Community. Activities. Lifestyle.
The mission of Hale Hau’oli Hawai’i is to promote positive aging through community education programs, adult day care options, and caregiver support. We are a non-profit organization serving the needs of aging seniors and their caregivers.
Hale Hau’oli Hawai’i’s vision is to provide services for the elderly and their caregivers and to act as a resource and referral partner for them.
As the population in Hawaii ages, there is a significant need to provide support services to the elderly and disabled and their caregivers. Census data shows that 16.5% of Hawaii’s population of over 1.4 million is over the age of 65, totaling over 236,000 individuals. One report shows that most families struggle to cover the out-of-pocket costs of long-term care. According to a 2017 report by Genworth Financial, Inc., in Hawaii, the average monthly cost of a Homemaker Health Aide is $4,957 per month, adult day care is $1,650, assisted living is $4,750, and nursing home care is $13,216. Because the culture in Hawaii is to have our seniors age in place, and most caregivers have to continue to work outside of the home, adult day care is the most economical care option for the Kupuna.Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (alzfdn) is a funder and partner of Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i.
Affiliations: The Caregiver Foundation, The Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Kokua Council, The National Adult Day Services Association, Adult Day Centers Hawaii, The Hawaii Gerontological Society, Alzheimer’s Association, and AARP.
Experienced. Caring. Professional.
Kathleen Wyatt
Kathy Wyatt is President of Hale Hauʻoli Hawaiʻi, whose mission is to promote positive aging through community education programs, adult day care options, and caregiver support groups, established in 2017. She is a registered nurse with Master’s degrees in Nursing and Business Administration, and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
Ms. Wyatt’s experience spans 20 years working with the elderly in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, as well as adult day care. She is on the Board of Directors of the Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs (Chair of the Recognition and Awards Committee), the Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition (Treasurer), the Caregiver Foundation, and Kokua Council (Secretary), was the 2019 President of the Hawaii Pacific Gerontology Society and she is active in the Kupuna Caucus. In addition, she operates Hale Hauʻoli Hawaiʻi, an adult day care center in Aiea and is founder and instructor for Hoaloha Nurse Aide Training Program. She is past President of Adult Day Centers Hawaii.
Dr. Poki`i Balaz
Dr. Balaz, a member of the Board of Directors of Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i, grew up in Hawai’i and attended the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, receiving a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree in Nursing
Dr. Balaz received her Masters of Science (MSN) degree in Nursing Education from the University of Oklahoma, graduated with honors and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. After working in Los Angeles she returned to Hawai’i to obtain her Doctorate in Nursing
Practice (DNP) from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. Dr. Balaz describes herself as a lifetime learner and is
double board certified as a family nurse practitioner. Dr. Balaz’s professional interests include Native Hawaiian health, kupuna (geriatrics), brain health, and the ‘ohana and community that is affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. Her devotion to her profession stems from her culture which also exemplifies the notion to serve others before yourself.
Dr. Stephanie Chung
Dr. Stephanie Chung is a member of the Board of Directors of Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i. Dr. Chung received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, System Leadership Tract, from Chamberlain University. She also attended Hawaii Pacific University.
Dr. Chung has extensive experience in the long term care system. She has acted as Assistant Director of Nursing and Clinical Staff Coordinator for Care Center of Honolulu, until early retirement. She has been Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Nursing at Chaminade University of Honolulu. She was also adjunct faculty at Chaminade University and Hawaii Pacific University. She is an Instructor and Clinical Coordinator for Hoaloha Nurse Aide Training Program. She is also active in the Filipino Nursing Association.
Jeannette Werner
Jeannette Werner, a member of the Board of Directors of Hale Hau’oli Hawai’i, has over 25 years of experience in Human Resources, and is certified in Employee Recognition.
She spent eight and a half years in Corporate Human Resources for UPS where she worked in Health and Safety, Employee Relations, Education Assistance, Budget Oversight, and Fleet Management. In addition, she served as the United Way Coordinator in various roles at UPS. Jamie’s experience with Budget Oversight lead her to a Financial Controller and Human Resources position with a contracting firm in Atlanta, GA. Jamie studied at Georgia State University majoring in Finance.
Scholarship funding from The Milton and Phyllis Berg Spring Respite Grant through the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
Tuition assistance program was funded by a grant provided by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)