Board of Directors

Larry Reitzer

Producing Artistic Director

Larry Reitzer (Producer/Director) is currently the Producing Artistic Director of the Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre (HEART) and most recently directed the HEART productions of: Grease, The Lion King, Jr , Cabaret, Avenue Q, The Prom, Beauty and The Beast, Biloxi Blues, Home for the HiloDays, Songs in the Key of Love, The Palace Pride Show, Gypsy and Aladdin Jr. Right out of High School, Larry served as Arthur Laurents' production assistant on the original Broadway production of La Cage Aux Folles. Larry went on to assist such Broadway directors as Tommy Tune, Michael Blakemore and Herb Ross. After attending NYU, Larry switched his sights from directing producing/company management working on the Broadway, First National and Los Angeles companies of Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. While in Los Angeles, Larry switched careers again, and went into television production and writing, working on such shows as Spin City, Just Shoot Me, Melissa and Joey, and Ugly Betty. Larry has developed pilots for Disney Channel, ABC, NBC, Universal, Warner Brothers and ABC Family. Larry currently serves as the Resident Theatre Director of the East Hawaii Cultural Center as well as on the Board of OHANA (Oceania Hawai'i Action Network for the Arts). Larry lives in Onomea Bay with his husband of 29 years, Matthew, their dog, Mabel, and their cat, Pippin

Sarah Polloi

President

Sarah Ahulani Polloi was raised in Kailua, Oahu and moved to Hilo for college where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s in Education. She is currently the English Department Chair at Waiākea High School where she has taught since 2006. Trained in performance and multiple dance styles including hula, ballet, jazz, and hip hop, Sarah and her children are active members of the local performing arts community. Her family has starred in numerous dance and theater productions over the past 20 years, most recently including The Wizard of Oz, Dance Collective 2025, Cabaret, The Little Mermaid, Pan, Shadow & Tinker, Shrek, Chicago, and A Night of Island Stars. Sarah lives in Hilo with her husband, Andrew, and their four children, Isaiah, Maya, Micah, and Jonah.

Grayson Mento

Vice-President

Grayson Mento is a graduate of Hilo High School with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He has taught for nine years in the HIDOE public schools and has experience directing Chorus, Band, 'Ukulele Ensemble, Modern Band, Musical Theater, and Music Production classes. He also served as Musical Director for HEART's productions of Chicago and The Little Mermaid, and Co-Musical Director of HEART's Grease and Grease Jr. Grayson has also programmed I HEART Singing and I HEART Theater Choir, two free community vocal education programs.

Yisa Var

Treasurer

Yisa Var grew up in Pahoa and moved to Hilo for college where she graduated from UHH with highest honors with Bachelor’s Degrees in English and Communication. She went on to be a radio personality at various local stations for over fifteen years before moving to the mainland to further her career.

Now that she has returned home, she has reunited with her radio ʻohana at B97/B93 as an on-air personality, while also working in the business office. Yisa has also thrown herself into the local music scene, performing as a lead vocalist for Rhythm X and Show Me Dragon Band.

Acting and musical theater have been Yisa’s passion since the age of five. She has starred in a variety of local theater productions including Chicago, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Vagina Monologues with Roseanne Barr and Jane Sibbett (“Friends”), A Chorus Line, Bat Boy, Gypsy, Grease, Hairspray, and many more. When not performing, Yisa spends time with her family, which includes her supportive husband Paul, two grand daughters, and many, many Dobermans.

Angie Roiniotis

Director

Angie brings nearly 20 years of stage acting & vocal experience that spans collegiate, professional & competitive performance. Originally from Chicago, Angie was a three-time IHSA state champion in Drama who later went on to serve as a performer & collaborator with several Chicago-area theaters including The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Getz Theatre Center, Strawdog Theatre Company & McAninch Arts Center. In addition to acting, Angie is also a jazz singer, graphic designer & costume artist. Recently, her talents in performance & design have given her the opportunity to work on several Hilo based productions (both on stage & behind the scenes) through Hilo Community Players, Malama Arts Productions, Noisy Isle Theatre Co., The Palace Theater & H.E.A.R.T. Favorite past roles include: Bella Manningham (Gaslight), Princess Fiona (Shrek the Musical), Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), Tracy Lord (A Philadephia Story) and Roselind (Love's Labour's Lost). She currently resides in Laupahoehoe with her husband Nick, son Mikos & their little dog Basil.

Joshua Kaleo Akau

Director

Born in Kamuela, Hawai’i, Kaleo Akau is a Waiakea High School graduate. He is a local sound technician and musician. He had the honor of being trained by industry veteran Rob Abe who’s UH-Hilo Theater’s former longtime technician. Kaleo is also a Founder of Halau Kaleo a Keahilapalapa with nearly 130 hula students in Hilo and Japan. Kaleo is committed to perpetuating Hawaiian culture and supporting local performers.

Jason Aiwohi-Tomlin

Director

Jason Aiwohi- Tomlin was born in Hilo, Hawaii and is a graduate of Kamehameha. He is proud to be the Treasurer of the Heart Board after appearing in such shows as CABARET (Bobby), LION KING (Scar), THE PROM (Kevin), GREASE (Kenickie) and most recently the Palace production of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND (Daniel). Thanks to the support from his HEART family- Jason recently began choreographing - his most recent choreography credits include THE PROM and GREASE as well as providing “additional choreography” for CABARET. He has been dancing since the age of nine focusing on Hula and recently started training in ballet, jazz and other styles of dance. He currently works at Pineapples Restaurant as a manager. He looks forward to continuing acting, dancing and choreographing (as well as producing) for stage, film and television in the future.

Nicholas Souza

Director

Nicholas Souza was born in Hilo, Hawaii and is a graduate of Kamehameha. He is a local freelance filmmaker and photographer who proudly serves as the Interim Vice President on the HEART Board of Directors. Nick started working in community theater as the documentarian for HEART’S 2021 production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and has since Co-Produced such HEART shows as CABARET, LION KING, THE PROM and GREASE. Nick is currently pursuing a career as a director, screenwriter and producer.