Friends of HTA Foundation

WHO WE ARE

Friends of HTA is a non-profit organization created to financially support the mission, vision and strategic initiatives of Hawaii Technology Academy.

We are Invested in the Future of our Students
Help us transform education to meet the demands of an ever-changing world.

Mission of Friends of HTA

Friends of HTA supports and fosters the advancement of education for students at Hawaii Technology Academy through the solicitation of financial, human resource and community support. We work to engage in activities that further the mission, vision, and strategic initiatives of our HTA school campuses within the legal limitations of our non-profit (501c3) organization.

Ways to Give

Learn about the many ways you can make a difference below!

AmazonSmile

Place your Amazon orders through AmazonSmile and select the Friends of Hawaii Technology Academy as the charitable organization of your choice. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Friends of Hawaii Technology Academy. 

Capital & Endowment Giving

These gifts set the course for continuing a bright future at Hawaii Technology Academy. They directly impact our ability to support students, faculty and staff who are at the core of what we do. Today and for years to come.  
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​Priorities:
  • New Learning Spaces and Labs
  • Technology Upgrades
  • Professional Development for Educators
  • ​Upgrades to current facilities
  • Work-based learning programs

Planned Giving - Your Philanthropic Legacy

By making a planned gift, you can make a significant gift to Hawaii Technology Academy to address some of our community's most pressing issues through students researching and implementing real-world projects. Include HTA in your financial planning and you help ensure that our students leave HTA ready to become thinkers and creators who will positively shape our local and global community.

Types of Planned Giving:
  • IRA/Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designations
  • Charitable Lead Trusts
  • Charitable Remainder Trusts
  • Gift Annuities
  • Bequests
  • Assets 

Funding or Resources for Academic Programs in our Community

By partnering with Hawaii Technology Academy, individuals or organizations can help educate, empower, and engage our students to use their education as a force for good in our world. 

Types of Funding and Resources:
  • Fund an innovative academic program at HTA
  • Provide experts and resources for place-based learning opportunities
  • Fund Transportation for our students to participate in learning opportunities
  • Fund Experts to work with our students, educators, or leadership members
  • Career Connections or Internship Opportunities for our students
  • Fund Opportunities for our students to travel abroad for projects, coursework, or extra-curricular activities​

Meet the Friends of HTA Board

David Miyashiro, President 
David Sun-Miyashiro is the founding executive director of HawaiiKidsCAN, a non-profit organization that partners with families and community members to promote education innovation and equity in Hawaii. He has been a member of the Friends of Hawaii Technology Academy board since September 2020. His connections to HTA include his wife Amy, a middle school math teacher at the Oahu campus, and supporting the participation of HTA students in HawaiiKidsCAN programs, such as the WAVE youth advocacy program and Hawaii Youth Advocacy Film Contest. David’s board service has included the Kailua Neighborhood Board, Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii ACT Council, James Campbell High School’s Academy of Public and Human Services, and Hawaii Workforce Development Council’s Youth Service Committee, as well as numerous Hawaii State Department of Education stakeholder groups. He is an alumnus of the Weinberg Fellows program and PIE Network Leadership Institute. David holds a bachelor's degree from Brandeis University and masters degrees from the University of Hawaii and Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Aaron Domingo, Treasurer 
Aaron is the Managing Director and Financial Advisor at Westpac Wealth Partners. Aaron was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where he attended Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus. He graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis on Music Business Production. ​​
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Cori J. Grunenwald, Board Member
Cori is an associate attorney at Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, a Law Corporation, and focuses her practice on commercial and real estate law. 
Prior to attending law school, Cori taught math at James Campbell High School while co-advising the Mock Trial Team and Math Team. She currently serves on the Teach for America Hawaii, Alumni Advisory Board and is passionate about providing students with equitable education opportunities. Cori holds a bachelors in political science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, masters in education from Chaminade University, and juris doctorate from the George Washington University Law School.
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Roya Maroufkhani Dennis, Board Member
Roya is the High School Global Education Programs Director for the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council. She works to inspire high school students in public, private, and charter schools to become more aware of global issues and their influence and impact through local action projects. Roya has worked in public education at the high school and community college levels teaching English and communications and developing workforce and internship programs. She has served at Moanalua High School, Roosevelt High School, Kapiolani Community College, Windward Community College, and Honolulu Community College. Her passion for people and the planet motivates her work with students. Roya holds a bachelors in English, masters in curriculum, and a post-secondary certification in secondary education for English from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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Matt Zitello, HTA Liaison 
Matt has spent nearly a quarter of a century in Hawaii's educational system. He started as a middle school science teacher at Aiea Intermediate. Matt transitioned into the public charter school system at HTA as a science teacher and later as a member of HTA’s administration team. Matt is HTA's Interim Executive Director and serves as a school liaison to FoHTA. Matt is a passionate believer in innovative educational practices and theories and feels that such practices must be developed recognizing that each student's needs are unique and must be accommodated.

Want to join a progressive team committed to innovation in education?


Friends of HTA is currently seeking excellent new board members. If you are interested in joining the FoHTA team, please email Matt Zitello at mzitello@myhta.org or complete the first steps here.

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