Jaffer | Founder | Central Oahu & Honolulu
At just 16, Jaffer is the visionary behind Tech Savvy Teens. A student at Kaulike Academy — a learner-driven cooperative for Native Hawaiians — he covers Central O'ahu and Honolulu through to Hawai'i Kai, recruiting teens and keeping his communities connected. With a love for basketball and a dream of becoming a public speaker and youth entrepreneurship advocate, Jaffer is proof that the next generation of leaders is already here.
Vashti | Lead Teen Mentor | Wai'anae Coast
At 19, and a proud graduate of Waianae High School, Vashti currently studies electronics and technology and brings that passion back to her home community. As the LTM covering the entire Wai'anae Coast, she recruits local teens, runs community events, and ensures everyone stays safe and supported throughout the program.
Kanaloa | Lead Teen Mentor | Windward Oahu
At 19, Kanaloa is a Castle High School graduate with his sights set on becoming a network engineer. Serving the Windward and North Shore communities, he connects with teens through his love of Dungeons & Dragons, ag tech, and all things hands-on and future-focused. He brings energy, curiosity, and a deep care for the youth in his region.
Two generations. One mission.
Real impact across the islands
Tech Savvy Teens is a Hawaii-based program that brings together middle and high school students and kūpuna — and gives each a reason to show up. Here's how it works: teens are trained in digital literacy and tech support skills, then they go into senior centers across the islands and sit down — one on one — with kūpuna who need help. How to video call a grandchild. How to access a doctor through telehealth. How to spot a scam online. Real things that change daily life. The teens don't just volunteer. They teach. And in doing so, they discover confidence, purpose, and a career path they didn't know was possible. Many of our kūpuna are also navigating disability or isolation. For them, digital access isn't a convenience — it's connection to healthcare, family, and independence. Our students meet them where they are, with patience and aloha.
We recruit from underrepresented communities across Hawaii, because the students who need this opportunity most are often the ones with the most to offer. What started on one island is now growing. We are actively expanding Tech Savvy Teens statewide — bringing this model to more schools, more senior centers, and more communities across every island. And we can't do it alone.
If you believe every kūpuna deserves connection and every young person deserves opportunity, we invite you to be part of what comes next.
About Tech Savvy Teens
Vision
A world where young people are empowered as digital leaders and every person can safely and confidently navigate the technology they need to thrive.
Mission
Tech Savvy Teens prepares youth ages 13–19 to serve their communities as tech mentors — building real skills, earning certifications, and closing the digital divide one person at a time.