Kapeka Yu

Aloha!🤙 I was born and raised in Seoul(서울), Korea, and and my journey has luckily taken me to vibrant cities like Honolulu, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City.

[My Experience]

I am a passionate Korean language educator with seven years of professional teaching experience and a Bachelor of Science from CUNY. My journey includes leading dynamic group Korean classes for the Columbia Business School after-school program, teaching 9th-grade Korean classes for a full academic year at a prestigious private high school on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and mentoring numerous university students.

My teaching adventure also took me to Honolulu, where I founded mahaloclasses.com. For over two years now, I’ve had the absolute joy of connecting with learners of all generations—from enthusiastic young children to dedicated seniors—earning wonderful reviews and deep trust from my community. No matter your age or current level, I am here to provide tailored, student-centered classes that make learning Korean engaging, effective, and deeply rewarding.

[My Unique Approach]

Recently, I have also taught Mathematics and Coding at a private high school in Honolulu. This allows me to bring a unique logical framework to my Korean classes, making the language easier and more systematic to learn.

Beyond just vocabulary, I emphasize authentic, everyday Korean used in real-life situations. I believe that language and culture are inseparable, so I always provide cultural context in my classes. This ensures you don't just learn words, but truly understand the heart of Korean communication.

[About Me]

In my free time, I’m an avid hiker and a passionate traveler. I also love exploring K-pop and keeping up with the latest K-dramas to stay inspired by Korean culture.

As someone deeply rooted in Korean history, I greatly admire King Sejong the Great for his invention of Hangul and his dedication to education. My goal is to help you find joy in learning Korean and, ultimately, inspire you to experience the rich culture and 'Jeong(정)'—that uniquely Korean warmth and connection—for yourself.

Mahalo!

Why “Mahalo Classes”?
“Mahalo” means thank you in Hawaiian. At Mahalo Classes, we bring gratitude, warmth, and the Aloha spirit into every online Korean class. Whether you’re in Honolulu, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City—or anywhere in the world—our personalized Korean lessons help you learn at your own pace and speak with confidence.