Naomi Rombaoa Tanaka

Naomi Rombaoa Tanaka, Ph.D. is a faculty member at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Director of the Hawaiʻi Positive Engagement Project (H-PEP): SPARK Aloha, which focuses on growing the strengths and supporting the flourishing of educators, families, and students. Her research and programs are rooted in positive psychology and culturally responsive well-being. In 2024, Naomi was trained as a DocSong Teaching Artist through a partnership between DocSong and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Center on Disability Studies. A lifelong music lover and former violinist, she enjoyed exploring this arts-based research method and applying what she learned to her community DocSong project. As someone who deeply values the meaning behind song lyrics, Naomi especially appreciates DocSong’s unique process of co-writing music inspired by people’s shared humanity through stories.