About Us
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Hawaii
NAMI Hawaii is proud to offer programs of education and real-life recovery for families affected by mental illness and anyone interested in being better informed. We strive to raise public awareness about mental illness and better mental health. The more people who understand and know more about mental illness, the less likely prejudice and stigma will exist in our community. Our programs and support groups are prepared and delivered by people who know firsthand the struggles of having a loved one afflicted with a mental illness as well as those who live in recovery. These presenters are well trained and look forward to helping you better understand the circumstances you may find yourself in.
Our Team
STAFF
Kumi Macdonald
Executive Director
Former church ministry director and hotel manager, Connection Support Group Facilitator, successfully living in recovery from depression and has family members with mental illness.
Anisa Wiseman
Program Director
Former special education teacher, business owner, successfully living in recovery from PTSD and has family members with mental illness.
Ian Macdonald
Program Assistant
IT, videography, and customer service background. Temporary hire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brysen Poulton
Volunteer Community Coordinator
PR background.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dana Anderson
Board Vice President
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Writer, retired educator and business owner of St. Clement's Outreach to the institute for Human Services, founding member of Friends of Youth Outreach Hawaii Foundation.
Shuk Wai Chan
Board of Director
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Licensed pharmacist with seven years of pharmacy experience, behavioral health program manager. Works with nurses, doctors and social workers for patients with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. An advocate to immigrant families on mental health.
Mike Durant
Board Vice President
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NAMI Family Support Group facilitator, member of Hawaii State Council on Mental Health, retired businessman, retired general manager of Jorgensen Steel Company in Honolulu, and a member of NAMI Hawaii since 1999.
Anika Gearheart
Board of Director
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PhD Candidate of Cognitive Psychology at UH Manoa, instructor of psychology at LCC. Living successfully with an anxiety disorder and supporting family members with mental health disorders. Active volunteer with NAMI Hawaii and leads NAMI on Campus group at LCC.
Randy Hack
Board of Director
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Retired Consumer Advisor of AMHD, Department of Health, person in recovery from mental illness, NAMI Recognition Award 2015, unique personal relationship with largest individual donor and NAMI Hawaii.
Kathy Hammes
Board of Director
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Retired social worker, NAMI Family to Family teacher.
Loretta Hughes
Board of Director
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NAMI Family to Family teacher.
Steven Katz
Board of Director
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Dealing with mental illness of a family member, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, NAMI Support Group facilitator, community speaker.
Carol Kozlovich
Board of Director
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Rotary Club president, trained facilitator with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Francesca Leonetti
Board President
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Director of Microsoft Brand Strategy. She has a family member with mental illness.
Karin Medigovich
Board of Director
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Childcare licenser for the state of Hawaii. Al anon member. NAMI Support Group facilitator and F2F teacher. Mental health first-aide, CPI & assist certified. Four years experience as a Crisis Outreach Therapist. Mother of a fine artist who survives schizophrenia.
Daniel Mistak
Board of Director
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Director of Health Care Initiatives for Justice-involved individuals at Community Oriented Correctional Health Services. A conference presenter and advocate for jail diversion.
Amy M.S.
Board of Director
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Operations Manager at Department of Health, former corporate and healthcare attorney. Successfully living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, supports family member with mental illness.
Ty Perrier
Board of Director
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Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner, and a current military spouse. Previous United States Public Health Service Officer. Has family members suffering from mental illness.
Alicia Rodriguez
Board of Director
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Licensed clinical psychologist specializing in Police and Public Safety Psychology. In private practice (Waves of Insight, LLC) and currently expanding her focus to include all first responders in Hawaii. CIT certified trainer. Has family with mental illness.
Michael Williams
Board Treasurer
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Certified Public Accountant.
Debbie Zimmerman
Board Vice President
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President of New Millennium Meetings, Inc., consultant to the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Wellness Partner with Amare Global, has a family member with a mental health condition.
ADVISORS
Marjorie Au
Attorney, Former NAMI Hawaii President.
Carol Denis
Retired DHS State Worker, NAMI Family Support Group facilitator, NAMI Family to Family teacher.
Denis Mee-Lee, MD
MD, MS, CPI, Co-Founder of NAMI Hawaii, past, Chief Hawaii Mental Health Division, past Director and Chair of Psychiatry, Castle Medical Center, President and Principal Investigator of Valden Medical, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hawaii, Past Chief of Staff, Castle Medical Center, SAMSA Grant Reviewer.
Anson Rego
Attorney, dealing with mental illness of a family member, Family Support Group facilitator.
Kathleen Rhoads Merriam
A licensed social worker and a certified substance abuse counselor, has experience as someone living with a mental illness, as a family member, mental health provider and administrator, works for HI Adult Mental Health Division and is on the Statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force, board member of National Association of Social Workers.
Deborah Kissinger
Psychiatrist: adult, child and adolescent (addiction medicine).
Linda Taylor
Masters in Social Work, co-founder of The Institute For Family Enrichment.
