Full Conference Agenda

Read the Full Schedule and Meet the Speakers

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025

Exhibitors and Poster Board Area Open

Registration

8:00 - 9:00 AM

Coffee / Tea / Pastries

Pule / Welcome / Kick off

9:00 - 9:15 AM

Ilihia Gionson

  • T. Ilihia Gionson has built his career at the crossroads of Hawai‘i’s most complex community challenges, focused on bringing people together and honoring diverse voices and perspectives in important conversations. Known for his approachable style and thoughtful way with words, Ilihia helps navigate intricate issues with clarity, empathy, and respect.

     Through roles leading communications and engagement for Hawai‘i County Mayor Billy Kenoi, U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and private sector clients through his firm Hiehie Communications, Ilihia’s work has spanned affordable housing and renewable energy development, emergency response and disaster recovery, regenerative tourism, and government affairs on the local, state, and national levels.

     He currently serves as Chief Public Affairs Officer at the W. M. Keck Observatory, leading efforts to strengthen the mutual stewardship of the explorers advancing humanity’s understanding of the universe and the community that hosts the world’s premiere site for astronomy, Maunakea.

     Inspired by the journey caring for his dad, an U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, Ilihia was selected as an Elizabeth Dole Foundation fellow, advocating nationally for military veteran caregivers like himself. He was also recognized in 2025 as one of Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40, a group of exceptional young professionals making their mark across Hawai‘i.

     A proud product of the Hawai‘i Island community and his alma maters Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Ilihia now lives in Kona with his ‘ohana: daughter Kawaipōmaika‘i, partner State Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, and father Tony a.k.a. Pops.

Opening Remarks

9:15 - 9:30 AM

Highlight state healthcare initiatives and other priorities.

  • Mayor Kimo Alameda is a proud father of seven children who has dedicated his professional career to serving the people of Hawai`i Island.

    Prior to being elected as Mayor, he led Bay Clinic as CEO, the Hawai`i Island Fentanyl Task Force, and was the Executive of the County of Hawai`i’s Office of Aging.

    A licensed psychologist and former coach, Mayor Alameda leads the County to build healthy communities, support geographic equity, and create a stronger island for all. 

9:30 - 9:45 AM

Community First Hawai`i is a nonprofit dedicated to improving healthcare access, affordability, and outcomes for Hawai`i Island. By convening healthcare providers, social service organizations, policymakers, and community members, we foster collaboration and innovation to address the island’s most pressing health challenges. Through initiatives that support care coordination, community navigation, and cross-sector partnerships, we work toward a healthier, more connected future for all.

Introduction, Community First Hawai`i

Breakout Sessions I - V

1:45 - 2:45 PM

Randy Kurohara

  • Toby has served as President and Chairperson of Community First’s board since [YEAR]. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of KTA Super Stores, the largest network of retail grocery stores on Hawaiʻi Island. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Hawaiian Electric Company, Employers’ Protective Insurance Company, Public Schools of Hawaiʻi Foundation, the Lyman House Museum, and the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust. Toby holds a Certificate in Executive Food Industry Management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science Communications Management from the University of Portland.

  • Randy is the Executive Director of Community First and is responsible for carrying out our strategic vision and mission. He served for 8 years with Mayor Kenoi in various roles at the County of Hawaiʻi including Director of the Department of Research & Development, Deputy Managing Director, and Managing Director. He is a long-time Hawaiʻi Island small business owner of Creative Arts Hawaii and Aloha Grown. He graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. He is the current President of the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce; member and past President of the Rotary Club of South Hilo; director and past President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaiʻi; board member of the Hawaiʻi Health System Corporation's East Hawaiʻi Regional Board, the Salvation Army, Keahole Center for Sustainability, and emeritus board member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island.

Toby Taniguchi

9:45 - 10:15 AM

The new AHEAD grant will boost statewide efforts to enhance primary care access, reduce inequities, improve healthcare outcomes, and maintain affordability. Funded by CMS/CMMI, this 10-year initiative focuses on Medicaid and Medicare modernization and aims for alignment with commercial payers. It brings significant financial resources to Hawaiʻi but will require widespread health sector collaboration to succeed.

Opening Keynote Address

  • Inspired and concerned by the events of the last decade that surround Mauna Kea and her future, John (with wife Ginny’s consent) chose to compete for the leadership role as executive director of the newly formed Mauna Kea Stewardship & Oversight Authority (MKSOA). In March 2024, MKSOA’s 12-member board of directors, announced its selection of John to head the new authority.

    The board’s selection of John was informed by a wide range of support and opposition that he received from kupuna, business executives, community leaders, environmentalists, conservationists, Hawaiian cultural practitioners and kiaʻi (protectors); some of whom led the massive July 2019 demonstration and blockade against the commencement of construction for the Thirty Meter Telescope.

