Office Staff

Angela Coloretti Executive Director

Angela is the leader of College Connections Hawaii. In her role as Executive Director, Angela works directly with the Board in the strategic planning and financial oversight of CCH. Her mission is to improve the educational outcomes of Hawaii’s students through her support of current CCH programs and development of new opportunities. Angela has worked in various positions at UCLA, focusing on working with diverse students from underserved communities. Most recently, Angela served as the Assistant Director of the UCLA McNair Research Scholars Program. She has also worked with the UCLA Office of Residential Life, the Program Leading to Undergraduate Success (PLUS), the Freshman & Transfer Summer Programs, the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, and as a 2nd grade teacher in Inglewood, California.

Angela grew up in Honolulu, attending Waikiki Elementary, Kaimuki Intermediate and Iolani Schools. She attended UCLA, majoring in Psychology and specializing in the field of Education as an undergraduate. While working professionally in the field of Student Services at UCLA, she pursued her Master’s Degree at UCLA in Education, with an emphasis on Counseling in Student Affairs.

Traci Sakurada Director of Tutoring

Traci oversees all tutoring programs. Formerly with the YMCA of Honolulu, she was responsible for youth department operations, preschool programs, summer programs, A+ programs, intercession and enrichment programs. She also served as the community representative on the SCBM councils at Maemae, Ahuimanu, and Central Middle schools.

Traci grew up in Honolulu and attended Jefferson Elementary, Niu Valley Intermediate, and Kaiser High School. She graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a degree in Sociology.

Cerell Rivera Director of Test Preparation

Cerell oversees the Test Preparation department, providing SAT, SSAT, PSAT, and other preparation programs. Cerell is a former

participant of the Asia Pacific Leadership Program at the East-West

Center. She has a long-standing interest in the Asia-Pacific region as

demonstrated by her five years with the Asia Society and ongoing

commitment to the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). In her former position as Development Officer at the Asia Society, she worked directly

with the Executive Director and Advisory Board to establish and execute

outreach and development goals, plan programming strategies, and implement annual and long-range strategic plans. Cerell is a former JET, and served for two years as President of the Japan Exchange and Teaching

Alumni Association of Northern California and Nevada. Following her

experience as a JET in Hokkaido, she remained in Japan and established

METS English School’s first culture and language classes for children with

special needs. Cerell is concerned about social change and is eager to apply

entrepreneurial approaches to address social problems.

Cerell is a graduate of the University of California, Davis and holds degrees in Environmental and Resource Science and Science and Society. She is also an alumni of the East-West Center at the University of Hawai`i, Manoa.

Candice Kalei Napuelua Director of Counseling

Kalei oversees all Counseling programs. At the Hawaii Alliance for Nonprofit Organizations (formerly the Hawaii Community Services Council), Kalei was a training specialist concentrated in the areas of community facilitation and non-profit board training. As the Individual Development Accounts Coordinator at Alu Like, Inc., Kalei was responsible for the management and coordination of the asset building program with a budget of $1.2M. Kalei is a part-time instructor and the co-founder of the Farrington Hawaiian Academy, a smaller learning community on the campus based on instruction and learning through the instillation of Hawaiian values, currently teaching economics and Hawaiian language in the Academy.

Kalei attended Nuuanu Elementary and Kamehameha Primary and Secondary Schools. She graduated from Pacific University, and holds bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Japanese Language. Her graduate study has been in Organizational Change and Educational Reform and Restructuring, with a concentration in smaller learning communities.

Kalei served on the former School Community Based Management Council and currently serves on the School Community Council at Farrington High school.

Stephanie Helbush Director of Operations

Stephanie's responsibilities include all aspects of office management. She has ten years of experience as a case manager with Casey Family Programs in Honolulu. There she helped place and support children in foster and adoptive homes. Steph has worked with numerous community agencies including the Friends of Foster Kids, Adoption Connection, and the Foster Care Training Committee. She has also facilitated support groups for foster/adoptive parents.

Steph attended Hokulani Elementary, Moanalua Intermediate, and Moanalua High School. She participated in a National Student Exchange at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has a bachelor's degree in family resources from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Lia Tauelangi Test Preparation Program Coordinator

Lia assists the Director of Test Preparation in all aspects of the test preparation area. Formerly with ASTON/ResortQuest Hotels and Resorts, she held various positions such as Income Auditor, Reservations Manager, Front Office Manager, and Payroll Specialist. After 15 years in the hotel industry, she is eager to leverage her administrative and customer service experience to help Hawaii’s students.

Lia has a longstanding interest in the community and has volunteered for the Waikiki Improvement Association’s Aloha Patrol, the annual Hawaii Hotel Association Visitor Industry Charity Walk, and contributes to the Hawaii Blood Bank. She is a Nursery Director and Hand bell Choir member at the Kalihi Union Church. Lia is also a nine-year member of the Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club and plays taiko, shimedaiko, and bells at various Hongwanjis throughout the summer.

Lia grew up in Honolulu and attended Manoa Elementary, Stevenson Intermediate, and Kaimuki High School. She attended two years at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, taking courses in Travel Industry Management.

Malamalama Johnson Program Coordinator, Native Hawaiian Scholars Program

Malama assits the Director of Counseling with overseeing the Native Hawaiian Scholars Program. She was born and raised on the island of Saipan, but has been living on Oahu for the past 5 years. She’s a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelors Degree in Applied Sociology, with a concentration in Family and Gender Studies.

Kanoe Silva Administrative Assistant

Kanoe is the administrative assistant for the Native Hawaiian Scholars Program and the Test Prep Program. She was born and raised in Honolulu, and graduated from Kaiser High School in 2000. Kanoe's also been an assistant (or Kumu Kokua) to her Kumu Hula helping in day to day class instruction for over 10 years. She enjoys working with children of all ages and looks forward to many more years of helping Hawaii's youth.

Kamaile Williams Administrative Assistant

Kamaile is the administrative assistant for the Tutoring program. Formerly with the YMCA of Honolulu, she was responsible for youth department operations, summer programs, A+ programs, intercession and enrichment programs. She also served as the community representative on the SCBM councils at Kauluwela, and Aliiolani schools.

Kamaile grew up in Maui and moved to O`ahu in 1998 and is currently working towards a Bachelors Degree in Hawaiian Studies.