I am a Maui native, and I work as an ob-gyn nurse at the Kaiser Permanente clinic in Wailuku. I was at work when I first heard about the fire. That night I went home and my co-workers — 2 LPNs from UNITE HERE Local 5 — called and said they were going to the main shelter. I knew right away I wanted to volunteer and help, so I went with them. It was heartbreaking! There were people who needed attention because they were burned or who had been treading water for 6 or 8 hours to get away from the fire. That was the beginning. I worked 16 straight days, helping in any way I could. I’m still going to Lahaina one day a week, mostly providing prenatal care. When I go there it’s hard to even look up. It’s so sad. Lahaina was always the center of culture on Maui and now so much of it is gone. Still, I have to go. I always ask myself, ‘What if that was you on the other side of the story?’ Some people have lost everything. I don’t know how I would deal with that. But I know I would be glad there were other people out there who were willing to step up and help.

My passion is to serve. When members come into the laboratory, they have a lot of personal things going on in their lives and you don't know their story. They trust us to care for them, so I show them respect and gratitude, treat them how I would want to be treated, and make them feel very special. Working with joy and a smile on my face can help to turn a frustrating or worrisome experience around. I listen, I ask questions and I engage in short, but happy, conversations to take their mind off the procedure I’m doing. They’re so focused on what we’re talking about, before they know it, the procedure is over. The most important thing for me is taking advantage of every opportunity, within the scope of my practice, to make a member’s experience personal, peaceful and satisfying: little things such as getting them some water or helping a member with mobility challenges to get in their car. Serving our members in the spirit of excellence is my main goal; that is my passion and my joy.

I like to be in my bubble. As a pharmacy clerk, I can talk one-on-one to patients. But I hate talking to crowds. When I signed up to be a champion for the Mail Order Pharmacy Outreach program, I suddenly found myself having to talk to a 40-person EVS huddle. I was shaking! 

I experienced a lot of personal growth. It was nice meeting so many people and going to facilities I’d never heard of.  I have enjoyed seeing many of the good managers and how well they participate in the Partnership. Some were supportive of letting me talk to employees. During a huddle, one manager talked about how she herself uses mail order and how much she loves it. 

After the campaign, when I went back to the pharmacy, I felt more confident about myself. My manager noticed that I had changed. Without being a mail order champion, I believe that I would not have had the courage to get farther out of my comfort zone.

Many members visit our office because they’re in at least some level of discomfort, pain or awaiting what could be a life-changing diagnosis. Anytime I can make an uncomfortable situation positive, ease anxiety or help alleviate someone’s fear, it brings me joy in work. It’s why I do what I do.

As a father and an Asian American - I was born in the Philippines - it’s very important to me that I educate my community and set a positive example. For about 4 months, I volunteered in the vaccination clinic on my days off. My wife, who is a pharmacist, also volunteered. It is important to use my skills to get as many people vaccinated so we can move past this horrible virus. I’ve found great joy in volunteering to be part of this important endeavor. I’ve met new people, made new friends and connections. It’s such a good feeling seeing the smile in people’s eyes when they get the vaccine.

It was important for me to get vaccinated because I couldn’t bear the thought that if I contracted COVID-19, I could possibly give it to anyone! I have grandchildren and the thought of them getting it from me, because of my work, just wrecked me; I couldn’t imagine the guilt. When I received both vaccine doses, I didn’t feel either shot. Everyone talked about the negative things that might happen: tiredness, feeling yucky for a day or so, sore arm, et cetera, but I refused to claim any of those. I ended up working in a vaccination clinic and I told almost every person that they’d be fine. When I saw those same people return for the second vaccine dose, they all said, ‘You were right, I was fine.’ Don’t claim the negative.