Cecilia Sakata stands as a beacon of commitment and expertise in the realm of social services, particularly within the vibrant communities of Hawaii Island. Her 15-year tenure is marked by a steadfast dedication to enhancing the lives of children and families, especially in the domain of pediatric healthcare. Cecilia's strategic leadership in managing grants and spearheading program development has been instrumental in transforming patient care and family support services. Her innovative approaches have improved existing policies and procedures and introduced robust systems to ensure high-quality care.

In her current role as the Director of School-Based Health at Hawaii Island Community Health Center, Cecilia continues to be a driving force in the crusade for health equity. Her initiatives are not confined to healthcare alone; they extend into the educational sphere, ensuring that the community's youth receive the support they need to thrive both in health and education.

Cecilia's academic background, a Bachelor's degree in Social Science with a concentration in Political Science from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, complements her practical experience. Together, her educational and professional journeys exemplify a life dedicated to service, leadership, and the betterment of society. Her career is a testament to the power of passionate advocacy and the impact it can have on community well-being and the future of public health.

My name is Mark Kealii Freitas and I am the Vice-Principal at Kauluwela Elementary School located just outside Downtown Honolulu. I have been in the DOE for about 18 years and have served as a high school History teacher, EL Coordinator, football coach, track coach, adult educator, and for the past 7 years as a Vice-Principal at the high school, middle school, and most recently, at the elementary school level.

While we in the DOE are committed to providing our students with the best education possible, the post-pandemic world has shown us what educating the whole child really means. It means to provide support in basic health care, social-emotional care, and supporting the families/communities we serve.

We believe that our schools need to become more than a place where children learn reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic. Schools need to become a community hub where parents and guardians can also find classes in parenting, budgeting, resume writing, job preparation, and other services that will help the community thrive. In order to get to realize this goal, the best place to start is, I believe, a school-based health center.

I look forward to not only sharing my experiences in starting a SBHC, I am more excited about learning about new trends and identifying new resources as we start our journey at Kauluwela Elementary School.

Keiko Nitta has been with the Hawaii Department of Health since 2005 as a Children and Youth Specialist working on issues affecting young children and trying to build the infrastructure for a comprehensive early childhood system. She has worked closely with Dr. Calvin Sia who was her mentor and maintains his vision for an integrated system and ensuring that all children have a family-centered medical home. Ms. Nitta has been working on bringing awareness of the importance of young children’s development since her own two children were young and she had difficulty getting services for both. Her children are now young adults currently studying at the University of Hawaii and there is still more work to be done to ensure all young children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed. She is also an ordained Zen priest and brings this background to her work to help bring clarity and compassion in all that she does.