My commitment to serving the local community led me to partner with several impactful organizations across Oʻahu. Through AccessSurf, I had the profound privilege of helping individuals with neurological disabilities experience the therapeutic and exhilarating power of surfing. This adaptive water program not only aligned with my physical therapy aspirations but also demonstrated how movement and ocean therapy can transform lives. Additionally, I organized and led my classmates in regular beach clean-ups through 808 Cleanups, fostering environmental stewardship while strengthening our cohort's connection to the islands we call home.

My dedication to cultural preservation drew me to Protect and Preserve Hawaii, where I learned the traditional Hawaiian practice of uhau humu pōhaku (dry-stack rock wall building). This ancestral technique was essential in our efforts to restore significant cultural sites at Pia Valley and Pāhonu fishpond. These experiences deepened my understanding of Hawaiian cultural practices and their importance in preserving historical sites for future generations. Through this work, I gained a profound appreciation for the intersection of environmental conservation, cultural perpetuation, and community service, all of which inform my approach as a developing healthcare professional.

As I began my DPT program, I envisioned sharing the rich cultural heritage and unique aspects of Hawaiʻi with my fellow classmates. My role as the Pono Committee Lead provided an ideal platform to achieve this goal. Given the time constraints and distinctive challenges of our hybrid DPT program, I recognized that traditional teaching methods about subjects beyond physical therapy would require an innovative approach.

To reach the broadest audience possible, I developed informative newsletters highlighting essential aspects of Hawaiʻi, the place where we regularly convene for our lab sessions. Hawaiʻi's delicate ecosystem and profound cultural significance demand careful stewardship to preserve its beauty and magnificence. Through these newsletters, I aimed to offer my classmates a deeper understanding of Hawaiʻi's authentic character and unique elements. This knowledge not only enriches their personal perspective but also enhances their capacity to become more culturally competent physical therapists who can better serve diverse patient populations in the future.

My experience working alongside physical therapists in Hawaii during the 2024 legislative session as a Student Physical Therapist proved to be an invaluable learning opportunity that expanded my understanding of healthcare policy and professional advocacy. Through collaborative efforts with HAPTA (Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association) members, we meticulously reviewed numerous senate bills that had potential implications for both the physical therapy profession and the broader healthcare landscape in Hawaii. The process of analyzing legislation and formulating organizational positions required careful consideration of multiple stakeholders' perspectives, while maintaining our commitment to advancing high-quality patient care and professional practice standards.

The most enlightening aspect of this experience was witnessing how HAPTA's leadership approached bills that affected allied healthcare professions. Rather than operating in isolation, we actively sought to build bridges and foster support across different healthcare disciplines, recognizing that a unified healthcare community ultimately serves the best interests of Hawaii's residents. This collaborative approach not only strengthened our relationships with other healthcare organizations but also enhanced our effectiveness in advocating for policies that would benefit both practitioners and patients. As a student, participating in these discussions provided me with crucial insights into the intricate relationship between legislative processes and healthcare delivery, while reinforcing the importance of professional engagement in shaping healthcare policy.