Darren Nakayama

Darren Yukio Nakayama was born in Honolulu and grew up in Kaneohe where he made many lifelong friends. He attended Kaneohe Elementary and St. Ann’s schools, and spent two years at Damien High School before transferring back to Kaneohe to graduate from Castle with his friends in the class of 1985. After graduation, Darren worked at various jobs, mostly at schools like Kapunahala and Our Redeemer, working with kids in after-school programs and at the YMCA running summer programs. It soon became clear that teaching was his passion. He pursued a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, first at Kapiolani Community College, then at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he made the Dean’s list in 2004 and 2005. He earned his teaching degree in 2006 and spent his first year as an educator making the grueling commute from town to the north shore, to the only school with an opening for a K-6 specialist at the time. To his relief, a position soon opened up at Queen Kaahumanu Elementary, just minutes away from home. Queen K became his second home, and he taught second, third and fourth grades there, as well as summer school at Sacred Hearts Academy, before retiring in 2022 to provide full-time caregiving for his parents. Darren was preceded in death by his father, James, and his beloved fur-baby Bria. He is survived by his mother Elaine, brother Eric (Matt), sister Teri (Nicholas) Theuriet, niece Sachie and nephew Joshua. A private celebration of life will be held in the near future. For information, please email [email protected].