Founder of TKO Hawaii
Chief Instructor

Sensei Aaron Oandasan began his karate training in 1989 at the young age of six under Shihan Kiyohisa Hirano. Under the instruction of Shihan Hirano, Sensei Aaron developed a passion for karate and learned valuable life lessons. He began competing nationally in 1990, at the AAU National Championships in Orlando, Florida. Since then, he has attended championship tournaments in Hawai‘i, the mainland, and several foreign countries.

Internationally, Sensei Aaron competed for the first time in 1995 in Budapest, Hungary, for the Junior World Cup and placed first out of 83 competitors. In 1996, as a member of the U.S. team in South Africa, he became the first World Champion from Hawaii. Throughout his many years of competing, he has won and medaled in numerous national and international championships. Sensei Aaron has been recognized and awarded by the City and County of Honolulu, in addition to being featured by local news agencies and other community organizations.

Sensei Aaron joined the Traditional Karate-Do Organization (TKO) under head instructor Sensei Jo Mirza in early 2006, and TKO Hawaii opened shortly thereafter. Currently a YonDan (4th degree black belt), Sensei Aaron joins his passion for karate and teaching with his extensive teaching and competition experience. He brings out the maximum potential in each student, while making sure classes are enjoyable.

Head Instructor

“In martial arts, as in life, the journey matters more than the destination.”

Sensei Charles is a lifelong martial artist. His love for martial arts began in 1986 with Hung Gar and Choy Li Fut Kung-Fu. He actively trained in Kung-Fu for over thirty years, and was also a Chinese Lion dance performer and instructor during that time.

In 1989, Sensei Charles began his karate training beginning with Shito-Ryu Karate. He has also studied some Wado-ryu Karate, and has been actively training and studying Shotokan Karate for many years. His dedication to the art of Karate led him to become a strong competitor, earning multiple local and National Karate competitions from 1990-1999.

In addition to teaching at TKO Hawaii, Sensei Charles also has experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Kickboxing, Escrima, and is currently studying boxing.

“You can’t buy a Karate. You have to work for it.”

Aloha! I started my first martial arts training at the age of 5 by practicing both the Hung Gar and Choy Li Fut styles of Chinese Kung Fu. Four years later, I was introduced to the Shito-ryu style of traditional Japanese Karate. Naturally, I cross-trained in both Kung Fu and Karate, and I was also a member/instructor of Chinese lion dance and music. During my teenage years, I continued my quest of martial arts knowledge, and I also began to study concepts of Wado-ryu and Shotokan Karate, and it never stopped. Since then, I also sought to better myself by pursuing other interests, including outrigger canoe paddling, hula, Tahitian dance & taiko. In doing so, I have been able to remain well-grounded, and all these activities have helped to shape me into the person I am today.

As an Asian Pacific Islander, I recognize the greater responsibility that I have to myself and to the well-being of others. I would personally, along with all the other Sensei, like to invite you to become a part of the TKO Hawaii family.

Osu!

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky

Sensei Ty began his karate training in 1998. His passion for karate and his drive quickly made him a strong competitor both nationally and internationally. He has competed in numerous national tournaments all over the country and is an 8-time National Karate Champion. Internationally, Sensei Ty has competed and placed twice in world championships. He has trained with Sensei Aaron for over twenty years.

Sensei Ty is also a certified fitness coach who combines his knowledge in strength training with his karate experience to bring out the potential in each student.

His quote for the class:

“The most beautiful thing about Karate is character development and the mental strength aspects. Not only do you learn to create these but it is a blessing that we will never truly get to master them since continuous improvement is the biggest key to success and is paramount to feeling truly alive in this world. Perfection is subjective and is an endpoint in itself. By continuously improving we often surpass our initial vision of perfection and this process/journey has no end. This growth can be applied to school, occupation, family, and other areas besides the dojo. Character and mental strength development on a daily basis prevents us from stagnating and guarantees a reduction in the number of regrets we have when reflecting on our lives when we reach our end during this lifetime.”

Sensei David Keliiholokai has been training in Shotokan Karate since 2008. He started with Sensei Aaron Oandasan under TKO Hawaii and trained until he reached 1st Kyu. While training with TKO Hawaii, Sensei David competed in and won multiple local tournaments.

He then moved to the mainland in 2015 and trained with the ISKF Shotokan organization of Arizona under the mentorship of Sensei Chuck Coburn and Sensei David Bracklow. He tested for his black belt in 2019 and currently holds a Shodan. Sensei David also trains in Kenpo Karate, kickboxing and applies the traditional hard style of Karate when teaching his students.

“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee

Sensei Mark began practicing Karate in 1995. He studied both Shotokan and Shito-ryu styles of Karate, reaching the rank of Shodan in both styles. Sensei Mark has also competed both locally and nationally throughout his karate journey.

Additionally, Sensei Mark has practiced a traditional style of jujitsu, called Danzan Ryu jujitsu, from 2011 to 2018. He also earned the rank of Shodan in Danzan Ryu.

“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.” – Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings