Aloha,
While 2020 has been a year of challenges and hardships, there have been silver linings for which we are grateful. Our communities rose to the challenges that COVID-19 presented. We witnessed our communities working together to address immediate response needs and to challenge the status quo. We at HIPHI have been asking ourselves, “How can we re-envision and rebuild Hawai‘iʻs public health systems to do better for those our systems are not currently serving?”
HIPHI nurtures a culture in which fairness and opportunity are central to our organization’s values, with justice as a core focus of our work. To us, this means moving beyond advocating for fairness, but rather amplifying our efforts to address systemic disparities. We are working to clearly identify structural barriers that continue to drive poor health outcomes in Hawaiʻi and directing our resources to change this narrative. In 2020, HIPHI created a justice and access committee, and along with our peers, joined national workgroups further dissecting this issue. With over 30 staff and interns collaborating, we revisited how fairness starts with each of us individually and how it is interwoven into our programs.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in our healthcare systems which exacerbated the health disparities experienced in Hawaiʻi for decades, but HIPHI was quick to respond. We pivoted some of our work to focus on COVID-19 response, including weekly webinars in conjunction with email updates, viewed over 19,000 times by the end of 2020. We also disbursed $3.13M in the form of grant funds for direct COVID-19 response and formed new programs to focus on kūpuna and statewide food security, an area of immense need. Despite a pause on in-person events, youth advocates were more active and impactful than ever before.
This has been a challenging year for us all, but HIPHI’s impact was greater than ever. Mahalo for enabling us to rise to the challenge. We could not do any of our work, or reach new areas without the help of our partners, advocates, funders, and donors. Mahalo for your help and support towards a healthier Hawaiʻi!
With Aloha,
2020 Goals
2020 Highlights
Maui Nui Food Alliance Selects Priorities
The Maui Nui Food Alliance brings together a broad range of community interests from Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi to support and promote a healthy food system for the future, while honoring the Native Hawaiian traditions of Maui Nui’s past. On February 26, 2020, the Steering Committee met to agree upon the mission, vision and values for the MNFA, outlining ways to achieve the strategic priorities identified. During the pandemic, the need to focus on food security became ever-clearer, with the Maui Food Bank distributing over 500,000lbs per month.
Youth Advocates Make an Impact
From advocacy to donations for COVID-19 response, 2020 was a big year for Hawaii’s youth advocates. Members of the Hana community showed up in force, submitting testimony at every hearing on all ten bills addressing regulations for electronic smoking devices. Over 125 youth from six islands and 40 community member volunteers were set to rally against the e-cigarette industry at the State Capitol but shifted to a virtual event to #TakeDownTobacco. Attendance at the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii’s Youth Council Kickoff Meeting doubled to more than 50, and the Hawai’i Youth Food Council was formed to engage youth in policy and systems change efforts that result in a just local food system for a healthier Hawai‘i.
Legislative Events
After a two month recess due to COVID-19, the Hawai‘i State Legislature reconvened for eight days in May, and then again in June. Their primary goals were to balance the state’s budget and allocate federal COVID-19 relief funds. Through the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, the state of Hawai‘i received a total of $1.25 billion dollars for state and local governments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Public Health Action
As HIPHI moved into new territory with COVID-19 reponse, we knew we had the responsibility of reaching and supporting a broad audience to help our communities respond. We were overwhelmed by the response: almost 1,000 people signed up for our first webinar, and we continued them weekly, and later biweekly, in conjunction with email updates. During 2020, our 21 COVID-19 webinars were viewed over 19,000 times. HIPHI also disbursed $3.13M in the form of grant funds for direct COVID-19 response, including providing meals for at-risk individuals.
Workforce Development and Education Growth
At HIPHI we are supporting medical and public health professionals through the Public Health Training Hui providing Continuing Medical Education credits and supporting Community Health Workers by providing statewide training on relevant topics. A total of 31 trainings were carried out, including 21 COVID-19 Public Health Action Webinars, 6 Public Health Training Hui Webinars, and 4 partner trainings. HIPHIʻs internship and volunteer program grew substantially, with 25 interns placed during Spring, Summer and Fall 2020, and 47 inquiries received, providing career development for students and early career professionals.
