Board of Directors

Misty Pacheco is an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences Department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, as well as a founding member of Maikaʻi Health Corporation, an innovative community health center in East Hawaiʻi built with a public health foundation and focused on education and training. Misty has nearly 17 years’ experience in the health field, having worked in the private and public health sectors, nonprofits, and global public health. She also served in the Peace Corps as a public health volunteer in Kenya. Dr. Pacheco’s research focuses on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHOPI) health disparities. Her current studies investigate HIV and oral health.

Debbie is currently with Kamehameha Schools as the director of Financial Planning and Analysis. She has a diverse background leading various finance functions including accounting operations, financial reporting, investment reporting, and budgeting. Previously, she was an assurance manager with KPMG, LLP.

JoAnn brings 30+ years of experience as a Public Health Educator with a career of work focused on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander audiences, low-literacy/low health literacy groups, and the medically underserved and indigent populations in Hawai‘i and the western Pacific. She currently serves as Director of the Community Based Research Cores on two multidisciplinary and translational research programs at the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Keshia Adolpho is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Molokai Community Health Center. She was born and raised on the island of Molokai and has 11 years’ experience working in the public and private sectors in the areas of domestic violence, education, behavioral and mental health. Prior to becoming a social worker she majored in Political Science and Administration of Justice and graduated in December of 2008 from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Camonia currently serves as an Associate Professor of Community Health at the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu and has over a decade of experience in helping others learn and practice community health. She is a passionate health advocate and a driven behavioral health organizer and researcher who is dedicated to understanding and communicating health prevention efforts for all populations.

Hale Makua

Carissa serves as the Manager for Health Pathways for Hale Makua Health Services and has over a decade of experience promoting community health, nutrition and wellness.  She has extensive knowledge of health marketing and is passionate for community engagement and bringing people together to foster collaboration and spur innovation. She previously served as Community Engagement Lead for Blue Zones Hawai‘i (Central Maui) and nutrition education wellness and promotions for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Dr. Jennifer José Lo is medical director of Hawai‘i Health Partners (HHP), a subsidiary of Hawai‘i Pacific Health (HPH). Dr. Lo and her team work to improve health care quality, efficiency, enhance patient experience, and reduce the overall total cost of care by providing guidance to HHP clinicians, overseeing clinical ancillary programs, and supporting other HPH initiatives. She previously served as medical director at the Boston Public Health Commission and the Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center. She has also practiced as primary care physician for the last 20 years, initiating her career at clinics in Hale‘iwa and on Lāna‘i. Jennifer was raised in Northern California and received her medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and completed her residency training at the University of Hawaii Family Medicine Residency Program.

May Okihiro is a pediatrician and community researcher at the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. She is also an associate professor at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine (UH JABSOM), Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Okihiro is passionate about reducing pediatric health disparities in Hawaiʻi, especially childhood obesity and asthma. She actively promotes health and wellness of Hawaii’s families through her research, advocacy and clinical work and has served on Hawaii’s Obesity Prevention Task Force since its inception in 2012.

Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center

Kate serves as the Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive for the Hawai‘i Region of Kaiser Permanente. She has been a Registered Nurse for over 4 decades and brings forth extensive knowledge of medical care and the healthcare system. She is focused on working with populations to improve health outcomes and promote public health, prevent and manage chronic disease, and optimize quality of life for the people of Hawai‘i.

University of Hawai‘i, William S. Richardson School of Law, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai‘i

Dina is a licensed attorney in the state of Hawai‘i and serves as a Faculty Specialist for the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law. She was the co-founder and director of the Medical Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai‘i and co-director of the Health Policy Law Center. In earlier roles, she served as a community organizer, educator and advocate for social and community justice. She has extensive development and fundraising experience, all of it on behalf of the public sector.

Garret Sugai has 21 years of experience in health care administration and information technology. As President of Integrated Services, Inc. and Vice President of Strategic Execution for HMSA, he leads a diverse array of functions. Garret completed Harvard Business School’s executive leadership program and holds a degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. Garret’s civic involvement includes serving on the boards of Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice and Hawaiʻi Association of Health Plans. He also serves on American Heart Association of Hawaii’s Beat committee.

Deputy Public Defender, State of Hawai‘i

Ti is the Deputy Public Defender for the State of Hawai‘i. He conducted roughly thirty-five jury trials and close to one hundred bench trials and has argued twice before the Hawai`i Supreme Court. He brings experience as a law clerk and bailiff responsible for the execution of the court’s calendar. He has committed his professional life to public service.
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