Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute (HIPHI) coordinates trainings and webinars in collaboration with partners. HIPHI provides trainings for the public health workforce and offers continuing education credits and started a series of “Public Health Action” webinars in April 2020 to address COVID-19. In addition, HIPHI is able to partner with organizations on trainings to assist with logistics and to provide continuing education units/credits (CEUs). CEUs are provided for: Social Work, Substance Abuse Counselor, Registered Dietitians, Certified Health Education Specialists, and Nursing (in 2022).
Work Samples
Roella joined HIPHI in 2014 and informs and oversees operations, programmatic, and strategic initiatives. She provides leadership and oversight to programs and staff, administration, fund development, human resources and talent acquisitions, mentorship, and communications. She has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience, with an undergraduate degree in Health Science from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree in Public Health is from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Roella is a loyal partner and mother to three keiki who loves gardening, cooking, baking, watching a good adventure flick, and traveling.
[she/her] Since joining HIPHI in 2018, Makamae coordinates community-based activities and public health workforce capacity to provide continuing education to healthcare providers and community members. She supports COVID-19 response outreach and education efforts and oral health coalition initiatives. Makamae earned her BS in Nutrition and MPA from Long Island University. Her background includes student affairs operations and program management. She’s passionate about health access and equity in Hawaiʻi’s communities. In her spare time, Makamae coaches volleyball at local high schools and clubs and spends time outdoors.
Alana Thomas
[she/her] Alana joined HIPHI in December 2020 and currently assists in creating and disseminating culturally relevant COVID-19 resources to families in Hawaiʻi. She provides weekly COVID-19 newsletters, social media posts, and outreach to community members statewide. She has a bachelors degree in Communications, and her commitment to being a mental health advocate led her to cofound a nonprofit initiating the conversation of suicide prevention and mental health in 2016. Alana spends her free time surfing and enjoying the beautiful hikes on Oʻahu.