DA BUX Launches Statewide
The Food Basket’s DA BUX program officially launched statewide on June 24, 2020. Proudly called a “triple win” for Hawaiʻi, the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks program helps families, farmers, and communities. Funded by the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program and statewide partners who provided matching contributions, families’ purchasing power is doubled when buying local produce at participating retailers through a 50% discount on fresh, local produce, stretching SNAP dollars further.
Food Systems Expansion
The events of 2020 made it abundantly clear: the time is now to shift our state and counties’ focus toward ensuring food security for all of Hawaii’s people, and to significantly increase community food self-sufficiency. Following the award of a Regional Food System Partnership grant from the US Department of Agriculture, HIPHI hired a Statewide Food Systems Director and team. Goals include building statewide capacity and paving the way for a more robust, sustainable, and resilient food system, especially in times of crisis. The project harnesses the momentum from the COVID-19 pandemic, documents lessons learned, articulates policy and planning recommendations, and seeks to enable the state of Hawaiʻi to expand large-scale institutional purchasing of local foods.
New Programs: COVID-19 Response, Food Systems Transformation Initiative, and Kūpuna Food Security Coalition
COVID-19 Response
As the immense need for COVID-19 response became clear, HIPHI leapt into action, urging for public health measures and an initial shut down to curb the spread. Initial efforts were in collaboration with partners to facilitate response in all areas, from food security to distributing Personal Protective Equipment for nonprofits, and sending out weekly email updates and webinars. As dedicated funding came in, HIPHI’s COVID-19 response expanded, allowing us to create resource documents, increase social media sharing and expand into the associated new program areas below.
Food Systems Transformation Initiative
HIPHI strives to be a “hub for health” and food systems change is an important piece of our work under our healthy eating, active living (or HEAL) umbrella. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the already fragile food system in Hawai‘i, necessitating a deeper discussion on ways to redesign the food system. HIPHI and a number of partners began to look at food systems transformation and how we as a community can develop a more sustainable and resilient food system that is accessible for all residents. Through an initial planning phase that was kickstarted an initiative in 2020 called Transforming Hawaii’s Food System Together, the partnership was able to look at what are the basis for pursuing state-wide policies and strategies. We examined and dove deep into the following: 1) social network analysis, 2) food system mapping, 3) state policy analysis and 4) food system vulnerability assessments. The partnership continues to build networks, new partnerships, and foster working relationships that can make a difference together and see how the next phase can translate into implementation of identified strategies.
Kūpuna Food Security Coalition
The Kūpuna Food Security Coalition was created in response to the COVID-19 crisis to help those in desperate need of food, services and resources. This broad network of passionate individuals, non-profit organizations, service providers, businesses, funders, and state and local agencies came together rapidly to coordinate efforts to provide a food safety net for people. Prepared meals, food boxes, as well as connections to health and social services for Oahu’s kūpuna were immediately mobilized, with the Coalition serving over 5,000 seniors each week.
2020 Board Of Directors
Officers
- Michael Robinson, MBA, MA, Chair
- Joann ’Umilani Tsark, MPH, Secretary
- Kilikina Mahi, MBA, Treasurer
Members-at-Large
- Forrest Batz, PharmD
- Debbie Erskine
- Keawe Kaholokula, PhD
- Mark Levin, JD
- Bryan Mih, MD, MPH
- Rachel Novotny, PhD, RND, LD
- Garret Sugai
- Catherine Taschner, JD
Mahalo To Our Donors
87% Of Your Contributions Go Directly To Programs, Trainings And Advancing Policy Across The Islands!
