How has the COVID-19 pandemic positively affected your career/business?

It’s definitely been a journey that has required a lot of flexibility and openness to change. The pandemic has upended our community and created a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. However, there has been a silver lining in the midst of all of this. I’ve been able to meet new people and we’ve formed new partnerships to meet the urgent needs of the community. That is one of the bright spots of the pandemic—it brought caring people together like never before and we were united by a common goal. These experiences will leave a lasting impression on me and I believe the relationships that we’ve established will continue beyond the response to the pandemic.

How is your company/business pivoting to changes from the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Sisters of St. Francis did not always choose the easy path, and during this pandemic, we didn’t want to choose the easy path either. We put the needs of the community first—continuing our essential services such as preschool, adult day care, hospice care, and more—to meet the needs of first responders, healthcare professionals, and others who rely on us to provide care for their family members in a safe, nurturing environment while complying with social distancing guidelines.

We also engaged in new activities during the pandemic. We partnered with the Show Aloha Challenge to provide meals that were delivered to homebound seniors who did not qualify for government-sponsored meal delivery programs. With the generous support of the Hawaii Dental Service Foundation; Matson; Nan, Inc.; Pacific Point; UHA Health Insurance; and others, we were able to quickly mobilize a team to coordinate delivery logistics with restaurants and deliver thousands of meals and hundreds of grocery boxes of fresh produce or protein to seniors.

How do you maintain your own health/well-being?

Taking care of others—whether it’s seniors, family members, or fellow staff members—is one of the ways that I’ve been able to maintain a healthy outlook during this challenging time. Some may assume I am neglecting my own health and well-being because of the long hours seven days a week; but, although it may be tiring, I am energized by helping others. St. Francis Healthcare System has four core values: peacemaking, charity, simplicity, and joy. It has been rewarding to provide our community with peace and love during this time of anxiety, while also turning complexity into simple solutions for others. There is just a genuine joy in helping others.

What are your daily habits?

Every day is different. It’s been a relentless flow of non-stop activity, especially during this pandemic. So, establishing routines has been challenging; but, my way to decompress from the day’s frenetic pace is to simply spend time with my family, ideally at the beach. My family has a way of putting life into perspective. They remind me of why the work I do at St. Francis is so important. Even when work becomes mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting, they inspire me to keep on pressing forward.

What have been the most exciting things about this job/business/industry?

It’s exciting to be a part of St. Francis Healthcare System because our vision is expansive. We offer much more than medical care. We offer a broad range of non-medical services that ultimately affect the health and well-being of individuals and families. We are still evolving and adding new services as we identify new needs in the community. While we have a proud legacy of caring that was established by the Sisters of St. Francis, we do not rest on the laurels of our past accomplishments. The legacy of caring is something we carry forward. There is never any room for complacency, and that is exciting to me.

Did you always know you wanted to be in health and wellness, or is this something that happened over time?

I’ve always wanted to help individuals and families. I grew up in a multi-generational household, so I learned at an early age that it’s important to look after the needs of the entire family. When one is ill, everyone in the family is affected. I majored in sociology and psychology and then earned an MBA. I’ve been able to use my education and experiences to help others. I enjoy being in healthcare because I’m able to touch the lives of so many people every day.

Who is someone you look up to or model after? A mentor?

I’ve been fortunate to have many excellent mentors over the course of my career, and it would be impossible to name a single individual. One of my most memorable moments occurred when one of my mentors and I walked to the dock of Aloha Tower. We looked out on the horizon and he asked me what I saw. At first, I thought it was an odd question, but I said I saw the sky and the bustling working harbor. Then, I noticed some of the activities of the individual passengers on one of the docked cruise ships. My mentor told me that my response was very telling and it revealed my capability to see the big picture as well as pay attention to the details. It was a moment of self-awareness. I appreciate those who can see things that you may not see in yourself—both things that are good and areas for improvement. I try to do the same for others today, providing candid feedback to help others grow and become the best they can be.