Angel Allas

After a successful three-decade career in facilities management and maintenance for a large corporation on Lāna‘i, Angel Allas has done it all: managing hundreds of employees, operating two LLCs, running three plant nurseries, overseeing 10,000 acres of landscape, and managing thousands of rental units. From operating rock-crushing and concrete plants to maintaining a vast fleet of vehicles and heavy equipment, Allas is a master of many trades.

When Allas became Director of Facilities Management and Services (FMS) at Mid-Pacific two years ago, he could have easily settled into a slower pace, enjoying the Mānoa morning mist while overseeing the 43-acre property. Instead, driven by passion, hard work, and vision, Allas had bigger plans. He saw Mid-Pacific’s verdant campus as a blank canvas—an opportunity to innovate and build a stronger, more vibrant community through a role not typically associated with creativity or education.

With guidance from Kumu Hula Lanakila Casupang, Allas started a nursery to grow more native Hawaiian plants, such as ti, ‘ōhi‘a lehua, kupukupu, pohinahina, pua kenikeni, pakalana, ‘ae‘ae, ‘a‘ali‘i, and hibiscus, which have been showcased around campus and used for hula performances and other events. Among these, the kupukupu fern has become a significant symbol used in special events, including Opening Convocation. At the start of each school year, Mid-Pacific faculty, staff, and the Board of Trustees gather at Wailele Spring to mark the beginning of the school year. During the ceremony, a kupukupu lei is woven to symbolize unity. New employees also participate by planting kupukupu ferns to represent a fresh beginning. The FMS team has propagated these ferns in the nursery, planting them throughout campus as a reminder of our shared community.

Allas’ refreshed approach to landscaping caught the attention of Middle School Technology and Design teacher Jana Kaopuiki, who was eager to develop a service-learning program for sixth-grade students. Collaborating with Kaopuiki, Allas helped create a landscaping and maintenance track for the elective program. Throughout the year, students engage in hands-on work such as cleaning and painting buildings, taking plant cuttings and growing them in the nursery before planting them around campus.

“My Facilities and Maintenance team saw this as an opportunity to engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning,” Allas shared. “Through the service-learning program, students not only gain practical experience, but they also develop a sense of pride and connection to their surroundings. The first group of students propagated plants in the first quarter, and by the last quarter, the final class planted what had been grown throughout the year. In 10 years, these students can return as alumni and proudly say, ‘My class planted all of that.’ It’s been rewarding to watch them grow and contribute to the beauty and spirit of our campus community.”

Grade Six Dean Lisa Mah emphasizes the importance of collaboration between students and essential departments on campus. “Engaging students in a service-learning course alongside our school’s FMS department offers valuable life lessons that extend beyond the traditional classroom and enrich our students’ educational experience,” Mah shared. “Contributing to the upkeep of our campus fosters a strong sense of community pride and responsibility, reinforcing their role as active, engaged citizens. Through this innovative approach, students develop a deeper appreciation for our FMS department and our beautiful Mānoa campus. We are deeply grateful to Angel and his FMS team for this opportunity.”

Every day, Angel strives to make the Mid-Pacific campus more beautiful, welcoming, and inspiring. He has forged a strong academic connection between his work and students eager to learn more about their environment, enriching both the culture and community at Mid-Pacific.

Photo caption from left: ‘Aukai K. ’31, Dylan W. ’31, Angel Allas, and Ellodie G. ’31 planting kupukupu fern on campus.