Hawaii Healthcare Heroes

Past Hero Winners: 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014


A Hawaii Healthcare Hero is someone who provided extraordinary care for you or a loved one in a way that you will always remember. That person could be:

  • The emergency responder when you or a family member needed immediate medical attention.

  • The healthcare professional who brought a new life into the world or saved a life from ending.

  • The therapist who assisted with occupational, physical or speech therapy.

  • The hospice worker who helped a family prepare for a loved one’s transition.

Each year, HAH places a public call to ask patients to nominate their Hawai`i Healthcare Hero. Five Hawaii Healthcare Heroes are chosen and honored at the annual HAH Awards and Scholarship Gala.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 2023 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes

 

Julieta C. Cambe
Certified Nurse Aide
Cambe’s Adult Foster Home LLC
Click here to watch the Hawaii News Now Video

Patrick M. Ellison, MD
MOHS Surgeon / Dermatologist
John D. Boyer, MD, Inc.
Click here to watch the Hawaii News Now Video

Katie H.T. Huang, MD
Physician, General Surgery
Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group
Click here to watch the Hawaii News Now Video

Kelley K. Hutchins, DO, MPH
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group
Click here to watch the Hawaii News Now Video

Angela M. Pratt, MD, MBA, FACOG
Chair, Department of OB-GYN, Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women & Children
Angela M. Pratt, MD, Inc.
Click here to watch the Hawaii News Now Video

 

Mahalo 2023 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

 
 
 

Gold Sponsors

 
 
 

Bronze Sponsors

 
 
 
 

Media Sponsors

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes iHeart Radio Spots

 

2022 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes

You can click on the link below to view their extraordinary story featured and produced by Hawaii News Now.

 

Andrew Baldwin, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DR. BALDWIN’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO

Lindsey Hayes, PA-C
Same-Day Care
Physician Assistant
Kaiser Permanente

CLICK HERE TO VIEW LINDSEY’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO

Shelley Johnstone, MSN, APRN
Nurse Practitioner
Kaiser Permanente

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SHELLEY’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO

Lillian Lau, RN
RN Case Manager
Oahu Home Healthcare

CLICK HERE TO VEIW LILLIAN’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO

Bernard Riola, MD
Department Chair of Pediatrics
Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation - Kaua`i Region

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DR. RIOLA’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO

 
 

 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes HNN PSA

 
 
 

 2022 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors

TOP PLATINUM SPONSOR

 
 
 

GOLD SPONSORS

 
 

DIAMOND SPONSORS

 
 
 
 
 

SILVER SPONSORS

 
 
 

MEDIA SPONSORS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2021 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes

 
Ligaya “Joy” Bercasio Nurse Liaison St. Francis Healthcare System

Ligaya “Joy” Villanueva Bercasio, BSN-RN
Nurse Liaison
St. Francis Healthcare System

Click here to view Ligaya’s Hawaii News Now Video

Mandy Kī `aha, BS, RN, MSN, NP-C Senior Advocate CareSift for Seniors

Mandy Kī `aha, BS, RN, MSN, NP-C
Senior Advocate
CareSift for Seniors

Click here to view Mandy’s Hawaii News Now Video

Rachel Laffin, CNA Certified Nursing Assistant Palolo Chinese Home

Rachel Laffin, CNA
Certified Nursing Assistant
Palolo Chinese Home

Click here to view Rachel’s Hawaii News Now Video

Luisa Ogawa, MSN, APRN-Rx, NP-C, RN-BC Continuing Care Nurse Practitioner Kaiser Permanente

Luisa Ogawa, MSN, APRN-Rx, NP-C, RN-BC
Continuing Care Nurse Practitioner
Kaiser Permanente

Click here to view Luisa’s Hawaii News Now Video

Se Kon Won, MD Cardiologist Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group Straub Medical Center

Se Kon Won, MD
Cardiologist
Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group
Straub Medical Center

Click here to view Dr. Won’s Hawaii News Now Video

 

2021 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors

2020 and 2021 continues to be challenging years due to COVID-19. We are so grateful for all of the healthcare staff that are passionate and dedicated to caring for the people of Hawaii during these unprecedented times.

We are pleased to announce this year’s Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors.

TOP PLATINUM SPONSOR

 
HPHC_Tag-2016_Color.jpg

SILVER SPONSORS

AH Castle-01.png
 
CRH LOGO FROM Pristine jpeg.jpg
 
oph_logo+cropped.jpg
 
QHSlogo_293 color png.png
 
HAWAII NEWS NOW LOGO.jpg
 
hsa logo web.jpg
KSSKHawaii-OUTLINEWHITE.png
 
HHC_logo_cmyk.jpg
 
mhs_logo+kaiser_2c.jpg
 
Ohana_logo.jpg
 
KP_Thrive_Stacked_307pc jpg 700.jpg
 
iHeartRadio_Logo_iHR Vertical Color.png
 
EE_Logo_2c.jpg
 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2019

Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners

Brandy Boyce, RN Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women & ChildrenVideo

Brandy Boyce, RN
Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women & Children

Video

Lyne Elsman The Queen’s Medical CenterVideo

Lyne Elsman
The Queen’s Medical Center

Video

Jocelyn Nishioka The Queen’s Medical CenterVideo

Jocelyn Nishioka
The Queen’s Medical Center

Video

Walter Igawa-Silva, MD Straub Medical Center Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care SystemVideo

