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HIPHI bids aloha ʻoe to Kayla Carlisle and welcomes new Community Health Workers

After a successful internship and two years of employment with HIPHI, we are both delighted and disheartened to announce that our Outreach and Engagement Specialist, Kayla Carlisle, will be closing her chapter with HIPHI in pursuit of becoming a Physician’s Associate. Kayla will be expanding her education and gaining clinical experience on the continent after leaving a positive impression on our Hawai’i communities. Kayla was integral in the development of HIPHI’s food security and kūpuna initiatives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including securing and managing grants, building relationships with partners, convening work groups, and publishing a number of reports. From all of us here at HIPHI, mahalo piha Kayla for your time with us and best wishes for your bright future ahead!

Though we are losing a team member, we are excited to announce that we have two new Community Health Workers at HIPHI! Both of them add a tremendous value to our team with their wealth of knowledge and expertise, and will be leveraging their skills to support Oʻahu kūpuna in getting connected with health and social services. Though employed by HIPHI, the CHWs are deployed to Community Development Block Grant grantee, Aloha Harvest, a non-profit organization and the largest food rescue and distribution organization in Hawaiʻi. Learn more about our Community Health Workers below:

Elizabeth Giron graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Thompson School of Social Work in 2021 and aspires to improve health disparities among the Native Hawaiian and local community, with a focus on rural areas of Hawaiʻi.

She draws on her previous experience with the John A. Burns School of Medicine Area Health Education Center, Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association, Ala Kuola DV Law Clinic, and various volunteer efforts to improve health and community outcomes. Lizzie resides in Haleʻiwa with her pet bunny, loves to swim at the beach, and bakes treats in her free time. To reach Lizzie, email elizabeth@hiphi.org.

Jennifer Kawata is a jack-of-all-trades CHW with experience in care navigation, case management, COVID-19 case investigation, direct patient care, community outreach, and more. Jennifer’s most recent experience was with the City and County of Honolulu ESD CORE Program, where she supervised Community Health Workers in the field to provide case management related to substance abuse treatment, housing, benefits, and general care. To reach Jennifer, email jenniferkawata@hiphi.org.