Aloha mai kākou.

You can take the boy from the island…

but not the island from the boy.

My story begins in the ahupuaʻa of Kalihi-Kapālama on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. As a child of Filipino immigrants, raised at the crossroads of the Pacific, my identity has been shaped by the land, ocean, cultures, food, and communities that make Hawaiʻi home. Growing up in Kalihi taught me the importance of community, resilience, and the relationships that connect us to one another and to the places we call home.

My journey has taken me from Hawaiʻi to Seattle, Southern California, and Boston, where I pursued my education and career in public health. I earned my bachelor's degree from Seattle University and my master's and doctoral degrees in Public Health from Claremont Graduate University. After completing postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University, I returned home to serve as an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Along the way, I discovered my passion for teaching, storytelling, and advancing health equity through research, advocacy, and community engagement.

But Hawaiʻi is more than the paradise often portrayed to the world. It is a place with complex histories, enduring inequities, and communities navigating the realities of colonialism, displacement, and social and economic injustice. As someone raised in these islands, I recognize my responsibility to honor Kānaka Maoli, acknowledge our interconnected histories, and contribute to a more just and equitable future. My work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change begins with listening, building relationships, and uplifting the voices of communities too often overlooked.

No matter where life takes me, I carry the lessons of Kalihi, the values of my family, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people and places that raised me.