Michael Champion, MD
Senior Advisor, Mental Health and the Justice System in the Hawai’i Governor’s Office
Michael Champion, MD is the Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System in the Hawai’i Governor’s Office.
He has extensive experience in healthcare administration, legislative consulting and advocacy services, and civil and criminal forensic psychiatry. In his role as a senior advisor to Governor Josh Green, Dr.Champion helps lead the state’s cross-agency initiatives on mental health and justice reform. Dr. Champion holds an M.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he completed his residency at Harvard Medical School and a fellowship at Yale University.
Senator (Ret.) Susie Chun Oakland
Program Coordinator, Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center
Senator (Ret.) Suzanne Chun Oakland has served her community with dedication throughout her life. She currently is the Program Coordinator for Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center. In her 26 years of service in the Hawai‘i State Legislature, she has been a leading advocate for children, the elderly, families and underserved communities. She served as Chair of the House and Senate Committees on Human Services for most of her career. She focused on child welfare, adult protection, long term care, Medicaid, affordable housing, public housing, vocational rehabilitation, public assistance, and early childhood education and care. She also served on the Committees on Agriculture, Health, Economic Development, Education, Government Operations and Housing, Energy and Environment, Hawaiian Affairs, Transportation, Water/Land, and Ways and Means. Senator Chun Oakland continues to be very active in the community. She was the co-founder and co-convener of the Keiki and the Kupuna Caucuses, co-convener of the Women’s Caucus, chair of numerous legislative task forces and working groups, and a member or officer of over 50 community organizations’ boards. She has provided invaluable support to human and social service organizations such as Blueprint for Change, the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, Susannah Wesley Community Center, the Pediatric Council of Hawai‘i, and the Hawai‘i Children’s Trust Fund. The daughter of retired Executive Director of Kalihi YMCA Philip S. Chun and retired social worker Mei-Chih Chun, Senator Chun Oakland was born and raised in Honolulu, is an honor graduate of McKinley High School, and earned two BA degrees in Communications and Psychology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Her sister, Jeanne Chun, works for the San Francisco Community Foundation and her brother, Randall Chun, is a graphic artist. Her husband of 23 years, Mike Oakland, is a Deputy Sheriff and Kapolei Courthouse Section Commander. She and Mike have three children – Mailene, Christopher, and Lauren. She also has six grandchildren.
David Derauf, MD, MPH
Executive Director/Family Practice Physician, Kokua Kalihi Valley
David D. Derauf, MD, MPH has been with Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV) for the last 31 years. In 1989, he was hired as KKV’s first Clinical Director and remained in this position until being named as KKV’s Executive Director in October, 2003. Dr. Derauf received his medical training at the University of Minnesota. He moved to Hawai‘i in 1989 to pursue public health training and received his MPH from the University of Hawai‘i in 1995, with a focus on epidemiology.
Dr. Derauf has served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing at the University of Hawai‘i. He serves as a board member of the Association of Asian and Pacific Island Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, and Aloha Care, a Hawai‘i Medicaid Managed Care Corporation, as well as Hawai‘i Appleseed. He is also a founding member of Nā Limahana o Lonopūhā, a consortium of Native Hawaiian Health Organizations.
Under his leadership, KKV was named a Center of Excellence in Women’s health care by the Federal Government in 2002. In 2008 KKV was honored by HRSA with its Special Populations Service Award, recognizing KKV’s excellence in service to minority populations. In 2009, he was chosen by the Director of Health to represent Hawai‘i on the inaugural California-Hawai‘i Public Health Leadership Institute Team. He was given a Gerbode-Hawai‘i Community Foundation Award for non-profit leadership in 2008 and three times received a Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation Award for Excellence in Management.
He is married, has two sons who he likes to get out in the surf with from time to time.
