New Community Relations Director

The Ko‘olauloa Health Center welcomes Kehau Santiago as the newly hired community relations director. Kehau was born on the Windward side of O’ahu but spent the last 30 years in Kahuku. She graduated from Kahuku High school and went on to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. As a Native Hawaiian Health scholar recipient, she received her Master’s degree in social work two years later. Kehau and her husband Walter Santiago have four grown children.

As a medical social worker, Kehau takes improving the health of others seriously, especially Native Hawaiians who have the highest rate of morbidity when compared to other ethnic groups. Having lost her own mother prematurely, preventing others from experiencing the same kind of heartache is what motivates her.

In 1994 Kehau’s professional career started at the Kahuku Medical Center. She spent 2 years there and in 1996 was hired to create a child abuse prevention program in Hauula for Hawaiian newborns and their families. This project by the name of “Na Mamo Ola Pono”, became a statewide model and eventually received funding by Kapiolani Medical Center.

Prior to joining the Ko‘olauloa Health Center, Kehau spent 20 years with the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust helping children with grief and loss issues after the death of a parent. Sadly, a number of those parents died from a chronic disease that was preventable. Native Hawaiian’s are not only unhealthy, they are overrepresented when it comes to risk factors such as incarceration and poor economic indicators.

When Kehau was offered the Director of Community Relations Department position she jumped at the opportunity. It’s more about building capacity and less about recruiting customers for her. She is looking forward to the journey ahead.

Ko‘olauloa Health Center • 293-9231
We accept everyone regardless of ability to pay. Improving the quality for life for all. Imua!