Major Funders
- Atherton Foundation
- Bank of Hawaiʻi
- Wilcox
- McInerny
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
- CareQuest Initiative (formerly Dentaquest Foundation)
- City and County of Honolulu
- Centers for Disease Control
- Centers for Disease Control Foundation
- Ching Foundation
- Consuelo Foundation
- County of Kauaʻi
- County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Concerns
- Hawaiʻi Community Foundation
- Frost Family Foundation
- Hawaiʻi Children’s Trust Fund
- Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund
- Jeanne Herbert Fund
- Knudsen
- Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund
- Ulupono Foundation
- Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
- Hawaiʻi State Department of Health
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division
- Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Division
- Executive Office on Aging
- Family Health Services Division
- Maternal and Child Health Branch
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Program
Major Funders
- Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
- Healy Foundation
- HMSA
- Kaiser Permanente
- Lānaʻi Community Health Center
- Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation
- No Kid Hungry
- Sustainable Molokai
- University of Arizona
- US Department of Agriculture
- Voices for Healthy Kids
- Weinberg Foundation
Corporate Donors
- AmazonSmile Foundation
- Hawaiʻi Pacific Health
- Kamehameha Schools
- Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program
- The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
- Whole Foods Market
Individuals
Diamond Supporter $2,500+
- Alana Busekrus
Platinum Supporter $1,000-$2,499
- Carol Fullerton
- Thomas Kosasa
- Rachel Novotny
- Michael Robinson
- Clayton Thomas
- Robert Toyofuku
- Jin Young Lee
- Vanguard Charitable
Gold Supporter $250-999
- Carolyn Arakawa
- Forrest Batz
- Jason Cage
- Faith Caldeira
- Donald Campbell
- Jamie Carlisle
- Daniella Chung-Ueunten
- Michelle Cordero-Lee
- Debbie Erskine
- Debra Guernsey
- Geralyn Ihara
- Michael Ingraham
- Christine Jackson
- Keawe Kaholokula
- Margaret Keller
- Hye – Ryeon Lee
- Calvin Lee
- Carolyn Lee
- Joyce Lee-Ibarra
- Mark Levin
- Joshua Levinson
- M Lowe
- Kina Mahi
- Sharlene Mau
- Abriene Miyaguchi
- Ramona K Mullahey
- Kenneth Nakamura
- Ellen Schroeder
- Stephanie Strutner
- Garret Sugai
- Catherine Taschner
- Joann Tsark
- Michael Unten
- En Young
Silver Supporter $100-249
- Brigette Abbott
- Roy and Amy Abe
- Erwin Acierto
- Carol Adarna
- Kristine Akana
- Ann Akasaki
- Anna Andrade
- Lisa Anne Arakaki
- Derrick Ariyoshi
- David Ariyoshi
- Sunil Arora
- Gordon Au
- Rodney Aveiro
- Aileen Ayakawa
- Leinaala Ayau
- Dorothy Ayres-Smith
- Gloria Barcelona
- Mary Baron
- Paul Bee
- Leah Benz
- Liane Blake
- Steven Bradshaw
- Rosamund Brown
- Laurietta Burkett
- Rebha Chand
- Mabel Chang
- Catherine Ching
- Jennifer Choate
- Angela Chock
- Stephen Chock
- Robert Choi
- Suzanne Chun Oakland
- Janice Chung
- Christa Collins
- Rick Collins
- Manuel Cosma
- Ilona Crabbe
- Amy Dailey
- Ricky Davis
- Brenda De Ryke
- Daniel Del Monte Jr.
- Suszanne deRosenhart
