Kapela Eli grew up rooted and grounded in the glistening sands and gentle Kaiāuluwinds of her beloved community, on the homelands of Waiʻanae and Nānākuli on Oʻahu. Her knowledge and capacity as an educator was developed and defined by her many educational endeavors which she pursued, from Waiʻanae High School to UH Mānoa for Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language degrees and onward to UH Hilo for her teacher licensing in Hawaiian Medium education through Kahuawaiola as well as a master’s degree in Indigenous Education and Language Revitalization. Kapela is a staunch advocate for her native land, a proud parent along with her husband of four precious daughters, and a steadfast educator of Hawaiian knowledge and language revitalization for her home of Hawai’i.
After 15 years of teaching in culture-based and immersion programs, Kapela moved on to become a curriculum specialist and cultural education specialist at INPEACE in the Kupu Ola and Ka Lama Education Academy. In 2026, she was chosen to lead as Program Director of Keiki Steps, a dual language Family Child Interactive Learning program serving keiki 0-5 years. Kapela is passionate about serving and supporting community educators from Hawai’i to become confident and capable of implementing culture-based pedagogy and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in their curriculum and practice.