Walter Igawa-Silva, MD
Straub Medical Center
Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System

Video

Mervin (Merv) Lum, RPh Foodland Pharmacy – KapoleiVideo

Mervin (Merv) Lum, RPh
Foodland Pharmacy – Kapolei

Video

Agusta (Angie) Yoro Kalākaua GardensVideo

Agusta (Angie) Yoro
Kalākaua Gardens

Video


 
2019-Heroes.jpg
 

 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2018

Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners

Christie Izutsu, MD Kidney Clinic of HawaiiWatch Video

Christie Izutsu, MD
Kidney Clinic of Hawaii

Watch Video

Valerie Janikowski, RN Formerly with Ke `Ola Hou Lana`i Currently with Arcadia Home Health (Lana`i)Watch Video

Valerie Janikowski, RN
Formerly with Ke `Ola Hou Lana`i
Currently with Arcadia Home Health (Lana`i)

Watch Video

Dee Ono, RN, CWS, CRNI West Hawaii Home Health ServicesWatch Video

Dee Ono, RN, CWS, CRNI
West Hawaii Home Health Services

Watch Video

Rebecca Sawai, MD Kaiser Permanente HawaiiWatch Video

Rebecca Sawai, MD
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

Watch Video

Lesley Yoshimori, RN, MPH Family Medicine Clinic at Tripler Army Medical CenterWatch Video

Lesley Yoshimori, RN, MPH
Family Medicine Clinic at Tripler Army Medical Center

Watch Video

 
 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2017

Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners

Jessica Ackerman, APRN-RX, FNP-BC Queen’s Geriatric ServicesWatch Video

Jessica Ackerman, APRN-RX, FNP-BC
Queen’s Geriatric Services

Watch Video

Anne Dempsey, MD Kauai Medical Clinic/Hawaii Pacific HealthWatch Video

Anne Dempsey, MD
Kauai Medical Clinic/Hawaii Pacific Health

Watch Video

Gary Oshita MaluhiaWatch Video

Gary Oshita
Maluhia

Watch Video

Cheri-Teranishi-Hashimoto, DPT, MS, WCS, CLT-LANA, MSPT Rehabilitation Hospital of the PacificWatch Video

Cheri-Teranishi-Hashimoto, DPT, MS, WCS, CLT-LANA, MSPT
Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific

Watch Video

Baron CKW Wong, MD Wahiawa General HospitalWatch Video

Baron CKW Wong, MD
Wahiawa General Hospital

Watch Video

 
 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2016

Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners

Pixie Bickel, RT (R)(M)(CT)(ARRT) Mammography Technologist The Queen’s Medical CenterWatch Video

Pixie Bickel, RT (R)(M)(CT)(ARRT)
Mammography Technologist
The Queen’s Medical Center

Watch Video

Thomas J. Kane III, MD Founder and Director Kane Orthopedic InstituteWatch Video

Thomas J. Kane III, MD
Founder and Director
Kane Orthopedic Institute

Watch Video

Catherine Marquette, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner Hamakua-Kohala Health CenterWatch Video

Catherine Marquette, FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
Hamakua-Kohala Health Center

Watch Video

Ian J. Okazaki, MD Department Chief, Hematology/Oncology Straub Medical CenterWatch Video

Ian J. Okazaki, MD
Department Chief, Hematology/Oncology
Straub Medical Center

Watch Video

Phung Le Ouchi, LPN Staff Nurse Hi`olani Care Center at Kahala NuiWatch Video

Phung Le Ouchi, LPN
Staff Nurse
Hi`olani Care Center at Kahala Nui

Watch Video

 

 
 
 
 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2015

Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners

Kathy Krammer, MS, CCC-SLP, RN Senior Speech, Language, Swallowing Pathologist Head and Neck Cancer Support Group Co-Founder and Group Facilitator The Queen’s Medical Center, Outpatient Rehabilitation DepartmentWatch Video

Kathy Krammer, MS, CCC-SLP, RN
Senior Speech, Language, Swallowing Pathologist
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group Co-Founder and Group Facilitator
The Queen’s Medical Center, Outpatient Rehabilitation Department

Watch Video

Grace Porras, LPN Nurse Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterWatch Video

Grace Porras, LPN
Nurse
Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Watch Video

Jim Stremick, MPT Physical Therapist Prime Care Services Hawaii, Inc.Watch Video

Jim Stremick, MPT
Physical Therapist
Prime Care Services Hawaii, Inc.

Watch Video

Warren Tamamoto, MD Chief of Pulmonology Kaiser Permanente HawaiiWatch Video

Warren Tamamoto, MD
Chief of Pulmonology
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

Watch Video

Juliette Zelada, MD Surgeon Wilcox Memorial HospitalWatch Video

Juliette Zelada, MD
Surgeon
Wilcox Memorial Hospital

Watch Video

 
 

Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2014

Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners

 

L-R: Heather Sloan, APRN; Sandy Na-o, CNA; Melissa Champlin, RN, CHPN; Belinda McGillicuddy, BS, RRT; Troy Tanji, MD

Cover Story of MidWeek November 5, 2014