Tina Yohon
Director of Education
Tina Yohon loves the water. She can vividly recall the first time she ever went snorkeling, in the Bahamas in 1997. The life beneath the surface inspired her, and she began teaching her students about coral reefs.
An educator since 1991, Tina came to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2013 to teach at Waimea Middle School. She currently teaches 6th grade social studies, but has served students from elementary to high school in a variety of subjects including special education, science, and math. She believes in the power of outdoor education and the positive impact it can have on students’ lives.
Tina connected with Shirley De Rego when her daughter joined the Jr. Lifeguard program at Hapuna Beach. She was moved by Shirley’s story and quickly discovered that they shared a passion for education and helping young people. Since 2014, Tina has worked with Shirley to expand the Foundation’s reach to include educational programs on lifesaving and water safety in Waimea Middle School and other schools in North Hawaii. Tina has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Vermont in Secondary Science Education and a Master’s Degree from St. Michael’s College in Special Education. In her free time, you can find her with her mask and fins down at beautiful Puako Bay.