    MKSOA was enacted by law in July 2022, within which a five-year transition period was established (July 1, 2023 - July 1, 2028) for the transfer of all management and stewardship responsibilities on the summit, from the University of Hawaiʻi to MKSOA.

    In accepting this challenging assignment, John is aware of and grateful for the complexities that are imbedded in the process of establishing common ground which will honor, care for and protect Mauna Kea as a summit of spirituality and the pinnacle of astronomical research in the world. Effectively, Mauna Kea is a sacred place of cosmological origin and cultural identity for Native Hawaiians while being recognized throughout the world as the pre-eminent, Earth-based portal to the cosmos.

    John currently serves on the boards of Friends of the Future, Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Memorial Committee, Henry Kapono Foundation, and Kualoa Ranch. He was born and raised in Waikīkī and East Oʻahu and a graduate of Punahou School. John and Ginny have resided in Kona for the past 35 years.

John DeFries

How Policy Impacts Healthcare Delivery in Hawa'i’i

10:45 - 12:00 PM

Lunch

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Exhibitors and Poster Board Area Open

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  • Jill Tokuda represents Hawaiʻi's Second Congressional District which includes suburban and rural parts of Oʻahu, the islands of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui, Lanaʻi, Molokaʻi, Niʻihau, Kahoʻolawe, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Elected in November 2022 to serve in the 118th Congress, Tokuda serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

    She is a Founding Member and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Rural Health Care Caucus. She has also been selected by her peers to serve as Vice Chair for Communications for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Freshman Representative for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Region 2 Whip (includes Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Northern California, Guam, American Samoa, and The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).

    Jill's family has called Hawaiʻi home for four generations since emigrating from Okinawa, living on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi, and on the Windward side of Oʻahu. A proud product of Hawaiʻi's public schools, she was the first in her family to go to college and attended the George Washington University where she earned a BA in international relations with a minor in Japanese studies.

    From 2006-2018, she represented Kaneohe and Kailua in the Hawaiʻi State Senate. During her tenure, she chaired the Ways and Means, Education and Higher Education, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, and Labor committees. As Ways and Means Chair, Jill balanced the state’s $14 billion budget and approved all fiscal and tax measures at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. She also championed legislation that established the state's first Executive Office on Early Learning and funded the Hawaiʻi Keiki Program to provide access to health services in public schools.

    During the pandemic, Jill was appointed to the Hawaiʻi House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness where she worked with the state, counties, and nonprofit entities to track the progress of over $21 billion in federal relief that came into Hawaiʻi and provide information and analysis to aid in the distribution and management of these resources.

    Jill is married to Kyle Michibata. They have two sons, Aden and Matt, who attend the same public schools their parents graduated from – King Intermediate and James B. Castle High School.

    U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda is driven by the goal of making sure Hawaiʻi is a place where her sons and all of our children can see a future for themselves in this place we call home.

Session I: Transforming Healthcare Delivery on Hawai`i Island

The panel proposes to share and discuss how innovative partnerships and community-driven solutions are transforming health care delivery on Hawaiʻi Island—especially for the most vulnerable populations—by addressing systemic barriers to accessing care, integrating behavioral health, and envisioning a more equitable future.

  • Andrew Post leads Hazel Health with a mission to expand telehealth access for K–12 students across Hawai`i. Under his leadership, Hazel Health has partnered with the Hawai`i Department of Education (HIDOE) to deliver community-based mental health services through a robust telehealth platform, ensuring students statewide receive timely and equitable care.

  • Cecilia Sakata oversees school-based healthcare initiatives on Hawai`i Island, focusing on accessible, student-centered care. She recently spearheaded the launch of the Gateway to Health Mobile Clinic, a project funded by ‘Ohana Health Plan and the Centene Foundation, to bring essential health services directly to students and families.

  • John White champions rural health equity as CEO of Hamakua-Kohala Health Center. His recent efforts include securing grant funding to establish a Connectivity Hub in Waipi‘o Valley, aimed at bridging the digital divide and enhancing healthcare access through technology in underserved communities.

  • Sunny Chen leads the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai`i, an organization dedicated to improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state. She oversees the Mana ‘Ohana Program—developed in partnership with ‘Ohana Health Plan—which takes a community-centered, whole-person approach to care. The program integrates medical, behavioral, and social support services to meet the diverse needs of pregnant women and families in Hawai`i.

  • Kari leads efforts to improve access and outcomes for underserved communities through innovative, community-driven health initiatives.  Kari brings deep expertise in equity-focused care and system transformation to this panel on reimagining healthcare delivery on Hawai`i Island as well as across the State.

