Meet Our Board

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Bay Area native Vaiola Orellana, of Samoan and Filipina heritage, brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit and outdoor education. Her journey began as a Cabin Leader at San Mateo Outdoor Education (SMOE), where she was inspired by naturalists and then her leadership experiences at Camp Unity, OVY Camp, SMOE, and Vida Verde. Whether linking classroom lessons to natural settings or organizing week-long excursions for 4th to 6th graders, Vaiola has seen the transformative power of nature on students firsthand.

Throughout her work in outdoor education programs and summer camps, Vaiola noticed a gap for high school students, who often took on leadership roles like Cabin Leaders or CITs but missed opportunities to be participants. This insight deepened during her time as Assistant Summer Director for Vida Verde’s Summer Leadership Project, a summer program designed specifically for high school students. It was through this program that it became clear that high school students needed a program tailored to their unique needs and experiences. Recognizing this, Vaiola founded YAYA Outdoor Education to empower high school students to connect with nature, explore their identities, and embrace their full potential. Vaiola believes that all students, and now especially teens, need to have and hold spaces where they feel valued and can experience moments of realizing “I belong, I matter”.

 Lealani Manuta (they/them), born and raised in San Francisco. After graduating in 2017 from University of California, Santa Cruz, Lealani returned to San Francisco to develop and teach climate justice education with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Crissy Field Center. Lealani's passion for youth based EJ/CJ work was largely inspired by their undergrad thesis research with the Filipino Migrant Center empowering working class youth in Long Beach and Carson against systemic oppression and environmental racism, supporting students to achieve higher education. Lealani's work is also largely informed by their experiences as a queer child of Filipino immigrants whose family members did not always have access to quality accessible healthcare. Today, Lealani incorporates all of these experiences both as an educator and an organizer into improving workplace conditions and securing more workers rights through their union, National Union of Healthcare workers. Lealani truly believes that the path to all our liberation starts with knowing who and where we come from. The more we learn this, the more we can return to, care for and steward the land and seas that we belong to. From Palestine to the Philippines, all our people will be free. 

 Hiram "Reno" Ali’ioaiga-Reno Anoa’i, a second/third generation Samoan-American, was raised on Ramaytush Ohlone Land, now known as the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up with servant-leader parents dedicated to nonprofit work, Reno developed a deep commitment to community and advocacy from an early age, values that continue to guide his work today.

After studying Critical Pacific Island Studies at the University of Hawai'i, Reno returned to the Bay Area and became the Senior Program & Advocacy Manager for the Pacific Islander Community Partnership (PICP), a nonprofit his parents founded in 2009. At PICP, he leads impactful initiatives like the Pasefika Visions of Resilience Program, a youth arts showcase offering scholarships to Pacific Islander youth who demonstrate climate resilience through creative expression. As a fellow in the Environmental Leadership Initiative under the Liberty Hill Foundation, Reno focuses on climate and environmental justice, broadening his work as a U.S. delegate for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In addition to his advocacy, Reno is an accomplished artist and musician whose chart-topping hits inspire youth across the Pacific. A 2015 American Idol finalist, Reno uses his platform to uplift marginalized communities, championing mentorship and celebrating Pacific Islander heritage.

His core message is simple: “Inspire others to pursue their dreams and remind each other to lift as we climb. Our greatest honor in life is to serve one another, and the purpose of a gift is to empower others to share theirs.”

Hector (he/him) brings over 10 years of experience working with youth, including time spent at San Mateo Outdoor Education (SMOE) and Optimist Volunteers for Youth (OVY). These experiences transformed his perspective on the significance of outdoor education, deepening his understanding of how nature-based learning environments foster growth and self-discovery in students.

Currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education, Hector is passionate about watching students develop their identities and build relationships. Now working at Bright Horizons in Early Childhood, after years with older students, he emphasizes the importance of nurturing positive, supportive relationships where students feel safe, open, and empowered to share. His focus on outdoor education and holistic care extends across all stages of a student's life.