- Gillian Dunn
- Ellen Ebesutani
- Sharon Egi
- Stacy Evensen
- Philomena Fatafehi
- Patty Ferdinand
- Viola Flores
- Lavada Fonseca
- Dan & Clarise Fujii
- Jeannie Fujikawa
- Craig Fujimoto
- Myles Fujiwara
- Senator Mike Gabbard
- Kirsty Gallaher
- Marnan Ganal
- Reginald Gaulman
- Sandy Gishitomi
- Garth Glazier
- Eleanor Gonsavles
- Chelsea Gonzales
- Alice Goo
- Michelle Gray
- Lori Guerin
- Janelle Gugudan
- Jonathan Gunter
- Kevin Ha
- Betty U Hagio
- Annie Hamilton
- Janet Hanley
- Jerris Hedges
- Julie Higashiguchi
Silver Supporter $100-249
- Dennis Ideta
- Robert Irvine
- Ron Iwai
- Dana Izumi
- Ralph Jackson
- Gregory Johnson
- Jenelle Kagawa
- Bernie Kahoonei-Pascual
- Kurt Kajiyama
- Jayne Kam
- Elaine Kamemoto
- Mary Kamiya
- Nadine Kane-Brennan
- Renee Kaneda
- Robin Kapoi
- Marian Kapuaala
- Larry Kauleinamoku
- Joy Kida
- Perry Killion
- David Kirby
- Lynn Kitamura
- Cynthia Kitkowski
- Christen Kobayashi
- Bart Koza
- Rie Kuhaulua
- Ronald Kuriki
- Jaime Kurosawa
- Laureen Kwock
- Trish La Chica
- Christopher Lai
- Pumehana Lani
- Gayle Lau
- Shaun Lehman
- Anne Leong
- Paul Levesque
- Deborah Lewis
- Alexis Liftee
- Alice Lin
- Ricky Lin
- Julian Lipsher
- Kristina Lockwood
- Ananda Luttet
- Teri Marcus
- Debra Martinson
- Charlene McCrea
- Douglas McNish
- Gerald Melanson
- Je’nae Meyers
- Donna Miller
- Dean Minakami
- Brigette Miyahira
- Sharon Miyata
- Steven Mizokawa
- Shaun Murakami
- Lorra Naholowa’a
- Iris Nakamatsu
- Jolene Nakamatsu
- Denice Nakamura
- Wayne Nakamura
- Sophie Nakamura
- Joyce Nakasone
- Pamela Napoleon
- Edna Nicomedes
- Charlene Nishida
- Gene Nishikawa
- Cynthia Nishimura
- Arlene Nomura
- Nancy Okumoto
- Lori Onaga
- Cheryl Onishi
- Robert Panee
- Ross Pegg
- Christopher Petruccelli
- Jason Pinero
- Darlene Pires
- Veronica Prado
- Sandy Purdy
- Michelle Richardson
- William Roll
- Meredith Ross
- Raymond Sasaki
- Trisha Sato
- Benjamin Y Sato
- Susan Schank
- Stephanie Shauf
- Sharlene Shishido
- Laura Shun
- Faith Sodetani
- John Soon
- Scott Stensrud
- Audrey Suga-Nakagawa
- Joyce Suzuki
- Edwina Tabata
- Dawnmarie Tafaoa
- Jessica Tafiti
- Pat Taira
- Carl and Jennifer Takahashi
- Joan Takazono
- Colby Takeda
- Ricky Takemoto
- Frances Tanaka
- Thomas Tanoura
- Debra Tasaka
- Jan and Allen Tateishi
- JoAnn Tengan
- Glenn Teraoka
- Zenaida Town
- Lynette Uehara
- Kayo Umetsu
- Lianne Uyehara
- Lorinda Waltz
- Denise Webb
- Nahealani Webster
- Don Weisman
- Elizabeth Winternitz
- Mildred Wong
- Paul Wong
- Tracy Yamamoto
- Jessica Yamauchi
- Arlene Yamauchi
- Racheal Yoshimura
- Deborah Zysman
Bronze Supporter $50-99
- Lorraine Agabin
- Sally Ancheta
- Sharon Ariyoshi
- Louann Asam
- Regina Atkins
- Wallace Austin
- Emily Auwae
- Linda T Baker
- Frances Baker
- Brianna Bean
- Nola Bell
- Margo Bennett
- George Birdwell
- Keora Blakeley
- Renee Blas
- Helen Bolton
- Naomi Book
- Candace Braswell
- Bev Brody Skerik
- Julie-Ann Cachola
- Arceli Chan
- Lolly Chun
- Linda Conboy
- Renato Cruce
- Belinda Danielson
- Kay Davis
- Evelyn Desha
- Marie Eletise
- Roella Foronda
- Burt Fujimoto
- Joy Fukumitsu
- Babette Galang
- Dorothy Gaughen
- Karen Goo
