Chantelle Eseta Matagi aka Tellie is a health educator and community leader. As a student, graduate, and academic at the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS) at the University of Hawai’i Mānoa, she has benefited from their interdisciplinary program. Their courses in history, anthropology, social sciences, art, language, economics, and health gave Tellie, a strong knowledge base that is grounded in historical context, cultural humility, and the ability to create and support community-based solutions.

As a Pacific Islander woman, she understands the cultural nuances of working with diverse communities. It is important to her that those doing the work represent those communities affected (diversity in staffing) and that community-led initiatives be supported. She recognizes the importance of collaborative partnerships with embedded community-based organizations, faith-based institutions, medical and social service providers, and community leaders and advocates. During the pandemic, her work highlighted these partnerships and supported educational outreach and community engagement that was in-language and culturally safe. This approach is considered innovative, inclusive of indigenous/native knowledge, and lead to better community participation.

When Tellie began with the state of Hawai’i Department of Health (HDOH) as the COVID-19 Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Lead Investigator (Team 6B) in October 2020, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, and Native Hawaiians accounted for over 50% of the positive cases statewide. Today the number of positive cases in these communities has dropped substantially – approximately 25%. This is an impressive drop and one that could not have been accomplished without the efforts of Team 6B or the support of those communities overly affected by COVID-19.

Under the supervision of Sarah Kemble MD, PhD, HDOH State Epidemiologist and Chief of HDOH Disease Outbreak and Control Division, HDOH has documented and published these innovative practices. The first was the HDOH report “COVID-19 in Hawai’i: Addressing Health Equity in Diverse Populations” which was used as the basis for the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled “Disaggregating Data to Measure Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes and Guide Community Response – Hawaii, March 1, 2020 – February 28, 2021.” This work was cited in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization article “Promoting health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic, United States,” as a successful approach to addressing health disparities. The third was the HDOH report “COVID-19 Vaccination Experiences & Perceptions Among Communities in Hawai’i.”

In addition to Tellie’s academic background, lived-life experiences, and community connections she is extremely hard working, exacting, and possesses a tremendous amount of dedication, enthusiasm, patience, and respect for health equity work.

Dr. Sheri Daniels has been leading Papa Ola Lōkahi, the Native Hawaiian Health Board since 2016 as the Chief Executive Officer. Papa Ola Lōkahi (POL) is the organization charged by the United States Congress with administrative oversight of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act [Public Law 102-396]. In this role, she leads efforts to improve the overall health and well-being of Native Hawaiians and their families, through strategic partnerships, programs, and public policy.

Dr. Daniels was born, raised, and currently resides in Maui. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama, Dr. Daniels received her bachelor’s in family resources from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She carries a master’s in counseling psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu, in addition to a doctorate from Argosy University, and currently holds several license certifications. She has close to three (3) decades of experience in social service programs along with years of supervisory experience, including both government and non-profit management. It is through these capacities that Dr. Daniels has worked closely with Hawai‘i’s unique and diverse population to overcome inequities.

Dr. Daniels applies the values of Aloha, Hōʻihi, Laulima, Mālama, Hoʻomanawanui, Lokomaikaʻi, and Pono every day in how she engages with her ʻohana, colleagues, and within multiple communities across the State of Hawaii and the continent. She is actively involved in various community and civic organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. Beginning in early 2020, Sheri shared co-leadership for the Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Hawaii COVID-19 Response, Recovery & Resilience Team (NHPI 3R), for which Papa Ola Lōkahi served as the backbone organization. Committed to meeting the needs of our community through public policy and strategic partnerships, she was named among the Pacific Business News’ 2022 Women Who Mean Business. Dr. Daniels has secured increased funding for Native Hawaiian Health – over $28 million and growing – through her collaborations and engagement with federal partners and our Hawai’i congressional delegation.