Aimee Malia Grace, MD, MPH, FAAP
Director, UH System Office of Strategic Health Initiatives
Dr. Aimee Malia Grace serves as Director of the UH System Office of Strategic Health Initiatives. She leads the UHealthy Hawai‘i Initiative as well as UH System federal affairs. Dr. Grace is a pediatrician and previously served for three years as lead health policy advisor for U.S. Senator Brian Schatz in Washington, D.C. where she managed Senator Schatz’s legislative work in the health field, including the areas of telehealth, Medicaid buy‐in, Tobacco to 21, Project ECHO, public health emergency preparedness, and chronic pain. She also managed Senator Schatz’s budget and appropriations for health programs of importance to Hawai‘i and Native Hawaiians. Dr. Grace completed her undergraduate studies in human biology at Stanford University, medical degree at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine, pediatrics residency at Stanford University’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Master of Public Health (Health Policy and Management) degree at the Harvard School of Public Health, and General Academic Pediatrics (Health Policy) fellowship at the Children’s National Health System.
Pālama Lee, Ph.D., LCSW
Director of Research and Evaluation, Liliʻuokalani Trust
Dr.Pālama Lee is the Director of Research and Evaluation at Liliʻuokalani Trust, an Aliʻi Trust established by Queen Lili’uokalani in 1909 for the benefit of orphaned and destitute Native Hawaiian children. Many would say that for over 50 years, Liliʻuokalani Trust and the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health have shared a legacy partnership leading to healthier communities and stronger family systems. Today, Liliʻuokalani Trust supports Hawaiian youth ages 0-26 across the pae ʻāina, through innovative programs and trauma-informed social services focused on early childhood, youth development, and initiatives for opportunity youth. Dr. Lee has been blessed to enjoy his tenure of 13 years with the Trust. He is a graduate of the Social Work program at UH Mānoa, where he received both his MSW and his Ph.D. His career aims to advance social and racial justice with the elderly, foster care, communities of recovery (mental health and substance use), and cancer among Native Hawaiian kāne. Dr. Lee stands behind the principles of Native Hawaiian Data Sovereignty. His current research promotes the well-being of Native Hawaiians through culturally responsive and sustainable practices. In Hawaiʻi and on the Continent, he is a frequent guest lecturer on Native Hawaiian Well-being and Behavioral Health, and Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment.
Jodi Haunani Leslie, DrPH, RDN, LDN, CDCES
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist
Dr. Jodi Haunani Leslie Matsuo is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, with training in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. She began her professional career as a Public Health Nutritionist and Supervisor with the Hawai‘i Department of Health. Dr. Leslie instructed at Hawai‘i Community College-West Hawai‘i, University of Hawai‘i (UH) Hilo, and UH Mānoa, teaching nutrition, kinesiology, and public health classes. Under the mentorship and training of Dr. Claire Hughes, she has worked within traditional Hawaiian diet programs across the state. Starting with ʻImi Hale, she has done research on Native Hawaiian workers and employee wellness programs. Her clinical experience includes internships at Queen’s Medical Center and Tripler Army Medical Center, and then later in other acute, long-term care, and cardiac rehabilitative facilities. Dr. Leslie has been contracted by entities including Papa Ola Lōkahi, Hana and West Hawai‘i Community Health Centers, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Department of Education, UH-John A. Burns School of Medicine, YMCA, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Her responsibilities ranged from development of nutrition and health curricula, educational materials, and surveys, facilitation of working groups, and clinical consultation. She was a member of the E Ola Mau A Mau nutrition workgroup and currently serves as the health columnist for Ka Wai Ola, a newspaper of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and member of the UH Cancer Center Native Hawaiian Advisory Board. At Kukui Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, she works with her husband in promoting lifestyle medicine as a means of preventing, treating, and reversing chronic diseases. Dr. Leslie volunteers her time doing cooking demos and nutrition talks at local schools, churches, and community groups. Being born and raised in Kona Hawai‘i, her passion has always been serving Native Hawaiians and rural communities.
