Hawaii Department of Education

The human process of data–driven strategy.

Supporting Hawai‘i’s 250+ public schools across five islands, Christine worked under MKThink with the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) to strengthen their facilities maintenance strategies. This work focused on improving both the quality and depth of data collection—recognizing that behind every dataset and report are real human experiences. By blending qualitative insights with quantitative metrics, she helped HIDOE make informed, evidence-based decisions about indoor and outdoor facility conditions. Her work demonstrated how rigorous data, when humanized, can guide smarter, more impactful decisions for schools and communities.

An Ecosystem of Placemaking

Christine approached Hawai‘i’s public schools and university systems as integrated ecosystems, recognizing that each campus serves purposes including and beyond education. Schools are hubs of community life, providing spaces for gathering, nourishment, and safety—they function as evacuation sites, food distribution centers, and vital resources for families. During the pandemic, Christine explored these multifaceted roles, helping schools and communities leverage their facilities to meet evolving needs. She also contributed to the development and refinement of safety protocols for emergencies such as fires and floods, ensuring that schools could serve their communities effectively while maintaining safe and resilient environments.

What makes HIDOE unique is the diversity and richness of its schools across Hawai‘i’s islands. From charter schools to campuses in distinct microclimates, each school reflects a fusion of place, people, and culture. Many of the older campuses were originally built by the U.S. military, and today they are evolving—welcoming new buildings, vertical schools, and renovations that honor their mid-century origins while meeting modern needs. Christine approached this system with a lens that connects past, present, and future, recognizing how the history and culture embedded in each campus inform the experience of students, staff, and the wider community.