She understands the value of ʻohana and community especially related to resiliency in how we work to strengthen our lāhui moving forward. Both her education and professional experiences along with her knowledge in understanding of the needs of underrepresented communities are assets that she brings to be inclusive of people, beliefs, and cultural mindfulness. She uses her experiences and expertise in areas such as board governance and how it will be utilized to create opportunities to empower all communities. Along with numerous awards and being recognized for her hard work and efforts, she continues to work tirelessly to support the various Native Hawaiian communities throughout the state and on the continent. Being Native Hawaiian provides her an opportunity to understand first-hand what that means and entails in dealing with these communities.

She believes to create thriving communities, we need to engage with communities in understanding how to best serve, engage and represent.

Lilinoe Kauahikaua, MSW uses she/her/ʻO ia pronouns and is from Piʻihonua, Hilo on Moku o Keawe (Hawaiʻi Island) but has lived and grown in many other spaces throughout her journey, including Oʻahu, California, and Arizona.

She is a 2021 graduate of the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM), and now serves as a program coordinator with Papa Ola Lōkahi, for all substance use and mental health projects, as well as the AANHPI ʻOhana Center of Excellence focusing on behavioral/mental health and substance use.

Her research focuses include data disaggregation, and Indigenous approaches to: behavioral/mental health, reentry services, incarceration, and substance misuse. She also received her B.A. in the Administration of Justice, with a minor in Hawaiian studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, along with a certificate in Hawaiʻi Lifestyles from Hawaiʻi Community College. Lilinoe was appointed by Governor Ige to the Hawai‘i Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances and serves on the boards of ʻEkolu Mea Nui, Going Home Hawaiʻi, and Kinohi Mana Nui, and as the cultural committee co-chair for The Going Home Hawaiʻi Consortium, organizations serving the Native Hawaiian community impacted by incarceration and substance misuse. Lilinoe also serves on committees for the Institute of Violence and Trauma (IVAT), and Hawaiʻi SUPD (Substance Use Professional Development) initiative.

Lilinoe received the kāhea to return home and serve her lāhui over 10 years ago and is committed to pursuing social justice for the Native Hawaiian Community. She also enjoys singing, going to the beach, cultural learning, and spending time with ʻohana & friends.

I specialize in health communication, social marketing, and community-based participatory research. I received a Bachelor of Medicine degree in Health Administration from Anhui Medical University, a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies at University of Science and Technology of China, a Master of Public Health, and a PhD at Department of Community and Behavioral Health of College of Public Health in the University of Iowa. During my PhD program, I worked on a project to evaluate the cost of sexual violence in Iowa state. My first job out of the PhD program was working at a community-based organization, Asian Health Coalition for substance abuse prevention among Chinese youth in Chicago Chinatown. I also worked as a research coordinator supervising patient navigators for a NIH R01 grant, to promote breast and cervical cancer screen among Chinese women in Chicago. I recently developed the American Lung Association’s COVID-19 vaccine toolkit for Chinese population. My current research is about how college students are coping with COVID-19 and how the social support on social media is associated with Asian college students’ anxiety level.

Dr. Aukahi Austin Seabury, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Executive Director of I Ola Lāhui, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides behavioral health services to medically underserved Native Hawaiian and rural communities throughout the state with its team of providers and psychology training program. She uses a culturally-minded integrated behavioral health approach with patients with complex chronic disease conditions and significant economic and social disadvantages.

Dr. Austin Seabury provides training to health providers in the use of culturally-minded, evidence-based practices and works as a consultant providing facilitation, strategic planning, team building, training, and evaluation services to Native Hawaiian health and education organizations.

Thu Quach, Ph.D., has worked in public health and health care for 25+ years. Her research, service, and advocacy work have been grounded in her own lived experience as a Vietnam refugee and the struggles her family faced in the health care system.  
 
Dr. Quach is the President of Asian Health Services (AHS), a federally qualified health center in Oakland serving 50,000 patients in English and 14 languages. She is involved in research and policy efforts to promote health equity, emphasizing the importance of language justice and data disaggregation. She has conducted ground-breaking research in worker’s health and safety for nail and hair salon workers to inform policy and practice. She has expanded culturally competent mental health services at AHS.  In recent years, Dr. Quach has been leading the organization in addressing racial disparities in COVID-19, including starting up culturally and linguistically competent community testing sites, contact tracing targeting Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), and vaccination efforts. In addition, she has been conducting groundbreaking research on COVID-19 impacts on the AAPI population and launched efforts to collect stories of language and digital barriers faced by the AAPI community during the pandemic. Her recent work has focused on responding to anti-Asian violence and addressing mental health needs for survivors. 
 