This interactive panel explores how Hawai`i Island Community Health Center unifies cultural grounding, people-first leadership, and street medicine to expand access and compassion in care. Guided by Ke Ala Kūpono—the right and just path—panelists will share real-life strategies, from relationship-based street medicine to culturally inclusive care grounded in Native Hawaiian values and the spirit of Aloha. Attendees will hear how small touchpoints like wound care and hygiene kits reconnect patients to primary care, while cultural frameworks foster trust and improve outcomes. The session also addresses data-informed decision-making, staff well-being, and the role of cultural identity in care. Participants will gain practical tools for bridging culture, leadership, and data to deliver equitable, human-centered healthcare in rural and underserved communities.

Session II: People First, Culture Always: Intentional Approaches to Healing in Our Communities

Lauren Wittemore

Dr. Milton Leslie

Lee-Ann Noelani Heely

Kari Shintaku

Moderator

Andrew Post

Sunny Chen

Cecilia Sakata

John White

  • Lauren Whittemore, LSW, is the Director of Street Medicine at Hawai`i Island Community Health Center, where she leads a multidisciplinary team providing low-barrier healthcare to individuals experiencing homelessness. Born and raised in Honolulu, she holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa and has built her career in social services with a focus on trauma-informed practices and community collaboration. She has served on the board of The Food Basket and as the West Hawai`i representative for the National Association of Social Workers – Hawai`i Chapter. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys hiking, bodyboarding, and traveling with her ‘ohana.

  • Dr. Milton M. Leslie is a Doctor of Public Health and Senior Director of Experience at Hawai`i Island Community Health Center (HICHC), where he leads culturally responsive strategies to improve health equity and patient experience. Born and raised in South Kona and grounded in his Native Hawaiian heritage, he champions care models that reflect the values of cultural awareness and inclusion. He is the architect of the “Be the Aloha” patient hospitality program and a founding member of the HICHC Cultural Hui, both of which have strengthened cultural humility, enhanced patient-staff relationships, and fostered a more inclusive, values-driven care environment across the organization. With over 15 years of healthcare leadership, Dr. Leslie integrates cultural insight, data, and leadership to build resilient, people-first systems.

  • Dr. Lee-Ann Noelani Heely serves as the Director of the Health Equity Department at Hawai`i Island Community Health Center. With a Master of Education in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling (M.Ed.) and Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (D.M.), she leads efforts to reduce health disparities and improve health literacy for marginalized populations. Her department provides preventive education, outreach, and support for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) through a team of Community Health Workers, Educators, and Patient Navigators. Their mission is to increase access to quality healthcare and connect individuals with community resources that support well-being and a thriving life across Hawai`i Island.

Session III: Innovative Partnerships to Strengthen Hawai`i Island’s Behavioral Health Workforce: From Entry through Licensure

Hawai`i Island faces a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals. Addressing this shortage requires coordinated strategies across the workforce pipeline, from entry-level roles through licensure. This panel brings together higher education and community partners to highlight innovative solutions at multiple stages. At the undergraduate level, partnerships between UH Hilo and the YWCA of Hawai‘i Island provide opportunities for students to enter the workforce as advocates and support staff, gaining early trauma-informed experience. At the graduate level, the UH Hilo MA Program in Counseling Psychology has expanded with state and federal support to grow cohort size, add faculty expertise, create clear pathways to licensure, and launch a new Addictions Counseling concentration to prepare students for co-occurring issues. Post-graduation, the Hawai`i Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program and Kumukahi Health and Wellness are expanding access to supervised hours for MSW graduates. Participants will share ideas and opportunities to strengthen the behavioral health workforce.

Charmaine Higa-McMillian

Lisa Lucia

Annette Manant

Diane Hale

Lani Weigert

Moderator

Rodney Powell

  • Aimee Chung, MSW, LSW has over 30 years of experience in social work and academia. She is currently tenured Faculty, Field Education Coordinator, and Coordinator of the Hawai`i Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health. In her career she has worked as a practitioner and leader, primarily in programs supporting those who are survivors of family violence, underserved communities, and diversely-abled individuals. She has experience in both non-profit agencies and state departments. Although most of her work has been in Hawaiʻi, she has also lived and practiced in California and Colorado. Her areas of interest include field education, workforce development, self-care, trauma-informed frameworks, wellness and wellbeing, power-based personal violence, diversity, and culturally-grounded practice.

  • healthcare quality improvement, health equity advocacy, primary care clinic administration, and nursing education. She is often seen with her certified therapy dog Koa Maluhia who is experienced in providing comfort and entertainment to people of all ages, but with a focus on those with cognitive impairment and mental health disorders. She is dedicated to expanding and enriching the healthcare experience in our community by supporting a culture of mutual trust and respect, understanding each person's unique journey, and helping them to achieve their best possible health. 

