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)

200-HR Lead Faculty

E-RYT500, YACEP

www.kiltyyoga.com


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)

200-HR Lead Faculty

E-RYT500, YACEP

www.loom-wellness.com


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)

Office Manager and Tech Wiz

www.SecretaryFairy.com


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)

www.corytixier.com


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)

E-RYT500, YACEP

www.kennae.com


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)

E-RYT500, YACEP

www.toyoteriyaki.com


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)

300-HR Lead Faculty

E-RYT500, YACEP

yoganam.yoga


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)

RYT200, Sound Healer

www.NoelaniHawaii.com


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

​MSN, APRN, PHCNS-BC, APHN-BC, HWNC-BC

https://www.LiberatedNurse.com


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

2022© Hawaii Yoga Institute is a 501(c)(3) corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill | Yoga Alliance® | OM TAT SAT


info@hawaiiyogaintitute.com

(808) 262 - YOGA