Debra Andres Arellano was born and raised on Maui, Hawaiʻi. Her roots in the Philippines are Marcos, Ilocos Norte and San Fernando, La Union. She holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa Educational Foundations Program. Her dissertation research includes critical pedagogy, culturally-responsive teaching, and liberatory education for Lahaina. She aspires to contribute to Ilokano research, the Nakem Conferences movement, and to education programming and policy. She is passionate about empowering Filipino youth through education, community and social justice, and is passionate about her hometown and people of Lahaina.