Pescaia Receives Lifetime Education Achievement Award

Aka’ula School News Release
Miki’ala Pescaia is the recipient of Aka’ula School’s 2025 Lifetime Education Achievement Award. Below is an interview with Pescaia discussing her education, influences and beliefs. Check out next week’s issue of The Molokai Dispatch for part two of the interview.
Aka`ula School (AS): Tell us about your educational journey.
Miki`ala Pescaia (MP): Mahalo for the honor of being selected as your outstanding educator for 2025. My own educational journey has allowed me to experience many different learning formats, kumu, topics, and settings. I can remember every one of my teachers from Ho’olehua Headstart, Kualapu’u School, and Molokai High and Intermediate School. I always felt like they truly cared about me and didn’t just focus on my education, but they wanted me to be a good citizen. I was in a program called Poki’i Hoaaloha at Kualapu’u and I was so proud to organize recycling drives, make lei, host visitors and assist with special events. That experience stuck with me. I attended Kamehameha Schools Kapalama as a boarder, and have even studied abroad in other countries like the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. I can confidently say the way we teach and learn on Molokai is very special.
AS: How has your mo`oku`auhau influenced this journey?
MP: My favorite kumu is my dad Reynolds. Being the ninth child of ten, I think he got all his student teaching out of the way, so he was a professor by the time he got to me! He was patient, practical and creative. He had an attitude of let’s just go until we figure it out, and we always did figure it out. He had an abundance mindset that is deeply ingrained in me. My husband and I have raised 11 children together and I am able to apply so much of what my dad taught me – when there is an addition, you don’t divide your time, energy and aloha, instead you multiply and be more efficient. You include and amplify, and there will always be more than enough. His words were powerful enough to guide and discipline in a way that made me want to aspire to be my best. He never called me names or put me down. He never relied on physical discipline, just respect and guidance that taught me to think for myself and be accountable.
AS: What other family members served as an inspiration?
MP: My grandma Harriet taught me about my culture, history and sense of place. I learned about who I was and where I belonged, and how important every person is – every aspect of my community is priceless. She taught me to speak up and to not pay attention to naysayers, doubters or the adversary. She always said, “mai helu, don’t keep tabs, just malama. Just aloha…going come back.” She was a storyteller and a kahu, and I inherited both of those kuleana from her – to remember and share mo’olelo and pule, and connect every part of Molokai together.
Aka`ula School will formally honor Mikiala Pescaia at its annual Ku Ka Lau Lama fundraiser, which is a Mother’s Day brunch on May 11, 2025. Tickets are available online at akaula.weebly.com or can be purchased at the school. We hope you join us for this celebration.