I Wear Turquoise

Paula Arcena

Paula Arcena, Vice President External Affairs, leads AlohaCare’s public policy, public relations and community investment strategies. Paula’s focus is to improve access to quality whole-person care for Hawaiʻi ’s Medicaid beneficiaries. Paula joined AlohaCare in 2009 as its Community and Government Liaison after serving as the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Medical Association and as Senior Advisor to then Honolulu Councilmember Mufi Hannemann.

Kenny Cabanting

Kenny says that creativity, innovation, and collaboration with “aloha” is his driving force.

Kenny Cabanting is a Multimedia Account Executive at Hawaiʻi News Now. He’s a Hawaiʻi boy specially raised on the tiny rural island of Lānaʻi.

Valerie Davison

Valerie Davison, WELCOA Certified Faculty, was inspired to help the Lung Association for her sister, Eleanor Grace, who passed away from non-small cell lung cancer. She helped instill strength and positivity among fellow cancer fighters and supporters. To carry on her legacy, Valerie works with the Lung Association to provide hope for people with lung cancer and other respiratory diseases so they can live and thrive!

Cassie Favreau-Chung

Cassie Favreau-Chung is a film & television creative with over 15 years of experience working in various facets of the entertainment industry, and currently serves as the Executive Producer for Local Serial Program at KITV4 Island Television.

Cathy Foy

Cathy is a veteran entertainer whose career spans performances in the New York Theater, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and the stages of London, Germany , Tokyo and Hong Kong.

She was an original cast member of the New York hit musical " Song of Singapore" starring Donna Murphy.

Recently, Cathy performed in the 2nd National Tour of the Lincoln Center revival of Roger's and Hammerstein's " South Pacifc" as Bloody Mary. Some of her TV credits include Hawaii 5-0, Magnum PI and Lost.

Consuelo Garcia

Consuelo Garcia is originally from Northern California and grew up involved in many adventurous activities. She enjoys horseback riding, volunteering and representing Shriners Hospital and UC Davis, playing volleyball, and is also a 2013 Jr Miss California American Beauty title holder. Consuelo brought herself to the island of Oʻahu in 2018 to continue her college education with Hawaiʻi Pacific University, majoring in Public Health and a minor in Health Education and Promotion. As she is graduating this upcoming May of 2023, she plans to continue her education with Hawaiʻi Pacific University by entering in the Master’s in Public Health program and later a Master’s in Business Administration.

Cynthia J. Goto, M.D.

Dr. Cynthia Goto has been an advocate for over 30 years to improve access to health care and social services. She has worked on legislation and campaigns relating to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, legislation to improve access to emergency contraception, expedited partner therapy, tobacco control, physical activity and nutrition, and domestic violence.

Melody Higa

Melody Higa is an Operations Analyst at Matson. She received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business degree from Creighton University.

Her interest in volunteering stemmed from the life-changing experiences and purposeful learning that she gained while volunteering throughout high school and college. As the current Miss Hawaiʻi Volunteer, she aspires to share the importance of giving back to the community to ensure that future generations are well-equipped with the tools to succeed.

Krystal Hirayama

Krystal Hirayama is a fourth year medical student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, hoping to continue her medical education and training as a physician and an internal medicine intern beginning July 2023.

Adrienne Huang

Adrienne Huang is the Human Resource Specialist at Hawaiʻi Pacific University. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management and Industrial Relations, and received her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Shidler College of Business.

She is involved in raising funds for the American Lung Association in Hawaiʻi because she strongly believes in the organization's mission, vision, and the impactful work in the community to ensure the lung health of future generations.

Angela Keen

Angela is the director of marketing, communications and provider relations for Brain Health Hawai‘i. For the past 15 years, she has worked as a healthcare communications consultant.

Angela spent her life speaking in front of audiences. She was a long-time TV news personality in Hawai‘i having spent more than 15 years at KGMB-9 News and later KHNL News 8 anchoring the morning show.

Remy Kobatake

Remy Sayuri Kobatake was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and is a Junior at La Pietra Hawaiʻi School for Girls. She has embodied the spirit of service and volunteerism from a young age, taking part in various community service projects advocating for equal opportunity and seeking to elevate the quality of life for young people like her.

Jordan Lee, M.D.

Dr. Lee was educated at the Kamehameha Schools and graduated from the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, where he is part of the faculty. He is triple board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pulmonary Disease.

Amanda Martinez

Amanda Martinez, MPH, is currently Training Program Manager for Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi (MHAH). Since 2017, she has trained thousands of youth and adults in Hawaiʻi with MHAH’s Youth Suicide and Bullying Prevention and mental wellness trainings. She is also a certified trainer for Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings. Amanda received her Master’s in Public Health Degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, specializing in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences. She is interested in mental health wellness promotion among youth and young adults, especially among sexual and gender minorities.

Nicole Nakamatsu

Nicole is a current fourth year medical student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. From a young age, volunteerism and service have been a large part of her life, which is reflected in her goals to serve her community through medicine as a physician. Her passion for a healthier Hawaiʻi continues as she works with the American Lung Association as a Turquoise Ambassador.

