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The UH Manoa Nursing Alumni Association and UH Manoa Nursing recognizes alumni for their outstanding achievement in leadership, excellence and innovation. Awardees represent the best of nursing in Hawaii, U.S. and the world. They exemplify service, dedication, honor the nursing profession, advance health-care and spread the spirit of aloha.

2019

On Thursday, April 11, 2019, the UH Manoa Nursing Alumni Association hosted the 2019 Alumni Awards & Scholarship Fundraiser event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. More than 180 guests attended to honor the two Alumni Hall of Fame recipients and the two Outstanding Young Alumni. Additionally, nursing student scholarship recipients Kanoe Tani and Christopher Davis spoke about the impact of scholarship. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support nursing endowed scholarship and student awards. See event photos.

Mimi Harris

Madeline (Mimi) Harris
MS ’89, BS ’76, RN, CNS, NEA-BC

Gail Kanegawa
BS ’87, AS ’85, RN

2018

On Thursday, March 1, 2018, the UH Manoa Nursing Alumni Association celebrated it’s 4th annual Endowed Scholarship Fundraiser event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. More than 230 guests attended to honor the two Alumni Hall of Fame recipients and the two Outstanding Young Alumni. Additionally, nursing student scholarship recipient John Nuez spoke about the impact of scholarship. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support nursing endowed scholarship and student awards. See event photos.

Nancy Atmospera-Walch
DNP ’17, MPH, BS ’77, AS ’71, RN, LNHA, MCHES, CCHN, CMC

Gloria Fernandez
DNP ’15, MS ’11, PHNA, RN

2017

On Thursday, March 9, 2017, the UH Manoa Nursing Alumni Association celebrated it’s 3rd annual Endowed Scholarship Fundraiser event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. More than 120 guests attended to honor the two Alumni Hall of Fame recipients. Additionally, nursing student scholarship recipient Kris Daenos spoke about the impact of scholarship. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support nursing endowed scholarship and student awards. See event photos.

photo of Sally Kamai

Sally Kamai
MBA-HCM, BS ’83, RN

photo of B Mathews

Barbara Mathews
MS ’77, APRN

2016

In 2016, UH Manoa Nursing honored 60 nursing alumni at the Sensational 60th Anniversary Gala event held at the Sheraton Waikiki. Of the 60 nurses, six were inducted into an inaugural Hall of Fame and 54 were recognized for outstanding achievement in leadership, excellence and innovation. See event photos.

The 60 alumni who were recognized represent the best of nursing in Hawaii, U.S. and the world. The service and dedication of these Sensational Sixty nurses honor the nursing profession, advance health-care and spread the spirit of aloha.

The six alumni — each representing impressive achievements in research, education and practice — were inducted into an inaugural Hall of Fame.

photo of Peggy Chinn

Peggy L. Chinn
PhD, MS, BS ’64, RN, FAAN

photo of Jillian Inouye

Jillian Inouye
PhD, MA, MS, BS ’66, APRN, FAAN

photo of Sally Ishikawa

Sally T. Ishikawa
MPH, BS ’70, RN, NHA

photo of Connie Mitchell

Connie Mitchell
MS ’89, BS ’78, APRN, BC

photo of Kerry Nesseler

RADM Kerry Paige Nesseler
MS ’85, BSN, RN, FAAN

photo of Mary Oneha

Mary Frances Oneha
PhD, MN, BS ’81, APRN

The school also honored 54 outstanding nursing alumni who make a difference every day in the lives of the people of Hawaii.

Outstanding Alumni

Richelle Asselstine, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Honolulu

Nancy Atmospera-Walch, Advantage Health Care Provider, Inc.

COL Takako Lei Barrell, Tripler Army Medical Center

Christa Braun-Inglis, Kaiser Permanente

Clementina Ceria-Ulep, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing

Nicolle Chun, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Denise Cohen, University of Hawaii Maui College

Sharon Contrades, Wilcox Medical Center – Hawaii Pacific Health

Danielle Doo, Hawaii Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn Program

Leina Duchai, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Aileen A. Duran, Lana‘i Community Health Center

Sharon L. Longe Espina, Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System

Gloria Fernandez, Hawaii Department of Health – Public Health Nursing Branch

Dianne Fochtman, Hospice Hawaii

Joan Foley, Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System & Tripler Army Medical Center

Liane Fujita, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Geila Fukumitsu, Kaiser Permanente

Julie Gamboa, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Joseph Giovannoni, Joseph Giovannoni, Inc.

Paul Guillory, Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System

Jacqueline Haro, John Nagamine MD, Inc.

Margaret Hattori-Uchima, University of Guam, School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Emyline Hiraki, Pali Momi Medical Center – Hawaii Pacific Health

Wai Ting “Jackie” Hui, Kalihi Palama Health Center

Nona Irvine, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Glenda Kaalakea, Straub Medical Center/Wilcox Medical Center – Hawaii Pacific Health

Sandra Kakiuchi, Kaiser Permanente

Joan Kanemori, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children – Hawaii Pacific Health

Lori R. Y. Kaneshige, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children – Hawaii Pacific Health

Catherine Kawaihalau, Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System

Lisa Kelleher, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Cynthia Kitkowski, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Judy Kodama, Maui Memorial Medical Center

Andrea Kubota, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Honolulu

Bridget Lai, Hawaii Pacific Health System

Larson P. Layugan, Kaiser Permanente

Clovita Ledward, The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oahu

Brigitte McKale, Pali Momi Medical Center – Hawaii Pacific Health

Andrew Moats, Straub Medical Center – Hawaii Pacific Health

Brenda Mopas, Kaiser Permanente

Diane Nakagaki, Kaiser Permanente

Diane Pestolesi, Saddleback College, California

Jadelyn Pontes, Pali Momi Medical Center – Hawaii Pacific Health

Joanne Potts, Hospice of Hilo

LTC Editha D. Ruiz, Tripler Army Medical Center

Lorraine Sakamoto, The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oahu

Sharon Shigemasa, University of Hawaii Cancer Center

Corinne Suzuka, CareResource Hawaii

Kathy Terada, Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

Joyce Tokuhara, The Queen’s Medical Center – Punchbowl

Audrey Torres, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific

Janet Uyehara, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing

Christina Wong, MinuteClinic, CVS

Nancy York, Castle Medical Center

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