Interesting Islanders

Meet Mary Lopresti

You can tell a lot about a person when they smile. This is true of 25-year-old Mary Lopresti, a music teacher at Hilo Intermediate School. Yes, when Mary smiles the world around her lights up and bubbles over with delight.
My first encounter with this young teacher occurred by happenstance. Mary swam into my life, or should it be said, swam into me, while I was working out in the water at Richardson's Beach.
She opened wide her smile, giggled and quickly apologized. It was contagious and I too broke out in laughter. Then she did the unthinkable by thrusting out her hand and introducing herself.
Ah, a fast friend was made. Right there in the middle of the bay. Never mind the age difference --young adult meeting middle age mom-- it was a done deal.
Immediately a conversation ensued and I found out Mary is a first-year teacher with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Instrumental for K to 12 grades from East Tennessee State University, Mary is blessing the youth of Hilo with her gift of instrumentation and music.
Truthfully, this Ohio native found Hilo quite by accident, but is now planning to live here a lifetime. She originally came to the islands to spend a short time on Oahu living in her brother's apartment. However, after contacting Hawaii's Department of Education, Mary found several job opportunities on the Big Island.
In a leap of faith, Mary boarded a plane and landed in East Hawaii. Her first job interview at Hilo Intermediate School "just felt right" so Mary cancelled the other two and went back to Oahu to hastily pack and return to this place she now calls home.
It turned out to be the right call. Mary has enjoyed her first "real job on her own" and is learning a lot about teaching. Most endearing, she said, are the keiki she's encountered in the classroom.
"The students here are so musically inclined," she said. "Some of the kids are so musically talented that I just need to point them in the right direction. My job is to teach them to teach themselves. It builds their self-esteem. A lot of times my class gives the chance for children to excel that don't excel in math or science or reading."
Mary places much of the credit of her first year of success with Principal Elaine Christian.
"She's a strong, powerful woman," she said with a smile. "I highly respect her. She's a wonderful lady and she's taught me a lot. In fact, the entire administration is very supportive of their teachers. Of me. They have a strong sense of ohana here. It has felt really, really good to be a part of it."
When Mary's not in the classroom, she can be found wandering the countryside, swimming at local beaches, attending cultural events, taking hula lessons, practicing her Bassoon or Ukulele under the shade of a tree, playing the clarinet in the county band or eating Lomi Lomi Salmon at Ocean Deli Sushi, her "favorite" restaurant on the island.
"My life is running from one gig to another," Mary jokingly said.
Whatever the activity, Mary smiles while fully embracing all that is unique about the Big Island -- the rain, charm, the relaxed and hang loose feeling. She is fitting in, contributing to this unique culture, bringing joy to others and calling this place home.
"I love the small town,"she said. "I love that I can jump on my bike and go anywhere. I like to see the earth, the green, lush forest and the kupukupu. It's my desire to live in Hilo. I'm going to live here no matter what. It just feels right."
Mary also loves the collective of people calling East Hawaii home.
"Everyone here is so giving," she said. "You only have to meet someone once and you're just friends. It's just this beautiful community. My friends and I always joke that in Hilo you're only 1.3 degrees away from anyone you know. There's a huge sense of community. I feel safe."
Yes, it is possible to tell a lot about a person when they smile and when Mary Lopresti grins she's not only an open book, but a good read too.