Ms. Macanas was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in the Yakima Valley. Upon graduating from high school, she attended college at Utah Valley University (formerly known as Utah Valley State University) where she co-taught first year college students alongside a college professor. Ms. Macanas obtained an Associates in Arts degree along with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, minoring in early childhood education. While teaching fourth grade, she was called to be an assistant administrator (acting elementary principal when the principal was out of the building) and obtained a Master’s degree in Education as well as an administrative credential (K-12 certified). After twelve years working in the elementary schools, ten of those years working as an elementary vice principal, Ms. Macanas and her family moved to Kailua, Hawaii and began a new career as an office manager/paralegal at a law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has been an office manager/paralegal for fifteen-years and is in her seventh year, currently teaching full-time at Kapiolani Community College in the paralegal department.