Lorrin Kim, MAAS
Chief, Office Planning, Policy & Programs, State of Hawai’i Dept. of Health
Lorrin Kim is the Chief of the Office of Planning, Policy, and Program Development at the Hawaii State Department of Health. Lorrin is responsible for agency-wide government relations and public policy, strategic planning, compliance and performance improvement, and special projects. Department priorities supported by his office over the years include telehealth, medical aid in dying, rural health, oral health, community paramedicine, medical cannabis dispensaries, healthcare workforce development, and health equity. As of late 2020, he is also the Acting State Registrar overseeing the state’s vital records program.
Before government service, part of his twenty-year career in health was spent in private sector managed care and health care systems, focusing on health information technology, chronic disease prevention, and behavioral health. Lorrin holds bachelor’s degrees in Asian Studies and History from the Claremont Colleges system, and a master’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawai‘i, with concentrations in Japanese cultural history, religion, and art.
Chantelle “Tellie” Eseta Matagi
Program Coordinator, Papa Ola Lōkahi
Ms. Chantelle “Tellie” Eseta Matagi is the Program Coordinator at Papa Ola Lōkahi, a nonprofit that works to improve the health and wellbeing of Native Hawaiians.
As a Pacific Islander, she understands the cultural nuances of working with diverse communities. It is important to Ms.Matagi that communities are represented in staffing and that community-led initiatives are supported. She works to create collaborative partnerships among 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.
In addition to Ms.Matagi’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.
Mr. Nainoa Thompson
President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society
Charles Nainoa Thompson, President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, is a pwo (master) navigator and the first Native Hawaiian since the 14th Century to practice wayfinding (art and science of ancient non-instrument navigation) for long distance ocean voyaging.
Nainoa’s years of experience and learning from his kūpuna have culminated in the realization of his vision of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, led by the Polynesian Voyaging Society and blessed by global leaders including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This 3-year, extraordinary voyage which was completed in June 2017, engaged and united all corners of Island Earth, sailing 47,000 nautical miles to nearly 100 ports and 25 nations. Its purpose was to practice sustainable living while sharing Polynesian culture, learning from the past and from each other and creating hope and global relationships around protecting our most cherished values and places from disappearing.
A leader in transforming education, Nainoa is the Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member of Mālama Honua Public Charter School, established in 2014 and dedicated to indigenous cultural values reflected in value- and place-based education. Nainoa is a former Regent of the University of Hawai‘i where he remains deeply connected as Special Advisor on Hawaiian Affairs to the University President. He is an Ocean Elder, a Trustee for Hanahau`oli School and a former Trustee for Bishop Estate, Hawai‘i’s largest private land owner and private educational institution. His natural leadership skills that have galvanized vast and diverse sectors throughout the community to realize the importance of caring for our planet and all of humanity have earned him numerous awards including the 2015 Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Marine Exploration, the 2001 “Unsung Hero of Compassion” award from his Holiness XIV Dalai Lama on behalf of Wisdom in Action, the Native Hawaiian Education Association’s Manomano Ka`ike Educator of the Year, the 2015 Asia Pacific Community Building Award from the East-West Center, the 2013 Visionary Award from the Maui Film Festival, the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, the 2017 Hubbard Medal from National Geographic Society, and the 2017 Explorers Club Medal. Born and raised in Honolulu, Nainoa is a graduate of Punahou School and the University of Hawai‘i.
Jessica Yamauchi, MA
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hawaii Public Health Institute
Jessica Yamauchi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Hawai`i Public Health Institute (HIPHI). During her tenure, Jessica has worked to pass several health policies, including raising the age of sale of tobacco products to 21, adding electronic smoking devices in Hawai`i’s state smoke-free air law, healthy by default beverages for kids meals, and securing funding for a pilot double up bucks program (increasing fresh local produce for SNAP recipients). Under her leadership, HIPHI worked to respond to COVID-19 providing up to date information to our partners and advocates and worked with partners to increase vaccine equity. In addition, HIPHI works to support Community Health Workers (CHW) and the CHW Association. Jessica is currently on the Board of Directors for the National Network of Public Health Institutes, an ex-officio board member of the Hawai’i Public Health Association, and served on the University of Hawai’i, Office of Public Health Studies, Community Advisory Panel.