Over the past fifteen years that Nikki Hamai Sakai has been at Assets School, she has served our community in several different roles, most recently as the High School Vice Principal and Mentorship Coordinator. She began her career at Assets as an English Teacher and a Curriculum Specialist, was then promoted to High School Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, before becoming Vice Principal. Her transition to High School Principal was a natural progression and an exciting stepping stone as the school celebrates its 65th Anniversary. 

With local-born roots, Nikki has amassed an exemplary education, receiving her Master's degrees in English and Education/Private School Leadership at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Additionally, Nikki is a Ph.D. Candidate in English from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. In 1998 and 2001, she earned the distinction of being a Dean’s Graduate Enrichment Fellow.

Nikki’s vision for the high school: “I see us helping students--in more deliberate and transformative ways--to develop the tools and skills they need to navigate the challenging terrain of global citizenship. I see us better preparing students to utilize their communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills as active participants in society. I see us preparing students to be both advocates of change and agents of change. To me, this is a natural extension of the way we already teach, which helps students to celebrate their exceptionalities, know themselves as learners, build sets of tools and skills to circumvent challenges with learning, and advocate for their unique academic, social, and emotional needs.”

What she loves most about Assets is the people in our community--bright, talented students; supportive families; dedicated faculty and staff. From the first day she visited Assets to now, Nikki appreciates the warmth, generosity, and acceptance in our school.