2024 Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Conference

Photo: Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association Leadership and support staff holding the 2024 Community Health Worker Proclamation.
Pictured (Top row left to right): Chauncey Hatico – Association Coordinator, Claudia Hartz – Outgoing Chair, Denise ‘Ola’ Ropa – Lāna‘i Island Representative, Jovena Moses – Hawai‘i Island Representative, David Mamae – O‘ahu Island Representative, Cynthia Crabtree – Hawai‘i Island Representative. (Bottom row left to right): Rosi Filemoni – CHW Liaison, Maile Holokai – Maui Island Rep, Kelli Anne Murakami – Secretary, Gracie Flores – Chair, Cyd Hoffeld – Vice Chair, Crystal Caday-Bargayo, Kaua‘i Island Representative.
Not Pictured: Loren Lindborg – Treasurer, Ashley Tone – Maui Island Representative.

On August 9, over 200 Community Health Workers (CHWs) and their allies gathered for the one-day 2024 Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Conference, the largest gathering of CHWs throughout the state of Hawai‘i.

It was at this year’s conference that Hawaiʻi CHWs celebrated Governor Josh Green’s proclamation of August 2024 as Community Health Worker Awareness Month in Hawaiʻi. This marked the beginning of the movement to officially recognize and honor the crucial role that CHWs play in the health and well-being of communities. This proclamation highlighted CHWs contributions to public health, healthcare delivery, community wellness initiatives, and significant events including the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Maui fires. It was a time of joy and empowerment for not only the CHWs who attended this year’s conference, but for all CHWs across the state.

228 attendees participated in Community Health Worker-led breakout sessions and enjoyed keynote speeches from fellow Community Health Workers. 79 allies participated in Ally-specific tracks including:

149 CHWs, 51 of which were awarded travel scholarships from Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Kaua‘i, and Lāna‘i, made possible by the Stupski Foundation, attended CHW-led breakout sessions on Community Resilience, Leadership, and Workforce Development.

Representatives from Kōkua Kalihi Valley and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies on Maui led the conversations on building community resilience in their breakout rooms:

During this year’s lunch break, the Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association took the time to spotlight CHWs and the amazing work they have done in their communities. These efforts first began in January 2024, when CHWs nominated fellow CHWs to be spotlighted for their work. This effort continues to help motivate and uplift CHWs in knowing that the work they do is valuable and creates everlasting impacts on our communities.

And the conference ended with powerhouse keynote speaker, Honey Yang Estrada, President of the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association. Honey spoke on the importance of uniting CHWs throughout Hawai‘i to continue this movement forward. As quoted by attendees, Honey was an “amazing and inspiring keynote speaker” and “the highlight of the conference.”

This year’s conference was truly an atmosphere of joy, celebration, and recognition of CHWs throughout the state of Hawai‘i. It was a time for CHWs to reach into needed resources, trainings, and celebration, so they can continue reaching out to the communities they serve. As quoted by a CHW attendee, “I am prouder today than I was yesterday in my role. Thank you for the motivation and knowledge provided by our peers today.”

Thank you to our amazing sponsors: Hawai‘i State Department of Health, Stupski Foundation, Hawai‘i Rural Health Association, AlohaCare, United Healthcare, and Pear Suite! We also mahalo our 2024 Conference Planning Committee Members and all of our breakout session speakers for your time and dedication to developing a successful conference this year.

Mahalo for joining us this year! But it doesn’t end here. Join us for our upcoming CHW Only Meetings online every third Thursday. Check out our events page to access the link to our next meeting. Also, please stay connected with us to learn more about our 2025 Regional Meetings, where our Leadership Council will be meeting you where you are to learn more about the issues you face on your specific island and provide you with updates on the journey we are on as a CHW workforce here in Hawai‘i. You don’t want to miss out!

STAY CONNECTED

• Visit our website to join our upcoming monthly CHW Only Meetings, committee meetings, and more: hichw.org
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @HawaiiCHWA to stay connected with the association and all CHW happenings throughout Hawai‘i.
• Join our listserv to get monthly newsletters and resources sent directly to you.
• To learn more about how you can support CHWs throughout the state of Hawai‘i, please contact info@hichw.org.