Our Ohana
Tami Nixon
Tami Nixon
Owner
Where did you go to school?
UCSB Montessori Teacher's Credential
Favorite Food?
Avocado and Peanut Butter, but not at the same time
Favorite Sport?
Swimming of course
Favorite Movie?
Jeremiah Johnson with Robert Redford or Romeo and Juliet
How long have you been working at Makai?
I opened Makai Swim School in 1989 at Exertec Fitness Center and Mt George Estates. Since then me and my staff have had the opportunity to now instruct hundred of students.
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
I love Pilates and stand up paddle boarding in the Hawaiian ocean! But mostly I like spending time with my family and my dogs. I have two Australian Shepards, Oshie who is 7 months and Marleau who is 4 years old.
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
I miss my children when they were young. I would love to go back for a day and really treasure their sweet little faces, hugs and kisses. When raising your own children you think it will take forever for them to grow up, but the saying is true, “They grow up so fast!”.
A fun fact about yourself
My family has been in Hawaii since 1901! This is the reason for the name of the swim school, Makai, which means in Hawaiian, towards the ocean.
Megan Minor
Megan Minor
Operations Manager
Where did you go to school?
I graduated Pepperdine University in 2020 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and a Minor in Marketing.
Favorite Food?
I am a major foodie and have a huge sweet tooth for anything and everything cookies, chocolate, and ice cream.
Favorite Sport?
Swimming has been my life for the past 16 years but my favorite sport to follow is Baseball. Go Giants!
Favorite Movie?
Not a movie but Grey's Anatomy and Friday Night Lights are my go to when I need to binge watch.
How long have you been working at Makai?
I started working at Makai in 2017 as an instructor and became the Operations Manager in 2018.
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
I am very family and friend oriented and love spending as much time as I can with them. I also love being outside whether it is hiking, going to the beach, playing sports, camping, etc.
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
If I could be anything, I would be a full time traveler. I love to travel and explore new places. To be like The Bucket List Family would be a dream.
A fun fact about yourself.
I learned to swim when I was 2 and started swimming competitively when I was 7. I was extremely fortunate to continue my swimming career and swim Division I at Pepperdine University.
Ashley Amundson
Ashley Amundson
Camp Manager/Swim Instructor
Where did you go to school?
Oregon State University where I got my B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences
Favorite Food?
Crockpot chicken and noodles. So good after a long day in the pool!
Favorite Sport?
I love to swim (obviously) but college baseball is my favorite sport to follow.
Favorite Movie?
Winged Migration
How long have you been working at Makai?
9 years!
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
What do you mean outside of Makai? I live there! Just kidding, I spend a lot of time with my family and my dog, Rowdy. I also like to spend as much time as possible outdoors, whether it be gardening, walking, reading, bird watching, going to the beach, etc.
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
Some sort of genius that can solve global trash and plastic waste issues.
A fun fact about yourself
I bullet journal A LOT. It is a fun way to flex my artistic muscles and organize my life at the same time!
Maggie Martin
Maggie Martin
Swim Instructor
Where did you go to school?
Slidell High School in Slidell Louisiana
Favorite Food?
Ice cream and cookies
Favorite Sport?
Baseball
Favorite Movie?
Steele Magnolia
How long have you been working at Makai?
7 years
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
The beach, adventuring the country, and fun stuff
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
A swim instructor at Makai...it is the best job ever!
A fun fact about yourself.
I live for what I do. It brings me great joy and I learn so much from these wonderful beings I get to swim with.
Ilenia Willmert
Ilenia Willmert
Swim Instructor
Where did you go to school?
I currently go to Vintage High School
Favorite Food?
Definitely Pizza!
Favorite Sport?
Dance
Favorite Movie?
The Breakfast Club
How long have you been working at Makai?
Since Fall, 2018
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
Editorial Photography
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
I do not know. I will see where life takes me.
A fun fact about yourself
I will choose dark over milk chocolate any day.
Hanna Strong
Hanna Strong
Swim Instructor
Where did you go to school?
Vintage High School
Favorite Food?
SUSHI!
Favorite Sport?
Baseball, hands down!
Favorite Movie?
Homeward bound...or goodfellas
How long have you been working at Makai?
Since 2019
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
You can find me on the weekends working at Lulu but I love spending as much time as possible with my fur son LaLo!
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
I would love to buy a huge ranch and adopt all the dogs, just run a rescue ranch and spend all day with puppies!
A fun fact about yourself.
I love to sing loud and off key, but I am actually a secretly great classical vocalist.
Maria Teixeira
Maria Teixeira
Camp Counselor/Swim Instructor
Where did you go to school?
I am a junior at Saint Mary's College of California.
Favorite Food?
Pizza!
Favorite Sport?
Soccer
Favorite Movie?
Love, Rosie
How long have you been working at Makai?
Since 2019
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
I love to sing and play the ukulele!
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
I would be a cat
A fun fact about yourself
I speak Portuguese!
Grace King
Grace King
Swim Instructor
Where did you go to school?
I am a Freshman at Cal Poly SLO
Favorite Food?
Ice cream, specifically from Ben & Jerry's
Favorite Sport?
Waterpolo or Basketball
Favorite Movie?
Good Will Hunting
How long have you been working at Makai?
Since 2019
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
I love to read and go to the beach
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
I would be a dolphin or a bird
A fun fact about yourself.
I love working with kids!
Austin Knight
Austin Knight
Swim Instructor/Swim Attendant
Where do you go to school?
Napa High School
Favorite Food?
Pepperoni Pizza
Favorite Sport?
Basketball, Swimming, and Karate
Favorite Movie?
2001 A Space Odyssey
How long have you been working at Makai?
March 2021
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
Play music, do karate, and go snowboarding
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
A filmmaker
A fun fact about yourself
I play the violin, the clarinet, and the saxophone. I am also a high film buff.
Ema Miller
Ema Miller
Open Swim Attendant
Where did you go to school?
I am a freshman at Biola University.
Favorite Food?
Watermelon
Favorite Sport?
Volleyball
Favorite Movie?
Peanut Butter Falcon
How long have you been working at Makai?
Since July 2019
What do you like to do outside of working at Makai?
I love hanging out with friends, reading, and drawing
If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?
I would like being a traveler, so I could see the world and learn new things about other cultures.
A fun fact about yourself
My favorite color is green.