Twenty-one Hawaiʻi Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn providers on Maui received the 2024 G.R.I.T. Award from the School-Based Health Alliance for their exceptional service during the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The awards, recognizing Genuine, Resilient, Innovative, and Tenacious service, were presented at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa during the annual H& Keiki Back to School meeting in June
The Hawaiʻi Keiki program is a partnership between the Nancy Atmospera Walch School of Nursing (NAWSON) at UH Mānoa and the Hawaiʻi; Department of Education (HIDOE). The School-Based Health Alliance, a national non-profit, announced the awardees at their conference in Washington, D.C.
During the wildfires, the Hawaiʻi Keiki team provided care in shelters, telehealth visits, and managed health hotlines. They partnered with Federally Qualified Health Centers to offer medical care and vaccinations, and supported students’ emotional well-being through music, yoga and respite activities. Despite personal losses, the team ensured continued care for more than 3,000 HIDOE students directly impacted by the fires.
“There are so many in the community who contributed to the Maui Wildfire response effort,” said Deborah Mattheus, senior practice director for the Hawaiʻi Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Program and nursing professor at NAWSON. “We are especially proud of our Hawaiʻi Keiki Maui provider team and applaud each of our Maui nurses and health technicians for demonstrating resilience and compassion during this crisis. Many on the team were personally affected by this disaster, but continued to perform first responder work even in the face of personal adversity.”
2024 G.R.I.T. Awardees
The honored Maui providers are:
- Lisa Alejandro, Health Technician at Kīhei Elementary School
- Eva Balagso, Health Technician at Kamehameha III Elementary School
- Janel Branson, Complex Area APRN at Kalama Intermediate School
- Ashley Dent, Complex RN at Pāʻia Elementary School
- Alliyah Dudoit, Health Technician at Baldwin High School
- Zoe Elder, Health Technician at Hāna High & Elementary School
- Madison Furlong, Complex Area APRN at Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School
- Aprilcarren Failano, Health Technician at Kahului Elementary School
- Cherie Gonzalez, Health Technician at Kilohana Elementary School
- Shaelyn Jardine-Feiteira, Health Technician at Kalama Intermediate School
- Willene Lono, Health Technician at Wailuku Elementary School
- Dana MacDonald, Complex RN at Lahainaluna High School
- Benevee McGee, Health Technician at Maunaloa Elementary School
- Christa Marzitelli, Complex RN at Kahului Elementary School
- Kaberi Mozumder, APRN, Neighbor Island Supervisor
- Kathleen Oliveira, Health Technician at Kekaulike High School
- Karrie Jean Rice, Mental Health Services Coordinator
- Melissa Stallbaumer, Complex RN at Baldwin High School
- Melody Taborada, Health Technician at Puʻu Kukui Elementary School
- Amanda Valdez, Complex RN at Kūlanihākoʻi High School
- Chayanne Angel Viloria, Health Technician at Lokelani Intermediate School
Ongoing efforts
As schools reopened, the Hawaiʻi Keiki team assisted with health requirements and student medical records. Their dedication underscores the importance of school-based health programs in bridging education and healthcare. Hawaiʻi Keiki, in partnership with HIDOE for more than a decade, continues to provide quality healthcare to students.
