About Me

I was born and raised on Maui where my parents, and previously my grandparents, have owned and operated a small family restaurant in Wailuku for the past 50 years. My family, while small, has been my constant source of love, encouragement and support in my life's journey. I thank them for my roots and for my wings.

About my practice

Medicine was a natural, almost undeniable, choice of profession for me as it uniquely combines the continual pursuit of knowledge and learning with the ability to help, heal, and give back to the community in a meaningful way. I could think of no other calling that would have been a better fit for me and my life goals. The choice of specialty was a much more difficult and deliberated one. Similar to trying to choose between favorite dishes on a menu, it was hard for me to choose just one specialty at the expense of all others (perhaps that is why I chose three). I embraced critical care medicine as a means of continuing to participate in all specialties in some way, and pulmonology was a natural corollary. Although my sleep training was the shortest and last of my three subspeciality fellowships, it was probably the most transformative. It helped me to appreciate the importance of sleep medicine and the treatment of sleep disorders in health maintenance and disease prevention. Being a physician with the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group affords me the opportunity to practice integrated, high quality medicine. I am supported and surrounded by world-class physician colleagues who share a similar belief in putting the patient at the front and center of everything that we do. I believe the best care comes from open and timely communication, an investment in patient education, and an emphasis on informed choice, all of which are rooted in a strong patient-physician relationship. As a clinician, I continuously strive to support and encourage my patients to be active participants in their care. My hope is to be the best source of information and direction (if needed) to allow them to do so. I appreciate the relationship I have with my patients that is built on a strong and mutual commitment to building a healthier future together. I value time spent getting to know each other and discussing what is important to us outside of the medical interaction. The moments where my patients and I can "talk story" about our families and other special life experiences are priceless.In addition to my pulmonology practice, I am medical director of the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Sleep Lab, and a board member of the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Leahi Fund, which supports research in respiratory function and diseases in Hawaii. From 2013 to 2014, I served as president of the Hawaii Sleep Society. I am also a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

How I thrive

Finding the balance between work and home life is a continuous challenge for me, especially with a young daughter at home. I try to find time, even if it's brief, to take a "me" moment as I walk, journal, meditate, read, take a short but heavenly nap, or spend time with friends and family. Each precious activity is a source of renewed energy and focus in my daily life, and I treasure them all. My main joy these days is the time I spend with my husband and daughter. We enjoy taking her to the park or swimming, reading to her, and watching her play and grow. I also love reading, listening to music, traveling, food adventures, and spending as much time with friends and family as I can.