Kaycie Tomei Before joining Liliʻuokalani Trust, Kaycie provided youth with Intensive In-Home and Intensive Independent Living Skills therapy, and direct support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also was a practicum student at LT. Now a Direct Service Specialist at Kīpuka Hilo, Kaycie is honored to work alongside those who were once mentors.What draws her to LT is The Queen’s mission and the trust’s culturally based interventions for social work practice. She truly enjoys working with and learning from the kamaliʻi and their ʻohana. Her work’s impact not only is rewarding, but the “pilina evolves our own form and essence as Direct Service Specialists.” Kaycie enjoys connecting with colleagues across LT and witnessing the depth of knowledge (aka, their "superpowers") within the organization. Kaycie has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Kaycie’s passions include spending time with friends and family, sewing and candle making, and being close to the water—especially stand-up paddleboarding.