Kara Hisatake

THE WHO

Born & Raised on O’ahu

Kara comes from several generations of Japanese who migrated to Hawai’i during the plantation era. Born and raised with this family, she pursued education in California for 8 years before returning home.

Kara remains passionate about

• Reading, reading, reading: history and especially Hawaiian history and literature. See her Goodreads.
• Responsibility to ‘āina, including food sovereignty through cooking foods like ‘ulu, growing plants, or being out in nature & community.
• Amplifying important stories: volunteer work for organizations like the Hawai’i International Film Festival.

ABOUT ME

Welcome.

“Accountability” is my living motto. This guiding principle is a world-building community concept; we are responsible for the world and what we put out into it, just as we call others into account. At its heart, accountability is the notion that we all belong.

I extend it in poet Mary Oliver’s words, that being accountable is “over and over announcing your place in the family of things” (“Wild Geese”).

Throughout my career, I’ve spearheaded initiatives that blend creativity, technology, and equity. From leading DEIB workshops that reach 200+ educators to incorporating digital literacy and AI ethics into content and curriculum, my focus has always been on driving meaningful and mindful change. In this way, accountability makes the work I do impactful, strategic, and authentic.

My current work designs human-centered experiences for the future, whether that is in research-backed curriculum development, crafting strategic grant proposals, ethically integrating new technology tools like generative AI, or positive change to create organizational belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Utilizing my doctorate in the humanities, which includes training in the importance of language and place to the histories of gender and race, I align vision with action, ensuring the future we build is both innovative and just.

My professional background includes

• Content & Curriculum Development: 13+ years in 6-12 education & higher education, using research-backed scaffolding, data analysis, & assessment to guide learning principles @ Subject to Climate, Mid-Pacific Institute, Sacred Hearts Academy, & UC Santa Cruz.
• Strategic Initiatives & Project Management: Led pilot generative AI programs to scale in education policy & in DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) with cross-functional teams.
• Event planning & strategic communications (internally & outreach) @ HPR Generation Listen Leadership Board & Mid-Pacific Institute.
• Research, grant writing, curriculum development, program management, & event planning @ Literature Department at UC Santa Cruz (PhD), with an experience in Ethnic Studies and Art History. Managed outreach & communications with underrepresented community members.
• Granting writing @ Japanese American Museum of San Jose, UC Santa Cruz, & other educational institutions, for budgets up to $50K. Directed grant process from idea proposal to milestones to reports.

If you’d like to learn more about my professional experience or examples of what I’ve mentioned above, please see “My Work.”

Please don’t hesitate to reach out.