Four New Staff Join HIPHI in Winter 2024

HIPHI is thrilled to introduce four new staff members joining our team in Winter 2024! Meet our newest team members:

Saya Shibata joined HIPHI as the Youth Coordinator for the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i in October 2024. In this role, she recruits and mentors a varied Youth Council whose mission is to advocate for policies aimed at reducing nicotine use and exposure to secondhand smoke at both county and state levels. With over 6 years of experience as a high school Science and Health Sciences teacher and a Masters in Education, Saya is passionate about youth empowerment and public health advocacy. Outside of work, Saya enjoys cooking and attending live music events with friends and family.

Takson Paul joined HIPHI in November 2024 as a Bilingual Health Aide deployed to Maika‘i Health on Hawai‘i Island. A dedicated member of the Ocean View community, Takson brings a deep understanding of cultural nuances that allows him to provide culturally competent care and translation services for the Marshallese community, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. In his free time, Takson enjoys baseball, spearfishing, and hunting.

Ariana Tenaglia, MS, joined HIPHI in December 2024 as the Maui Nui Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition Coordinator. In this role, Ariana works with the community to increase awareness of health disparities and promote local efforts that create fair opportunities for well-being. Ariana supports the Maui Nui HEAL Coalition in developing and implementing community initiatives aligned with the State Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Plan. She holds a master’s degree in Nutrition Education from American University and has experience in eating disorder recovery and personalized nutrition counseling. Ariana earned her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and loves spending as much time in the ocean as possible.

Sheryl Tajas joined HIPHI in December 2024 as the Grant Accountant, responsible for accounts payable, grant billings, account reconciliation, and supporting grant reporting. She brings over three years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, including roles in the accounting departments at Catholic Charities, Institute for Human Services, and Kōkua Kalihi Valley. In her free time, Sheryl enjoys walking in nature or anywhere with a nice view and relaxing.