2026 Hawaiʻi State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Details coming soon.

Through the Rural Health Transformation Grant, Hawaii is investing in innovative strategies to strengthen care delivery, expand telehealth services, and build sustainable, community-based health systems that meet local needs. This panel will bring together healthcare leaders, rural providers, and policymakers to discuss how the grant is driving collaboration across sectors, supporting workforce development, and improving health outcomes for residents statewide. Attendees will gain insights into the progress, lessons learned, and future opportunities shaping the transformation of rural healthcare in Hawaii.

Hawaii has made important strides in addressing its healthcare workforce shortages, but significant challenges remain in ensuring access to care across all islands and communities. This panel will explore the progress made so far in strengthening the state’s healthcare workforce, including successful recruitment and training initiatives, education and policy efforts, and innovative partnerships. Looking ahead, the discussion will focus on what future strategies are needed to build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable healthcare workforce for Hawaii.

Jan Boivin: Senior Vice President, Human Resource & Organizational Effectiveness, Hawaii Pacific Health

Janna Hoshide: Vice President, Workforce Development, Healthcare Association of Hawaii

Emily Moser: Youthline Program Director, Lines for Life

Libby Sagara: Managing Director, BluePath Health

David Tumilowicz: Senior Director, Marketing and Community Health, Kaiser Permanente

This panel will explore how Hawaii is addressing the social determinants of health—such as housing, education, transportation, food security, and economic stability—as essential components of overall well-being. With recognition that health outcomes are shaped more by environment and circumstance than clinical care alone, state and community leaders will discuss innovative approaches to service delivery, cross-sector partnerships, and data sharing that aim to break down silos and improve health outcomes for the people of Hawaii.

Graham Charlton: Director of Network Development, Unite Us

Aimee Grace: Director, UH Office of Strategic Health Initiatives, UH Rural Health Research and Policy Center

Vic Tolentino, Jr: Administrator, Quality and Member Relations Improvement Section, Med-QUEST

This panel will examine the implications of recent federal changes to Medicaid eligibility and enrollment policies – including work requirements and reenrollment – with a focus on actionable strategies to prevent coverage disruptions. Panelists will identify critical opportunities and support mechanisms address Medicaid work requirements, challenges in reenrollment, evolving eligibility criteria for immigrants, and other pivotal policy shifts—each with significant consequences for coverage continuity and access to care. 

Leinaala Kanana: Vice President & Interim Director of Ka ‘Ike Ola, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

Meredith Nichols: Interim Medicaid Director, Med-QUEST

Moderator: Dara Smith: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Over the last two years, the Washington Complex Discharge Task Force supported a pilot program to test a model of care focused on care transitions for individuals who are medically ready for discharge from acute care hospitals, but who face a range of system barriers that may delay discharge for weeks, months or even years longer than necessary. This panel will share insights from this work, with a focus on learnings that may be carried forward in Hawaii and other states.  

Hawaii’s healthcare sector is working to transform care for individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. This panel will explore how the state is improving care coordination, streamlining benefits, and addressing social determinants of health through integrated models and strategic partnerships. 

Ritabelle Fernandes, MD: Medical Director, Population Health, AlohaCare

Moderator: Dara Smith: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Improving access to high-quality palliative care offers opportunity to improve health outcomes for communities of Hawai‘i while reducing overall healthcare costs.  Panelists will share palliative care success stories, insights and learnings from implementation of Hawai‘i’s Medicaid palliative care benefit – the first of its kind in the nation – and future strategies to expand and strengthen access to palliative care across the state.

Daniel Fischberg, MD: Medical Director, Pain & Palliative Care, The Queen’s Health Systems

Dan Haire: President & Chief Executive Officer, Navian Hawaii

Brenda Ho: Chief Executive Officer, Hawai’i Care Choices

Jeannette Koijane: Executive Director, Kokua Mao

Moderator: Katharine Weiss, MPA: Program Director, State of Reform

This panel explores the West Coast Public Health Alliance between Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California—an initiative focused on advancing regional strategies for population health, disease prevention, and equitable vaccine access. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how Hawaii can leverage these regional partnerships to enhance preparedness, promote health equity, and build a more resilient and connected public health infrastructure.

Curtis Toma, MD: Medical Director, Med-QUEST Division, Hawaii Department of Health

Sarah Kemble: State Epidemiologist, Hawaii Department of Health

Maya Maxym: Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine

Moderator: Kathleen Nolan: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

This dynamic panel brings together youth leaders from across Hawaii who are actively shaping the future of behavioral health in their communities. Representing youth-focused organizations, these passionate advocates will share their lived experiences and bold visions for meeting the needs of young people in Hawaii. Through candid dialogue, they will explore the unique challenges facing Hawaii’s youth and offer powerful insights into how youth-driven solutions can foster healing, resilience, and systemic change.

Moderator: Tia Hartsock: Director, Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience, Office of Governor Josh Green

This panel will offer a timely deep dive into Hawaii’s Advancing All‑Payer Health Efficiency Approaches and Development (AHEAD) initiative — its design and the vision for transforming the health system in Hawaii to improve health outcomes and lower rising healthcare costs.  Under AHEAD, Hawaii is seeking to align Medicaid, Medicare, and private payers in a shared value‑based framework that centers equity, strengthens primary care, and incentivizes investments in social and community health. State leaders will outline the program’s opportunities and progress to date, and invite session participants in a Q&A and discussion of implementation plans moving forward.

Jack Lewin: Administrator, State Health Planning and Development Agency and Sr. Advisor to Governor Josh Green on Healthcare Innovation, Hawaii Department of Health

Dan Haire: President & Chief Executive Officer, Navian Hawaii

Moderator: Nicola Pinson: Principal, Health Management Associates

Hear from some of the most influential leaders on health policy reform in the Hawai‘i Legislature. These lawmakers will discuss the main priorities for this year’s session, legislation they’re supporting, and the healthcare reform efforts.

Sen. Jarrett Keohakalole: Assistant Majority Whip, Hawaii Senate

Rep. Lisa Marten: Chair, Human Services & Homelessness Committee, Hawaii House of Representatives

Rep. Scot Matayoshi: Chair, Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee, Hawaii House of Representatives

Sen. Joy San Buenaventura: Chair, Health & Human Services Committee, Hawaii Senate

Rep. Gregg Takayama: Chair, Health Committee, Hawaii House of Representatives

Moderator: Michael Robinson: Vice President, Government Relations & Community Engagement, Hawaii Pacific Health