Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander CAP
Vince Aguon
Vince currently serves as the Communicable Disease Control Coordinator II for the Department of Public Health and Social Services in Mangilao, Guam. In this role he is responsible for coordinating and conducting counseling, testing, referral, and partner service activities funds under the STD/HIV Prevention Grants to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements. He also serves as the Health Department Co-Chairperson of the Guam HIV Planning Group to ensure implementation in the Guam Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan.
Keiva Lei Cadena
Keiva Lei Cadena is a Native Hawaiian Transwoman. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Keiva has called Honolulu, Hawaii home for the last 20 years. She is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Life Foundation, where she plans and facilitates programs, retreats, events, and groups, designed to empower, educate, support, and cultivate leadership and advocacy amongst the HIV+ community across the state of Hawaii. Keiva specializes in HIV testing counseling and linkage for newly diagnosed individuals. Nationally, sits on the Positively Trans National Advisory Board, she is a member of Positive Women’s Network and is also a 2017 graduate of NMAC’s Building Leader of Color-BLOC Program.
Kunane Dreier
Kunane has been working in the HIV care and prevention field for more than 15 years at the Life Foundation, Hawaii’s oldest and largest AIDS Service Organization in Hawaii. Kunane oversees various HIV prevention programs including outreach services, HIV & HCV testing and the PrEP navigation program. During this time, Kunane has also served as the Community Planning Group Chair for Hawaii, has been involved with the Hawaii Harm Reduction Conference planning, statewide PrEP strategic planning group and many other community engagement groups. Kunane also provides capacity building training throughout Hawaii and the 6 Pacific jurisdictions especially focusing on LGBTQ cultural competency and HIV/HCV counseling.
Cathy Kapua
Cathy Kiana Keiko Kapua, or “Taffy” as she is known by the transgender community, hails from the leeward side of O`ahu, Hawai`i. She has worked with the transgender community since 2003, first starting off as a Peer Educator at Kulia Na Mamo, then eventually moving on to become the Transgender Service Coordinator at the Life Foundation. As a graduate of the Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership in September 2010, she is also proud of her accomplishments in the University of Hawaii- West Oahu Public Administration Program. She has been successful in advocating for transgender programming and providing culturally competency trainings throughout the nation but prides herself mainly on being a role model for the young transgender community in Hawai`i.
Kekoa Kealoha
My name is Kekoa and I am from the Big Island of Hawai’i. As a Native Hawaiian and as a gay man, I am passionate about fighting the injustices that affect me and the various communities I am a part of because I witness intersectionality in every moment of every day. I have been working in HIV care and prevention for nearly three years and I am currently a student at the University of Hawai‘i. I am also part of the leadership committee for the Hawai‘i Statewide PrEP Working Group and a member of the Hawai‘i HIV/AIDS Community Planning Group.
Carolyn Kuali`i
Carolyn Kuali`i (Hawaiian/Apache) is a life-long HIV advocate whose involvement spans three-decades. Carolyn established one of the first Native Hawaiian Case Management programs in 1993, and served as a CPG member during the inception of Community Care Planning Groups. In 2002 she joined the capacity building team at the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center and helped to launch the first National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Carolyn currently serves as a member on the State of California Office of AIDS CPG and a CAB member for the University of California, San Francisco, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Prevention Research Center.
Bianka Tasaka
Native Hawaiian Mahu Wahine Transgender Lead Medical Assistant/ Prevention Specialist Supervisor presently at Malama Pono Health Services Kauai. Offering HIV, Hepatitis, and STI testing a treatment, Transgender & Woman wellness and Smoking Cencession services. Dedicated over 18 years in Preventive Health Care on Kauai. Co-Chair of Ka Aha Mahu Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Transgender Leaders of Hawaii Striving for Social Justice and change for Mahu Wahine, Mahu Kane, and Transgender community of Hawaii. Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander & Transgender, C.A.P member with NMAC 2018/2020.