I was born and raised in east Honolulu: I lived in Aina Haina until I was seven and in Hawaii Kai through high school. I went to Kaiser High School and competed in gymnastics through college. My dad was a foreman for a masonry contractor and mother was a licensed practical nurse for Kaiser Permanente for over 40 years. My mother and her experience as a pediatric licensed practical nurse at Kaiser Permanente inspired my interest in a health care-related career. She took great pride in caring for the children of our community and I wanted to find a similar role. I have been honored since then to continue in my mother's tradition of providing care to patients in Hawaii.
As an undergraduate, I was a general science major and had a particular interest in physics. When I reviewed my career options in my junior year at the university, I decided on optometry, as this field would allow me to combine my interest in physics with providing primary care to my patients. Upon graduation from the Southern California College of Optometry and completing my internships, I joined the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG). I love practicing with HPMG because our focus is on patients and keeping them well. We are fortunate to have a great team of primary care physicians and a wide variety of specialists that work together to care for our patients. I believe in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and a proactive approach to illness. Our community is so interconnected, and this is something I appreciate. I enjoy chatting with my patients and learning about friends and family we share.
I stay physically and mentally healthy by making the most of each day. In my spare time, I spend as much time as I can with friends and family enjoying the lifestyle that Hawaii offers. I am an avid cyclist and hiker. I ride my bike to work every day and almost every weekend. I go hiking with my husband and our dog. I also enjoy stand-up paddleboarding, skiing, traveling, our family parties, and taking my children to their sporting activities.
