EHDFC: Community Connections Build Trust & Create Collective Change

Pictured: the NoWAC 2025 Hawai‘i delegation: EHDFC members Rita Miller, Hawai‘i County Prosecutor’s Office; Sally Ancheta, EHDFC Coordinator; Camlyn Pola, EHDFC Vice-Chair; Makena Young, MADD HI; and Julie Mejia, HIAPA Statewide Coordinator. Not pictured: Brittany Cass, Bold Like Britt.

This summer, the East Hawai‘i Drug-Free Coalition (EHDFC) showcased the power of community connections and grassroots advocacy on the national stage, sharing Hawai‘i’s unique perspective at two major prevention conferences.

Northwest Alcohol and Substance Abuse Conference (NoWAC 2025)

On July 14–15 in Boise, Idaho, EHDFC attended the biennial Northwest Alcohol and Substance Abuse Conference. Coalition Coordinator Sally Ancheta and Vice-Chair Camlyn Pola presented a panel session in partnership with the Hawai‘i Alcohol Policy Alliance titled Driving Change: Mobilizing Coalitions to Pass a 0.05 BAC Law, sparking dialogue among attendees on how to pursue similar policy efforts in their own regions. 

Camlyn shared her powerful personal journey as a survivor of an impaired driving crash that claimed the lives of her high school classmates and an innocent driver heading home from work. Her story now fuels her advocacy for stronger impaired driving laws and her passion for educating students, community members, and lawmakers on policies that save lives. 

Sally emphasized the importance of grassroots efforts—listening to community stories, building trusted relationships, and serving as a resource to others—forming the foundation for collective action and meaningful policy change. 

National Prevention Network Conference (NPN 2025)

A few weeks later, on August 11–13 in Washington, D.C., EHDFC participated in the National Prevention Network Conference. Alongside prevention leaders from the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health, the University of Hawai‘i, the Attorney General’s Office, and ALU Like, Inc., the coalition presented strategies for adapting evidence-based programs into culturally grounded, community-driven, and data-informed approaches to address substance use across all ages—particularly in Native Hawaiian and rural communities. 

Sally highlighted EHDFC’s culturally rooted data collection tool, 1:1 Talk Story—a practice inspired by wala‘au (conversing and sharing). In these one-on-one conversations, coalition members learn about a person’s upbringing, community changes, concerns, and what brings them hope. More than 80 interviews have shaped EHDFC’s Community Needs Assessment. 

Conference participants even practiced the tool themselves, praising it as “easy to use,” “adaptable,” and “a powerful way to build connections.”

Looking Ahead

From Boise to Washington, D.C., EHDFC showed how community-rooted approaches from Hawai‘i can influence national conversations. Whether through policy advocacy or culturally grounded prevention strategies, the coalition continues to demonstrate that lasting change is built on trust, connection, and the voices of the community.

For more information about building community connections and the work of the East Hawai‘i Drug-Free Coalition, contact Sally Ancheta at sally@hiphi.org.