Dr. Quach received her Bachelor of Arts at UC Berkeley, her Masters in Public Health at UCLA and her Ph.D. in Epidemiology at UC Berkeley.  

Agnes Respicio Malate, was born in the Philippines and grew up in the heart of Waipahu and ‘Ewa Plantation Town. She is the director of the Health Careers Opportunity Program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Agnes serves on the board of The Legal Clinic, Ethnic Education Hawai‘i, and Friends of ’Imi Hoʻola.

Her work has focused on providing opportunities for Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, and others from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a higher education and a career in health.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, she and a group of volunteers organized to address the disparate impact of COVID-19 on the Filipino community and currently serves as co-chair of FilCom CARES. Through her experience serving the community during the pandemic and being the patient advocate and interpreter for her parents, she appreciates how integral cultural and language are to health and wellbeing.

Dr. Amefil (Amy) Agbayani is an Emeritus Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Diversity and Equity at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Agbayani was born in the Philippines and received her education from the University of the Philippines, East-West Center, and the University of Hawai’i.

Amefil “Amy” Agbayani has dedicated her life to social justice and diversity since coming to Hawai‘i in the 1960s. She helped establish UH Mānoa’s office for SEED, or Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity; lobbied for immigrants’ rights; and created more opportunities for students who were underrepresented on campus. She is a former Chair of the Hawai’i Civil Rights Commission, and conducts research on AA and NHPIs in higher education.

She retired from her day job in 2016, but UH’s emeritus assistant vice chancellor for SEED is still active.

She currently serves on the Pamantasan Council, a group that addresses the representation and success of Filipinos on all UH campuses; is a board member of the Patsy T. Mink PAC, which supports pro-choice Democratic women for elected offices; is a board member of The Legal Clinic, which provides free legal services to immigrants; and serves on President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Makani was raised on the island of Lanaʻi. He was taught from an early age, the importance of culture and our relationship with Akua, higher power, the ‘āina, the land, and Na Poʻe Kanaka, the people. And the important balance of all to achieve Mauli Ola, the breath of life and power of healing.

Throughout High School and into his college years, he helped mentor and work with at-risk teens at his Mother’s Youth Center on the island of Lanaʻi, and also with Local and National Native organizations, Na Pua Noʻeau, Pacific American foundation, and The Native Hawaiian Education Association. He taught & shared the importance of cultural knowledge, practices and concepts of traditional health, wellness & fitness.

He combined that with his knowledge of traditional healing practices taught to him by his Grandmother who was a nurse and cultural practitioner. He added his University studies in Exercise science, his study of hula, with Halau O Na Pua Kukui, his studies in Health & Wellness from Hawaiʻi College of Health Sciences and his cultural knowledge to help create cultural activities programs and curriculum for various Hotels & Resorts throughout Hawaiʻi. He created and developed the 1st Hawaiian based health & fitness programs for the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hale Koa Hotel, and Sheraton Resorts.

Makani is currently the Director of Cultural Education and a Cultural Practitioner at Hoʻokuola Pain Management clinic & Malama Recovery Services at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Poʻo (Director) of the Kakoʻo Council at the Kalanihoʻokaha Traditional Hawaiian Healing Center. He is also a curriculum writer for the Hoʻokuola Pain Management Clinic, Kealaokekoa & Malama Recovery substance abuse clinic, where he developed a successful, culturally based addiction recovery curriculum.

Makani prides himself on making sure everything he does personally and professionally is culturally based and balanced with traditional knowledge and contemporary thought. His main Kuleana, responsibility gifted to him by his Kupuna… is to preserve, perpetuate and practice traditional, Native health, wellness & healing.