on adjustments
Has roots in: While my roots are in Gujarat, India, I was born in Melbourne, Australia and grew up in Raleigh, NC. I currently reside in Kailua, HI on native Hawaiian lands.
Favorite yogi or inspiration: My ancestral guides, those known and unknown to me
Passions: In the elements, in nature, in stillness, in the spaces between, dancing, chanting, playing music, hiking, and paddleboarding
Favorite word or phrase: "Do not feel lonely. The entire universe is inside you." -Rumi
STEPHANIE KEIKO KONG
200-HR Lead Faculty
E-RYT500, YACEP
What does Stephanie teach: Yoga asana, philosophy, gross and subtle body anatomy, Sanskrit, mantra
Has roots in:
Favorite yogi or inspiration:
Favorite word or phrase:
Favorite way to spend time:
TIA GRINDLE (SHE/HER)
Has roots in: Indiana
Favorite yogi or inspiration: My two boys :)
Passions: Boating, fishing, hiking, riding horses
Favorite word or phrase: If you want to be happy, be
Guest Faculty
ALANNA SCHAFFMAN (SHE/HER)
RYT200, RYT300, TCTSY Facilitator
What does Alanna teach: Trauma-sensitive yoga
Has roots in: Connecticut! And I have resided on this beautiful island of O'ahu for 6 years
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Nature. The mountains, the ocean. The stars, the moon. She teaches us to surrender to it all, to be exactly as we are.
Passions: Dancing, hiking, among loved ones, eating yummy things
Favorite word or phrase:
CORY TIXIER (SHE/HER)
BA in Biology, E-RYT500, NAMA AP and AYT (Ayurvedic Practitioner and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist)
What does Cory teach: Ayurveda
Has roots in: Grew up in the mountians of New Mexico, blended ingredients of Ogalala Sioux, Mexican and French.
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Definitly a nature sprit based being. Nature is my God and guide. Knowing I am conected to all gives me joy and strength.
Passions: I love being out doors with my husband and our dog Frankie, hiking, snorkeling, biking exploring the world together.
Favorite word or phrase: I am the world, and the world is me.
COURTNEY WEXLER (SHE/HER)
What does Courtney teach: Asana, bandhas, lifestyle and ethics
Has roots in: Texas and O'ahu, Hawaii
Favorite yogi or inspiration: The great guru mother nature
Passions: Beach, books, naps
Favorite word or phrase: Play
DINA KNIGHT (SHE/HER)
E-RYT200, YACEP
What does Dina teach: Yoga for trauma
Has roots in: O'ahu, Hawaii
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Rolf Gates
Passions: Refurbishing furniture
Favorite word or phrase: Do you!
JODIE DRESEL (SHE/HER)
RYT, RPYT, RN, IBCLC, Reiki Practitioner, mama of Jude
What does Jodie teach: Prenatal yoga
Has roots in: I was born and raised in Wisconsin, became a travel nurse in Hawaii in 2008, and currently live in Waimanalo with my son Jude and husband Daniel.
Favorite yogi or inspiration: My son
Favorite word or phrase: "You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather." -Pema Chondron
Favorite way to spend time: I love spending time with my ohana (friends and family). I love being in nature hiking or watching by son surf while sitting on the beach. I enjoy quiet time, yoga and travel. I especially love traveling with my family, meeting new people and exploring new places.
KENNAE MILLER (SHE/HER)
What does Kennae teach: Yoga and social justice
Has roots in: Kusso and Lumbee land, South Carolina and grew up on Arapahoe, Ute land in Colorado Springs, CO
Favorite yogi or inspiration: My inspiration right now is Ruby Sales and nature
Passions: Learning and outside in nature gardening or homesteading
Favorite word or phrase: "We are a part of nature"
LAURA NOHEALANI EMIKO TOYOFUKU-AKI (SHE/HER/HERS)
What does Laura teach: Power and privilege in wellness spaces
Has roots in: My Kānaka side is from Pūpūkea and my Japanese side has been in Aiea for 2 generations. I was raised in Corona, CA (SoCal). From there I moved to Boston for university and then to NYC for 10 years. After being a nomad, traveling across the continent in a converted van, I came to Hawai'i and now reside in Pūowaina, O'ahu.
Favorite yogi or inspiration: 'āina and my hui
Passions: Healing myself for future generations (which became super real with the birth of my son, Ehukai)
Favorite word or phrase:
- Mohala i ka wai, ka maka o ka pua. (Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good.) - ‘Ōlelo No‘eau
- "Healing is an act of communion." - Bell Hooks
- "'Why?' Can be an evolutionary question." - Adrienne Maree Brown
NAM CHANTERRWYN (HE/HIM)
What does Nam teach: Anatomy, biomechanics, philosophy, hands-on adjustments
Has roots in: San Diego, California
Favorite yogi or inspiration:
Passions:
Favorite word or phrase:
NOELANI LOVE (SHE/HER)
What does Noelani teach: Kundalini, vinyasa, mantra and vocal activation
Has roots in: Born and raised in Charlotte, NC and currently living at Sunset Beach, O'ahu
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Gurmukh
Passions: surfing, swimming, singing, dancing
Favorite word or phrase: “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
TARA LAVERY (SHE/HER)
200-HR Lead Faculty
RYT500
What does Tara teach: Pranayama, asana, ethics
Has roots in: O'ahu, Hawaii since 2007
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Jiddu Krishnamurti
Passions: Surfing, anything in nature, adventures, travel, reading, learning
Favorite word or phrase: "Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, make the rest uniquely your own." Bruce Lee
Honored Past Instructors and Team Members
ADRIA
E-RYT500, RCYT, RYDT, CYT
What does Adria teach: Yoga and social justice, Ayurveda, asana, philosophy, ethics, yoga dance
Has roots in: O'ahu, Hawai'i, Kansas, Arkansas
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Gabriel Roth + Don Stapelton
Passions: Ease, dance, love
Favorite word or phrase: Je ne sais quoi
SHARON BURCH
What does Sharon offer: Leadership and team management
Has roots in: Hawaii, Arkansas, Kansas
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Sri Radhe Govinda
Passions: Playing in water (lakes, rain, snow, fog, ocean, etc.)
Favorite word or phrase: Life is sacred ~ let's honor and celebrate it!
MALIA HELELA
Guest Lecturer
What does Malia teach: Voice and Hawaiian Culture
Has roots in: O'ahu, Hawaii
Favorite yogi or inspiration: Kumu Hula Pulu`elo Naipo Park, she emphasized expressing hula from the inside out
Passions: Composing chants and songs with my father
Favorite word or phrase: Compassion
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