New Staff Join HIPHI in Fall 2023!

Lauren Loor is the Statewide Program Manager for Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Initiative. She previously worked for HIPHI as the Maui Nui HEAL Coalition coordinator from 2017 to 2022. Lauren has a wide range of experience with coalition building,  policy analysis, advocacy, strategic planning, program management, and implementation. Lauren is excited to work as the Program Manager for the HEAL Initiative to support programmatic efforts tackling health disparities that affect communities in Hawai‘i and to be of service by advocating for HEAL policy priorities. 

Lauren is originally from New York City and graduated with her Master of Public Health from Long Island University Brooklyn in 2014. She moved to Maui in 2016 and recently returned home to Maui after traveling to Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America with her husband. In her free time, Lauren enjoys painting, making macrame, planting succulents, and going to the beach. 

Patti Hatzistavrakis is the East Hawaiʻi Healthy Eating + Active Living Initiative Coalition Coordinator. Patti will work closely with the Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) partners to provide resources to advance the health and wellness of the people of Hawai‘i. In her most recent role, Patti worked at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as the Student Health and Wellness Programs Coordinator and Prevention Educator, where she developed educational programs for the diverse student body and engaged in outreach efforts to encourage the use of on-campus support services such as the Counseling Center and Medical Clinic. In addition, Patti fostered relationships with local agencies to provide adjunct programs and services that benefited students’ well-being. Concurrent to this position, Patti held roles with the Research Corporation of the University as both a Health Education Coordinator for the SAMHSA Suicide Prevention grant and as a Student Research Assistant, providing support for NIH-funded studies. Before these roles, Patti gained certification as a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant through the American Fitness Professionals and Associates to inspire and support healthy eating behaviors in the local community. 

Originally from Pennsylvania, Patti moved to Hawaiʻi Island in the summer of 2012 with her husband, Harry, seeking a healthier lifestyle. She was inspired to pursue healthy living as a preventative measure to avoid succumbing to the chronic diseases that impacted her family. This pursuit led her to return to school and achieve a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, focused on Health Promotion, and a certificate in Indigenous Public Health from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in the fall of 2021. 

Patti has committed the last decade to health and wellness and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with community members to enhance the health and well-being of all. And so, she is excited and energized to be part of the HIPHI team! In this role, she hopes to foster alliances and build a coalition of like-minded organizations and individuals focused on developing healthy eating and active living programs and opportunities for community engagement.  

Patti lives in Pāhoa, located south of Hilo, with her husband and their dog, Stitch. She enjoys cooking healthy meals, staying active through swimming and weight lifting, and spending time outdoors.

Jay Ihara joined HIPHI in August 2023 as the East Hawai‘i Tobacco-Free Coalition Coordinator. Jay has experience with tobacco prevention and control, teaching tobacco prevention to youth attending the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island’s afterschool program and in Big Island schools. Jay was a member of Tobacco-Free Big Island and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi for three years and participated in the Coalition’s efforts in policy work, tobacco education, and events. 

In his role as East Hawai‘i Tobacco-Free Coordinator, Jay will work with community partners and individuals to reduce the use of tobacco and vape products, eliminate health disparities in the community, and provide resources to reduce tobacco use and exposure.

In his free time, Jay engages in community service projects with the Akaka Falls Lions Club and Exchange Club of Hilo.

Leslie Garo joined HIPHI in September 2023 as the Maui County Community Coordinator for the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i. Leslie brings a wealth of clinical and public health experience through her previous roles as a Medical Assistant, Programs Manager at the Community Clinic of Maui, and Diabetes Prevention Program Coach. She also started Maui’s Group Prenatal Care Program and worked with Community Health Workers. In her free time, Leslie loves spending time with her family of 4, singing and dancing to music, and being out in nature.

Rojelle Bohol joined HIPHI in August 2023 as the Events and Outreach Coordinator and is responsible for planning and coordinating mission-aligned events. She has a bachelor’s degree in in Public Health and Sociology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her journey began with an internship at HIPHI’s Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi Youth Council while studying at the university. Prior to joining HIPHI, Rojelle worked for the State. Beyond her career, she enjoys kdramas, kpop, and spending quality time with loved ones, including being a devoted dog and cat mom.

Eleni Valan joined HIPHI in July 2023 as the Communications Specialist. Prior to joining HIPHI, Eleni worked in fund development and communications at Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) and Mālama ʻĀina Foundation. She has a BA ʻIke Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Studies) from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Eleni loves learning about Hawaiʻi history and visiting archives, museums, and historic buildings.

Fiona Chin joined HIPHI in July 2023 as the Digital Media Specialist. Working closely with the Communications Team, Fiona ensures effective and consistent communication with stakeholders while upholding HIPHI’s brand standards. Fiona is a tech-focused digital marketing expert with innovative strategies, cross-channel implementation, and user experience optimization. She has a BA in Communication Design.

Roseie Abon joined HIPHI in July 2023 as a Community Health Worker for the Community Health Workers (CHWs) for COVID Response and Resilient Communities (CCR) project. She is passionate and dedicated to serving her community and will have a special focus on serving residents in low-income housing in Hilo.