Annual Report 2022

2022 Highlights

Restoring Adult Dental Benefits for Medicaid

In 2009, drastic cuts eliminated essential dental services for Medicaid enrollees and reduced coverage to emergency-only (extraction and pain management). After nearly 13 years, the Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition successfully advocated to reinstate funding in the state budget to provide diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental coverage for adults in Hawai‘i with Medicaid.

Tobacco Community of Practice

HIPHI launched our first community of practice focused on tobacco to create a network of leaders who would become a source of ideas, action, and community conscience to reduce the harms caused by tobacco in our state. A cohort of eleven met monthly, committing to taking their leadership skills to the next level and fostering partnerships for lasting change in our state. Several projects were initiated as a result of this effort including increasing vaping prevention education in our elementary schools, researching the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing in Hawai‘i, and leading an effort to support behavioral health centers and substance treatment facilities adopt tobacco-free policies.

COVID Outreach

HIPHI partnered with 11 community-based organizations (CBOs) and seven federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on a COVID-19 prevention and mitigation project to provide COVID tests, personal protective equipment, and connection to resources. As a trusted provider of education and resources for hard-to-reach communities, FQHCs and many local CBOs have expanded their efforts to ensure their communities are vaccinated and provided up-to-date information by developing educational materials in the languages and dialects of their community members and using media to reach their target audience. They also organize and participate in community events that are attended by many local families, where they deliver important COVID-19 messaging using methods they know are effective to their community.

National Youth Advocate Award

Josh Ching, a senior at Kamehameha Schools and member of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i Youth Council, received the Youth Advocate of the Year Award (YAYA) at the national Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Gala in Washington, D.C., recognizing his leadership in anti-tobacco advocacy and public policy. Former Youth Council member and 2021 YAYA Group Award recipient Nikkya Taliafero also shared remarks at the ceremony.

100% of Kūpuna on O‘ahu Completed COVID-19 Vaccinations

According to the State Department of Health, 100.0% of those 65 years and older on O‘ahu have completed their initial series of COVID-19 vaccination. This achievement was due in large part to the outstanding work of the Kūpuna Vaccination Outreach Group (KVOG), a public-private coalition of over 50 organizations that worked together to quickly mobilize support for vaccine access to ensure no kūpuna were left behind. In honor of this milestone, Mayor Rick Blangiardi proclaimed May 6, 2022 to be “KVOG Day” in the City and County of Honolulu.

Hosted the Statewide Community Health Worker Conference

The 2022 Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Conference: Growing In Strength, held on July 8, 2022, was special as it was the first in-person gathering for the Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association since the pandemic. 200 Community Health Workers (CHWs), allies, and employers registered to attend this all-day conference with a record-breaking attendance from our neighboring island CHWs. The conference aimed to unify the voices of CHWs throughout the state of Hawai‘i, and strengthen the profession’s capacity to promote healthy communities through the sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise.

New Programs: Kūpuna Collective, Keiki Heroes, Food Gardens, and Community Health Workers

Kūpuna Collective. Originally formed as the Kūpuna Food Security Coalition in response to pandemic-related disruptions, the Kūpuna Collective is an expansion of its focus after recognizing the interconnected challenges kūpuna face—including digital access, isolation, and limited resources. Co-coordinated by HIPHI and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Center on Aging, the Kūpuna Collective brings together a collaborative network of partners who elevate critical issues, mobilize community assets, and drive innovative solutions that support and empower kūpuna.

Keiki Heroes. An initiative created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by dedicated individuals on Hawai‘i Island, Keiki Heroes aimed to help our keiki learn positive behaviors that empower them to thrive during the pandemic. The initiative provided multimedia tools and resources geared towards youth on learning about COVID-19, vaccines, prevention steps, and living a healthy lifestyle. In transitioning this project to HIPHI, we hope to continue developing new health education materials. This opportunity to have Kai and Hōkū support programs around all areas of health will be a valuable resource not only to children, but those who work closely with them and their ‘ohanas. We are excited to amplify the reach and impact of Kai, Hōkū and the Keiki Heroes initiative.

Hawai‘i Fund for Food Gardens initiative (Hui Māla ‘Ai). This statewide network for food gardens works to improve public health by expanding access to gardening opportunities and supporting gardens that promote health and food security across Hawai‘i. The network is led by a core group of dedicated partners, with HIPHI serving as the host organization. Partners include the Filipino Community Center, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), the Philippines General Consul of Honolulu, Bluezone, the Knights of Rizal Maysa Ohana Chapter, a program of Na Kanatona O Osiania, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program of Chaminade University, and the Department of Agriculture.

Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association. Officially launched in 2022 with its inaugural leadership council, the Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association Leadership Council is tasked with making decisions about the organization’s structure. The goal is to establish a CHW association to unite and bring CHWs together to share, learn from each other, network, and advocate for their profession.

Officers

• Kilikina Mahi, Chair
• Joann ʻUmilani Tsark, Secretary
• Debbie Erskine, Treasurer
• Misty Pacheco, Incoming Board Chair

Members-at-Large

• Keshia Adolpho
• Camonia Graham-Tutt
• Carissa Holley
• May Okihiro
• Michael Robinson
• Kathleen Roche
• Dina Shek
• Garret Sugai
• Titiimaea Ta’ase