Kauʻi was born and raised in Hawaiʻi, growing up in her family home in Mānoa. A graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in voice from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Guided by her deep love for music and Hawaiian culture, Kauʻi’s journey naturally led her into education. Over the years, she has taught keiki across the pae ʻāina in a variety of roles — as a music teacher at Waʻolani Judd Nazarene School, a Hawaiian Studies teacher at Voyager Public Charter School, and most recently, as the leader of the Hoʻōla program at the Nānākuli Boys and Girls Club.

Driven by her experiences in the classroom and community, Kauʻi returned to the University of Hawaiʻi to pursue a Master’s degree in Educational Foundations with a focus on Multicultural Education. Along the way, she has been guided and uplifted by kūpuna, mentors, and community leaders who helped shape her growth as an educator, cultural practitioner, and leader.

Kauʻiʻs greatest strength lies in her ability to see the potential in others and draw it out with compassion, clarity, and purpose. She lives her faith with intention and joy, and she finds deep fulfillment in helping others step into their own calling. In 2016, she founded Hoʻōla Music and Cultural Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting communities across Hawaiʻi through culturally grounded music and education programs — from songwriting workshops to ʻukulele instruction — empowering youth and ʻohana one child at a time.