- Sonia Gupta
- Diane Heirakuji
- Suzanne Higa
- Charice Hirai
- Kevin Hironaka
- Zita Ho
- Lindsey Ilagan
- Rosemary Inouye
- Kevin Ishida
- Josephine Isidro
- Marilynn Ito-Won
- Jacob B Kaawa
- Tina Kahalewai-Pedro
- Minnie Kai
- Pat Kaialau
- Rosalynne Kakogawa-Wong
- Phillip Kalipi
- Sandra Kamaile
- Katherine Kamano
- Marie Kanealii-Ortiz
- Charlotte Kaulukukui
- Faith Kealoha
- Katherine Kirk
- Phyllis Klein
- Karen Koide
- Lee Kojima
- Vida Kowalski
- Susan Kunitake
- Robyn Kurahara
- Stephanie Labasan
- Tiare Lau
- Mark Levin
- Yan Yan Liang
- Erica Lincoln
- Jackie Lovin-Yap
- Daniel Lum
- Craig Makiya
- Gladys Matsushita
- Susan Mercado
- Bryan Mih
- Kathy Miyashiro
- Mary Miyashita
- Christine Mohar
- Lydi Morgan Bernal
- Daryl Mukai
- Jaylen Murakami
- Leolinda Naihe
- David Nakamoto
- Makamae Namahoe
- Kak Namkung
- Ethel R Nckillop
- June Nii
- Elaine Okamoto
- Janalee Ortiz – Misiaszek
- Misty Pacheco
- Robert Pahia
- Lia Pasco
- Margaret Perkinson
- John Prebula
- Margaret Proffit
- Waita Purdy
- Kevin Ramirez
- Carla Ramiscal
- Valerie Rose
- Scott Saki
- Shera Lynn Schmidtauer
- Valerie Smalley
- Dayne Snell-Quirit
- Michael Sparks
- Wanda Spillmer
- Michelle Tagorda
- Thomas Takayama
- Bryan Talisayan
- Sharon Tamaru
- Candace Tasoe
- Susan Tomei
- Ann Tonaki
- Nelson Tsuji
- Adam Woltag
- Bridget Wong
- Anthony Wunsch
- Mike Yokoyama
- Janice Yoshimoto
Friend $5-49
- Kristi Abalos
- Keshia Adolpho
- Mary Artese
- Norma Aruda
- Jean Aurand
- Donna Awana
- Caroline Azelski
- Kuincey Banac-Aricayos
- Jennifer Banglos
- Uyanga Batzogs
- Pat Berinobis
- Rebecca Black
- Camden Blair
- Laura Busche-Ong
- Shannon Cabanilla
- Kayla Carlisle
- Janet Chong
- Alice Adele Chong
- Jean Chun
- Noreen De Rego
- Nie Nie Dela Cruz
- Lisa DeSantis
- Sharon Egi
- Jackwayne Fernandez
- Kathleen Folio
- Steven Foytich
- Lori Fuchigami
- Christine Fukuda
- Gemma Ganir
- Jeremi Ganotisi
- Vernon Gomes
- Wendy Gormaine
- Helga Graeber
- Lorie Guynes
- Randal Hashimoto
- Charlotte Hee
- Janice Ho
- Tonja Hollander
- Asucena Imai
- May Imamura-Uruu
- Sharon Ishii
- Eric Ishikawa
- Donna Kamaile
- Jennifer Kane
- Troy-Allen Kane
- Joy Katsura
- Hiromi Kawanishi
- Ashlee Klemperer
- Ann Koay
- June Kobashigawa
- Jan Kuewa
- Amy Kunimura
- Debbie Lamoya
- Heidi Levenhagen
- Lauren Loor
- Jason Louie
- Daria Lupacchino
- Brynn M
- Lisa Martin
- Gregory McCreight
- Annette Mente
- Peggy Mierzwa
- Alvina Miyasato
- Mark Mizokawa
- Stephanie Moir
- Douglas Moniz
- Gloria Morales
- Betty Morikewe
- Trisha Nakamura
- Mercy Nakatayashi
- Dan Nishita
- Bonnie Nishiyama
- Kristi Okimoto
- Mel Oshio
- Dixie Peterson
- Christopher Petruccelli
- Catherine Pirkle
- Adrienne Purdy
- Alice Rae
- Jack Randall
- Elizabeth Rey
- June L Robins
- Gemey Sabarre
- Valerie Saiki
- Heide Schmidtauer
- Katsumi Scull
- Michele Sekimoto
- Lehua Simeon
- Andrea Snow
- Eileen Soneda
- Tiare Suan
- Alana Thomas
- John Thompson
- Cynthia Toli
- Keith Tseng
- Sharon Uesugi
- Violet Umemura
- Ronivelle Valiente
- Gregorio Ventayen Jr.
- Loiuse Villarin
- Adam Woltag
- Margaret Wong
- Donald Woode
- Nancy Yamachi
- Eugene Yamada
- Debra Yonashiro-Agpaoa