About Us

Joanie Brotman:

"I love spending my days with students. This is such an exciting time for them. I find it to be so much fun encouraging them to think about their futures and helping them during this pivotal time in their lives."

An incredible asset to our college counseling team, Ms. Brotman is known to our kids as "Aunty Joanie." Ms. Brotman graduated from the University of Hawaii—Manoa with a B.A. degree in Fine Arts. As an HPA mom, Ms. Brotman is close to many students and very easy for students and parents to talk to. Outgoing, positive, and helpful, Ms. Brotman has worked in College Counseling for two years as our office manager. She is always the first contact person for freshmen and sophomore parents. She also handles any general questions about College Counseling, standardized testing, calendars, scheduling appointments, special programs, SAT Prep, and Family Connection.

jbrotman@hpa.edu or 808-881-4295

Andrew Kelsey:

"I always tell students to look for a major, a college, or a career that matches their interests, strengths, and personality. I also try to get them to look for schools and jobs that will be good for them in terms of quality of life and providing challenge. School and work shouldn't be all about comfort; they should push you to grow, to think about things in a new way; they should make you become more than what you were when you started. When I look at my own experience in college counseling, I realize that I found what I'm hoping each of them will also find."

Known affectionately as "Kelsey" by our students, Andrew Kelsey is in his eighth year as Director of College Counseling. A knowledgeable, thoughtful, and passionate student advocate, Mr. Kelsey is an integral part of our college counseling program and a respected and beloved member of the HPA 'ohana . In his decade of service to HPA, Mr. Kelsey has held a myriad of roles; he has taught ESL and English, has been a dorm parent as well as a dorm head, has coached intramurals and Ultimate Frisbee, and has been a dedicated volunteer to the HPA football program. In addition, he has overseen the testing programs at HPA, served as the AP Program Coordinator, and been the Supervisor for Students with Special Disabilities. Mr. Kelsey received his B.A. degree in English from Vanderbilt University, his M.A. degree in English from the University of Mississippi, and completed graduate work in Asian Studies and Economic Politics at the University of Hawai'i--Manoa. He has worked with students in America, Japan, and Vietnam. As Director of College Counseling, Mr. Kelsey has shown continued commitment to building strong relationships with admissions professionals throughout the U.S. In addition to being an active member of both the National and Hawai'i Associations of College Admission Counselors, Mr. Kelsey has completed advanced college counseling programs at Harvard University, UC--San Diego, Santa Clara University, and Lewis and Clark College. Our students value Mr. Kelsey for his expertise, kindness, sense of humor, and beautiful singing voice. Please contact Mr. Kelsey for questions regarding juniors and seniors in the first half of the alphabet. To learn more about Mr. Kelsey, you can read an interview with him in the Summer 2006 issue of Ma Ke Kula.

akelsey@hpa.edu or 808-881-4055.