Meet the Team
We believe in the unique skills, life experiences, and passions that each of our talented teachers brings versus requiring accredited teaching degrees. All staff members are CPR, Wilderness & Remote First Aid certified, and trained in emergency and extreme weather preparedness.
Bianca Antonio- Heart Behind the Vision
"Aloha, my name is Bianca.
I am a mother, a farmer, an educator — and the founder of Pōmaika‘i Āina Farm and Pono Outdoor Program.
I live off-grid in the remote beauty of Kaupō, Maui, where I raise my two incredible keiki with the support of our village and the guidance of ke Akua. Every day, I travel across the island with excitement in my heart to teach — because I believe deeply in the purpose and potential of this work.
For years, I worked within the public school system. While I’m grateful for that time, I couldn’t ignore the growing ache in my naʻau — I saw how much was missing. I dreamt of an education that honored our children as whole beings: their minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits. I envisioned learning that flowed from the land — through lo‘i, through ʻohana farms, through foraging trails and muddy hands.
Pono Outdoor Program was born from that dream.
Through this program, We offer an ʻāina-based, holistic approach that honors each child’s unique development. We nurture confidence, independence, resilience, and aloha ʻāina. Our keiki learn to think critically, move freely, and build deep connections — to themselves, each other, and this sacred land.
As a single mother, it is my greatest honor to raise my own children in this way — and to welcome yours into this community where sovereignty meets education, and where we raise the next generation to live with intention, love, and pono."
Ms. Ulli – Teacher, Visionary, Life Learner
"Aloha!
My name is Ulli James, and I’m honored to join the Pono Outdoor Program ʻohana as a teacher this year. Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, my life’s path has been a rich journey of self-discovery, healing, and creative expression — all of which I now bring into my work with keiki.
Over the years, I’ve trained in, yoga, bodywork, Human Design, life coaching, and embraced the arts as a painter and jewelry designer. These experiences have shaped my commitment to helping others live with authenticity, joy, and connection. My move to Maui, where I now live with my husband and son, opened my heart even more deeply to the importance of community, ʻāina, and holistic learning.
As a mother, I felt a natural pull to work with children. My background in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and experience as a substitute teacher deepened my passion for education that truly honors the whole child. I believe every keiki carries unique gifts — and when nurtured with care, curiosity, and purpose, those gifts can blossom into self-confidence, creativity, and leadership.
Joining Pono Outdoor Program feels like a true calling. The program’s ʻāina-based, child-led approach reflects my vision of education: one that empowers children through interest-based learning, emotional intelligence, self-reflection, and entrepreneurial thinking — all while grounded in the rhythm and beauty of nature.
I am excited to walk alongside your keiki this year, helping them explore the world around them and the light within. Together, we will learn, grow, and live pono with the land and each other."
Mrs. Jess – Nature-Based Educator, Māmā & Maker
"Aloha, my name is Mrs. Jess,
I’m honored to join the Pono Outdoor Program ʻohana as a teacher and guide on this journey of living, learning, and growing alongside our keiki.
I’m a proud mama of three incredible children, all of whom I’ve homeschooled from the very beginning of their educational paths. With a background in early childhood education, I’ve always found deep joy in watching children explore, discover, and grow — not just in academics, but in confidence, creativity, and connection.
One of my greatest passions is gardening and growing food. I love sharing the magic of planting seeds, tending the soil, and watching life unfold from the ground up. It’s a gentle reminder of patience, nourishment, and how beautiful the process of growth truly is — something I strive to model for the children every day.
When I’m not teaching or in the garden, you’ll find me by the ocean, making seashell jewelry, cooking for my ʻohana, or spending time with our beloved animals. I’ve recently fallen in love with fiber arts, especially working with alpaca fleece, and I’m excited to bring this creative, tactile element into the learning space at Pono.
What inspires me most about Pono Outdoor Program is the way it honors the rhythm of nature and the wisdom of everyday life. Our keiki learn by living — exploring the forest, getting their hands in the soil, playing under the sky, and finding lessons in the world around them. To me, education is not confined to a classroom — it’s happening every moment we are present.
It’s truly a blessing to be part of a program where our children are encouraged to be curious, connected, and confident in their own path. I can’t wait to walk this journey with your keiki."
Nāpua Hūʻeu, Hawaiian customs advisor
"I am a graduate of the Punana Leo and Kula Kaiapuni o Maui, Hawaiian language immersion programs. My family is rooted to East Maui and I currently live in Haiku where I homeschool my 8yo son. I am committed to addressing a spectrum of issues plaguing Hawai‘i and its people. In 2016, myself and a group of concerned citizens formed the Hana Highway Regulation which is a civil volunteer initiative that rallies for responsible tourism management and visitor impact mitigation. My passion project is the restoration of Honomanu ahupua‘a which falls under the East Maui Farm, a conglomerate of farms and farmers dedicated to reestablishing East Maui's ability to feed Hawai‘i again, to the extent as it did in the past. I am notably vocal about local issues including homelessness, wild food resource eradication and stream water restoration. I am adamant about teaching the next generation the importance of Hawaiian customs and cultural principles which is why I was pleased to accept the request to serve as a customs and cultural advisor for the Pono Outdoor Program."
Ms. Kim – Teacher & Homeschool Mama
"Aloha mai kākou!
My name is Ms. Kim, and I’m a proud homeschool mama to two amazing keiki. I wear many hats — educator, gardener, hiker, cook, yogi, seamstress — but at the heart of it all, I’m someone who finds deep joy and peace in nature.
As both a teacher and a parent, I wholeheartedly believe in the power of experiential learning. When we allow our children to learn through real-life experiences, we give them the space to discover their own passions and pursue knowledge that truly resonates with them. This type of learning doesn’t just “teach” — it awakens. It lights that inner fire, that “‘ike kūhohonu” (deep understanding) — the kind that stays with them for life.
Nature-based education, to me, is not just an approach — it’s a lifestyle. It teaches our keiki to be mākaukau (resourceful), mālama (caring), and kuleana (responsible) — not only for themselves, but for each other and for our Earth. They learn to observe, to respect, to listen — to the ʻāina, to the elements, and to the voices within them. That’s where true self-confidence and awareness are born.
Over the past year, being part of the Pono Outdoor Program — both as a teacher and a parent — has truly uplifted my spirit. This community is ʻohana. We are planting seeds not only in the soil, but in the hearts of these future leaders. E ulu ke ea i ka ʻāina. (May the life thrive in the land.) We are nurturing a brighter, stronger, more pono generation — one keiki, one day, one muddy footstep at a time.
Mahalo nui loa for allowing me to walk alongside your keiki on this journey."