  • Rodney has been working in the Behavioral Health for over 25 years. He has experience with National & State non-profit and for-profit social services agencies; as well as having worked in the Adult Mental Health, the University of Hawaiʻi mental health research division, and has extensive clinical experience with Medicaid and Medicare from both a managed care & community provider perspective. He has served on local non-profit boards and is active in National, State, and County initiatives on advancing primary care through behavioral health integration. Rodney is of Pacific Island heritage and he resides in Hilo with his partner of 27 years.

Aimee Chung

Session IV: Palliative Care: A Hukilau of Treasures

Panelists will share insights into the partnerships necessary to support mental health initiatives, including collaboration with community organizations, healthcare providers, and local government, to ensure a comprehensive continuum of care. This session will also address the importance of community engagement and education in reducing stigma and promoting these vital services. Join us to learn how these innovative approaches are re-imagining and transforming mental health crisis care in Hawaiʻi County, ensuring that everyone has Someone to Call, Someone to Respond and Someplace to Go in their time of need.

  • As a former Sharp Healthcare Senior Vice President and CEO of Sharp Rees Stealy Medical Centers, Donna J. Mills led a staff of more than 1,800 employees who were dedicated to supporting the 450 physician multi-specialty medical group practice. Sharp Rees-Stealy is nationally known for superior clinical practices and efficient care delivery models. They care for more than 1 million patients annually at 22 locations throughout San Diego. Sharp Rees-Stealy is part of Sharp HealthCare, San Diego's most comprehensive health-care delivery system with many accolades including being a 2007 Malcolm Baldrige recipient. 

    Prior to joining Sharp Rees-Stealy in 1998, Mills had a successful career in medical group practice leadership and currently draws on those core competencies as a respected healthcare consultant.

  • Dr. Murayama is the Executive Vice President and Chief Health Officer for the Hawaiʻi Medical Services Association (HMSA). In his role, he oversees the Health Services Division which has responsibility for provider relationships, provider network and contracting, integrated health management, pharmacy services, and community health equity. As a retired provider in the local medical community, Dr. Murayama understands the importance of all providers to patients and the community.

  • Lynda M. Dolan, MD, FAAFP, has been a Family Physician in private practice at The Family Medicine Center (FMC) in East Hawaiʻi for the past 27 years. FMC provides a team-based model of care and is a teaching site for various learners- medical students and residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and college and high school students. 

    Dr. Dolan has a passion for providing comprehensive healthcare to the community with an eye on improvement strategies to ease the administrative burden on physicians while engaging patients more in their own healthcare and creating collaborative relationships with various healthcare stakeholders.

    She is active as the President of the East Hawaiʻi Independent Physician Association/Big Island Docs, board member of Queens Clinically Integrated Physician Network (QCIPN), and volunteers on various non-profit boards. She is the medical director at Hawaiʻi Care Choices which provides hospice and palliative care services to our community. 

  • Scott Whiting is The Queen's Health Systems Senior Vice President, Chief Population Health Officer, and The Queen's Development Corporation President. Whiting has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Genetics from Dartmouth College. Whiting, whose wife is originally from Hawaiʻi, moved here a decade ago to raise his children surrounded by their local family and is deeply committed to improving health care in Hawaiʻi.

Jeanene ‘Helene’ Andrew

Brenda Ho

Session V: Maternal Newborn Health - A Team Effort: Midwives and Physicians Caring for Our Future

Join us for a moderated discussion on the crucial role of private practice providers in Hawaiʻi Island’s healthcare ecosystem. This session will explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these providers in rural areas, including issues related to patient access, financial sustainability, and workforce shortages. We’ll discuss how private practices support the broader healthcare system by delivering essential, personalized care to underserved communities. Attendees will gain insights into the current status of private practices, their impact on community health, and strategies for strengthening this vital sector to ensure a resilient healthcare delivery system in rural Hawaiʻi.

Leila Ryusaki

Margaret Ragen

Patricia Hopkins

Dr. Lynda Dolan

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Dr. Mark Rhee

Exhibitors Area Open

Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM

Coffee / Tea / Pastries

Healthcare Leadership Panel

3:15 - 4:45 PM

Key leaders from Hawaiʻi Island Healthcare organizations discuss collaborative efforts to focus on improved health outcomes.

Brandee Menino

Clayton McGhan

Randy Kurohara

Moderator

Dan Brinkman

Richard Taaffe

E KOMO MAI | WELCOME

  • Clayton is the West Hawaiʻi Regional Chief Executive Officer of Kona Community Hospital. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Aliʻi Health Center. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. Clayton earned a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration and master's degree in Healthcare Administration and Management from Grand Canyon University.

  • Richard serves as Vice President of Community First's board. He is the CEO of West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center, a role he's held since 2005. He also serves on the Board of Directors of HMSA Foundation. He is a graduate of Allegheny College and the University of New Mexico.

Stephany Vaioleti

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025

9:30- 9:40AM

Exhibitors and Poster Board Area Open

Break

10:15 - 10:45 AM

Coffee / Tea

Moderator