Brandy S.K. Akimo was raised in Koolaupoko, Kailua, Oahu by her grandparents, Peter Akimo and Leinaala Bruhn Akimo. She was born to Kapena Kaanehe and Cindy Akimo Wilson. She was raised with the timeless traditional values of aloha, compassion, being of service, and hard work (taking care of responsibilities). Educated in the public school system until high school, Brandy is a 1995 graduate of Kamehameha Schools. Obtaining her undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Family Resources, Brandy went on to obtain a master's degree in counseling psychology from Chaminade University in 2001, recently obtaining her professional Mental Health Counselor license. Brandy has 20 years of experience in child, adolescent, and adult mental health. She has particular interest in the resilient qualities of families, particularly Native Hawaiian families to address the protective factors that strengthen them.