HB20: Gabriel Yanagihara, ‘Iolani School

On a mission to make every teacher, parent, and student in Hawai‘i AI-ready, Gabriel Yangihara believes the fastest path to breakthrough is being willing to fail first.

My mission is to ensure every teacher, parent and student in Hawai‘i is ready to ride the AI wave,” says Gabriel Yanagihara, an emerging technologies teacher at ‘Iolani School. He makes learning about AI approachable and fun, while coaching about ethics and best practices.

He says we should “be willing to get messy” and “fail forward” and that people who are willing to wipe out a few times while learning AI are the ones who will ultimately lead Hawai‘i’s industries.

“Being an early adopter means being a guinea pig. I’ve learned that the faster you’re willing to look silly, the faster you’ll find the breakthrough,” says Yanagihara.

Maui-born Yanagihara is a mentor to fellow ‘Iolani faculty but also helps teachers, schools and organizations statewide.

“My role is to pilot things fast alongside my students and colleagues, figure out what works, and share it so others don’t have to start from scratch,” Yanagihara says.

Beyond the classroom, he is a consultant for business, government and nonprofits, providing keynote speeches and custom workshops, both on O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands, and serving as a panelist for group discussions.

His boss, Faye Furutomo, director of educational technology systems at ‘Iolani School, says “Gabe is the real deal; he uniquely possesses a mix of boundless energy, genuine curiosity, the ability to make technology accessible to anyone and a desire to help as many people as possible.”

Yanagihara says that ignoring AI in schools doesn’t protect students: “It handicaps them for the modern workforce. We need to teach students how and when to use these tools and to model best practices.”

Some people think AI is a tool for students to cheat. “In reality, it’s a co-pilot that allows students to tackle much more complex, creative projects than they ever could alone,” he says.

And AI doesn’t replace teachers; they move from being lecturers to mentors on AI use.

Yanagihara is dedicated to Hawai‘i. He was born “at home in the backyard in Waiehu, Maui,” and graduated from King Kekaulike High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in creative media at UH Mānoa.

After a decade of teaching and running programs, he returned to UH Mānoa to earn a master’s degree in education in 2025.

“I want to be a ‘safe port’ in the storm for my community. If I can help build an economy where our local kids don’t have to leave to work in tech, then I’ve done my job.”