Larry Nakano

Larry Nakano is the Executive Director of the Miss Hawaiʻi Volunteer Organization, LLC. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California San Francisco Hastings College of the Law. His thirty-five year career in law included government service as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Hawaiʻi as well as in private practice as the Legal Manager for the Honolulu office of a national insurance company, and as a law partner in Hawaii’s largest insurance defense firm. He left the field of law for the privilege of undertaking his most rewarding role, that of a full-time caregiver for his mother. He currently volunteers at Kuakini Medical Center and serves as a member of the Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary Council. He previously served for 25 years as the Judges Chair for the Miss Hawaiʻi Organization.

Kristy Nishida

Kristy Nishida, Vice President & Team Leader, Investment Services Department, works closely with First Hawaiian Bank’s Personal Trust Department. Kristy also sits on the Local Leadership Board and the Hawaiʻi Lung Force Women’s Cabinet for the American Lung Association in Hawaiʻi.

Lukas Petersons

Lukas Petersons is a construction project manager with almost 25 years of experience working in construction and prides himself on “building dreams.” Having worked his way up quickly in various roles from remodel carpenter to Chief Operating Officer in the construction industry in both Seattle and Hawaiʻi, he currently serves as Senior Project Manager and Estimator for Longhouse Design+Build, a multi-disciplinary, Architectural and Construction collaborative based in Honolulu, specializing in custom, luxury residential architecture, development and construction. He manages all aspects of the home building process, specializing in high-end custom homes.

Patti Ponimoi

Patti Ponimoi is the Market President / General Manager at SummitMedia in Honolulu. She oversees local sales efforts for radio stations Krater 96.3 FM, Power 104.3 FM, Hawaiian 105 KINE FM, KCCN FM 100, and KKNE AM 900.

Patti is a veteran sales and communications professional with a career spanning more than 20 years, previously holding positions at Hawaiʻi News Now, iHeartMedia and Hawaiian Airlines. She is currently a board member of the Honolulu Executives Association.

Troy Siruno

Troy Siruno is a marketing, communications, and public relations professional with more than 15 years of experience in Hawai‘i. He has spent his career creating innovative campaigns for broadcast, digital, and social media platforms that share the stories of local businesses, people, and nonprofit organizations.

Bryan Talisayan

Bryan is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi, the state’s leading mental health education and advocacy organization. He is raising funds because as a former smoker, he fully understands and supports the Association’s services in Hawaiʻi.

Bree Teixeira

Bree Teixeira is the External Affairs Specialist at AlohaCare. In her role, she supports public policy, community giving and employee engagement efforts. Her primary focus is to work with external parties to ensure the smooth execution of AlohaCare’s Imua Loa community giving program, with the primary goal of expanding access to quality health care for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable populations.

Rachel Wagenman

Rachel Wagenman is a writer and digital marketing specialist with a love of storytelling. Today, she is the Director of Communications at her alma mater, La Pietra - Hawaiʻi School for Girls. She is proud to be a part of its mission of raising women of purpose, on purpose.

Tina Wildberger

House Representative Tina Wildberger is the President and Owner of Kīhei Ice Inc. on Maui. Tina has over two decades of work experience in Hawaiʻi both as a hospitality professional in food & beverage and a small business owner in manufacturing & distribution.

Jennifer Wong

Jennifer Wong is a Communications Associate at Strategies 360, a strategic communications and public affairs firm in Downtown Honolulu. With an award-winning background in television news, Jennifer provides expertise needed to develop and execute successful communications campaigns, and provides media support and management to her clients.

Melanie Yamaguchi

Melanie has a decade of experience in the journalism field, particularly in TV news. Her innate curiosity about people and places ultimately led her to pursue a career in journalism. She is currently digital executive producer at Hawaiʻi News Now, where she manages and creates content for HNN's digital platforms.

Sterling Yee

Sterling Yee is the director of Strategic Consulting Services at Oceanit, a science and technology, and management and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Honolulu. He is responsible for overseeing management and engineering consulting projects and overall business development. Some of the clients he has worked with include the State of Hawaiʻi, the City & County of Honolulu and other private industry clients. His recent project experiences include IT systems implementation and the organizational change management (OCM) efforts for the State of Hawaiʻi business transformation initiatives. His most recent project is working with the Asian Development Bank in Manila to develop new projects in Southeast Asia to improve infrastructure, education and health in an effort to decrease poverty and raise the standards of living.

Kerry Yoshida

With nearly fifteen years of experience in local television, Kerry has filled many roles starting as a broadcast technician at KHNL, a marketing producer / editor with Hawai‘i News Now, and rounding out his time in TV as the marketing director of KHON2, where he led the station through its transition to HD, and overhaul of the look, brand and promotion. Now, his broadcast days are behind him, but he’s still telling visual stories and putting his passion to work as the Multimedia Manager for ALTRES, Hawai‘i’s leading staffing and human resources company.

As a new I Wear Turquoise Ambassador, Kerry is proud to raise funds for the American Lung Association in memory of his father, Ronald Yoshida, who passed away from lung cancer in 2006.