Kathleen, born and raised on Maui, started her choreography career during one of her summer breaks from Loyola Marymount University at the Maui Youth Theater, now known as the Maui Academy of Performing Arts. Since then, she has choreographed a wide range of works in jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theater, and cultural dance for both concert performances and competitions.

She has had the privilege of coaching and choreographing for young women who have gone on to earn the titles of Miss Maui, Miss Maui Filipina, Miss Hawaii Filipina, and finalist placements in the Miss Hawaii pageants. Kathleen is also an accomplished ballet and contemporary instructor. She has staged and helped choreograph productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Coppélia, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, La Bayadère, and Cinderella for the Maui Academy of Performing Arts, and has also served as Director of their annual MOVES Dance Concert.

Kathleen, who holds a Master of Education, dedicated more than 30 years to Hawaii's Department of Education as a public school educator. Since retiring from the classroom, she has devoted herself full-time to dance education.

Kathleen is an ABT® Certified Teacher, having successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is also continuing to expand her expertise through the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Training Program, having recently completed the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Methodology Seminars in Levels 1, 2, 3, and 5.