Kiyoshi Najita P '12, '16

Kiyoshi Najita P ’12, ’16

Upper School Humanities Teacher

The longest-standing Parker employee, a 2013 US Presidential Scholar Inspirational Teacher, and repeatedly voted “Most Inspirational Teacher” in the annual yearbook student poll, “Mr. Naj” has taught at Parker since 1995, when he moved from Chicago to Waimea with his family to teach English and history in the Parker middle school and become the third generation in his family to live on the Big Island. In 2003, he taught the first AP courses at Parker. Prior to coming to Parker, Mr. Naj received a bachelor of art’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College and worked at his alma mater, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, as a first and fifth grade teacher. He is an award-winning short story writer, a prolific musician, and an avid surfer and cyclist. He is a member of two bands, Big Empty Field and Anatomy of Hope, whose music can be found on all major streaming services. Mr. Naj’s sons, Sivan and Kirean, are both Parker School graduates. Mr. Naj says, “What has kept me at Parker School for so long and will continue to keep me here is that we have lovingly crafted a community that celebrates individuality at the same time that it erases limiting boundaries between these individuals. As such, Parker School students honor themselves, each other and their collective dreams and aspirations. It is a blessing to be of service to them.”