About

Aloha,

It’s a pleasure to introduce myself and share a bit of my journey with you. I’m in my 19th year of teaching here at LJA, where I teach IB Diploma Programme History (HL) and Theory of Knowledge. Before joining LJA, I spent nine years teaching at Kamehameha Schools. I grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley, a small town north of Santa Barbara, California. Coming from a family of educators, I always knew I wanted to work with young people and make learning—especially history—engaging, relevant, and alive.

I graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Social Studies Education and a supplemental credential in English. After college, I combined my passion for teaching with my love of travel, surfing, and skiing. My search for perfect waves took me around the world—Mexico, Costa Rica, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, France, Spain, Portugal, and Samoa—only to realize that some of the best waves are right here in Hawaii. These experiences deepened my appreciation for global perspectives, something I strive to bring into my history and TOK classroom every day.

After returning to California, I worked as a ski instructor in Lake Tahoe before returning to the classroom to teach 7th-grade World History in Carlsbad, where I also began coaching water polo and swimming. In 1996, I fulfilled a dream of moving permanently to Hawaii, where I started a family and continued teaching and coaching at Kamehameha Schools.

Along the way, I earned my Master’s in Education from Chaminade University. My wife and I welcomed our first daughter in 2002 and our second in 2004. Both are proud LJA graduates who share a love for the ocean—our oldest is now a recent college graduate, and our youngest is studying abroad in Europe this semester. They’re both living their best lives, and we couldn’t be prouder. In addition to teaching, I’ve also returned to coaching water polo here at LJA for the past two years, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

I’m excited to meet you and talk about history, global issues, TOK ideas, travel, surfing, or water polo and swimming. Feel free to stop by Room 404 anytime to say aloha—I’m looking forward to getting to know you!

A Hui Hou,
Mr. Webb

Contact: awebb@lejardinacademy.org