Mele Andrade Director of Community Engagement and Training

Mele grew up on the island of Maui, where she developed her skills in nurturing and supporting the children and families of her community.

With over 19 years of experience, Mele continues to effect positive change through home visitation and child abuse and neglect prevention.

Mele is grateful for the opportunity to raise her four children on the island of Maui. When she is not working, she loves spending time with them.

In her role as Director of Community Engagement and Training, she supports the children and families of Hawaiʻi in building healthy and strong communities.

Mele earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She received her MSCP, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy, from Chaminade University.

Krystal Baba Family Engagement Coordinator

Krystal envisions sustaining her role by bridging her dedication to building community partnerships with her grassroots. Her passion to support local communities is driven by her upbringing from Waipahu, Hawaiʻi, which also motivated her educational path. She received a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, with a concentration in Management, from the University of Phoenix while juggling multiple community roles. Her work connects through domestic violence advocacy, underage substance misuse prevention, sexual violence prevention, and supporting various community coalitions. She truly does it all for her daughter and her family, including her fur babies.

Chevelle Davis Director of Early Childhood and Health Policy

Chevelle was born and raised on the island of O‘ahu and resides in the ahupua‘a of Hono‘uli‘uli. She was raised in a blended family and is the oldest of six children. Chevelle loves to travel, eat ‘ono food, watch movies, and make memories with her family, friends, and pets.

Chevelle comes from a public health background, focusing on health policy, with a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in public health from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Chevelle is also a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar, a leadership development program for doctoral students from populations underrepresented in specific doctoral disciplines and/or historically marginalized backgrounds - a program aimed to support scholars in becoming effective leaders of change and challenging structural systems of power.

Chevelle is passionate about creating a future where communities across Hawai'i feel safe and supported by addressing the social, structural, and political determinants of health. In her role as Director of Early Childhood and Health Policy, she supports the community in advocating for policies that support families in raising their keiki and caring for their ‘ohana in a healthy, safe, and supportive Hawai‘i. She brings a passion for community-centered policies informed by anti-racism, equity, and justice, with the intention of driving systemic change. Chevelle’s prior experience includes research and advocacy on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as Native Hawaiian Health.

Philamer Felicitas Communications Strategist

A Hilo-born daughter of Ilocano immigrants, Philamer was raised on the Leeward side of Oʻahu and calls the ahupuaʻa of Hoʻaeʻae home. Returning to Hawai‘i after spending transformative years in Arizona strengthened her connection to ʻāina and community. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family, connecting Waiʻanae keiki to the kai, serving as a board member for NativeStories.org, practicing hula, and voyaging with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and ʻOhana Waʻa. Her lived experiences as a solo parent navigating childcare, housing, and Hawaiʻi’s cost of living fuels her advocacy for keiki and local ʻohana.

As a communications leader with 20 years of experience in design and marketing, and over 15 years in nonprofit communications and public service, she currently serves as the Communications Strategist for Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, where she leads digital strategy, multimedia storytelling, and advocacy campaigns focused on the safety and health of our keiki, early childhood education, and family well-being.

Philamer’s background includes leadership roles with BLM Phoenix Metro, Poder In Action, and the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, where she developed bilingual education materials, led culturally grounded storytelling campaigns, and was involved in grassroots community organizing. At Arizona State University, she held key roles at the ASU Foundation, Enterprise Partners, and the ASU Office of Social Advancement where she developed fundraising communications strategies, produced high-level multimedia content for stakeholders, and collaborated with world Indigenous leaders on developing a vision for a Global Conservation University.

Grounded academically in digital communications and guided by her belief in honoring kūlana and kūleana to people and place, Philamer centers people, purpose, and place in every project she leads and is committed to using storytelling as a tool for transformation to uplift the communities she honors and humbly serves.

Mai Kapuaoʻihilani Mei-Lin Hall Children’s Health Coordinator

Mai was born and raised in Kalihi, Oʻahu. As a former preschool teacher, public school teacher, Hawaiian culture Kumu, and non-profit program manager, Mai brings a diverse perspective to the field of early learning, having served as an early childhood advocate for over 18 years. She has worked and volunteered in a variety of settings, including center-based care, family child care, family-child interaction learning programs, shelters, the Department of Education, and Kamehameha Schools.

Mai received both her B.Ed. and M.Ed. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with an emphasis in early childhood education and Hawaiian culture. She has served on the Executive Board for the Hawaiʻi affiliate chapter for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (HiAEYC) for seven years, which fueled her advocacy efforts for preschool providers and children. Mai serves as the Co-Chair of the Honolulu Community Children’s Council (CCC) and as a parent representative on the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) to advocate for children with disabilities and special health care needs. As a parent of two children with disabilities, she is committed to improving systems, services, and positive outcomes for our keiki.

Le'a Hanawahine Strategic Events and Operations Coodinator

Le'a was born and raised in Waimānalo, Hawai'i, the place that first taught her the true meaning of mālama. Growing up in Hawai'i, Le'a has developed a lifelong love for nature, especially the beach, animals, and ʻono food!

Le'a is a recent graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing and a concentration in Strategic Communications. During her undergraduate studies, Le'a completed the Pre-Health Sciences Program, was an active member of several on-campus clubs, and volunteered for organizations that focused on serving underserved communities. Le'a is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health and Master of Business Administration programs, where she looks forward to applying her studies to her work with HCAN.

From a young age, Le'a has always been passionate about working and volunteering for non-profits, such as Shriners Hospital for Children and the Special Olympics. She is more than excited to continue her work with Hawai'i Children Action Network, as she looks forward to serving the children and families of Hawai'i.

Jaki Knaus Director of Communications

Jaki Knaus is a skilled graphic designer by trade and an experienced marketing professional based on the mokupuni of O'ahu, moku of Kona, in the ahupua'a of Waikīkī.

After graduating from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa with a B.A. in Psychology, Jaki developed a successful career in marketing and started his agency in 2015. With over 13 years of experience in the field of design, Jaki has developed a robust skill set in various areas of creativity and technical expertise. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, working with notable organizations such as Hawaiian Airlines, the American Heart Association, AlohaCare, The Cathedral of St. Andrew and Priory, Pacific Health Analytics Collaborative, Māpuna Lab, Pohana ʻO Nā Wāhine, and Central Pacific Bank, utilizing his expertise and passion to benefit the community. A vast majority of his skills are self-taught, and he continues to learn new forms of technology every day.

During his free time, he enjoys fishing, practicing jiu-jitsu, playing video games, training his therapy dog, and spending time with his friends and family. Jaki is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and a proud advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights across the nation as an openly queer transgender man. "Pilina first, always," says Jaki, placing relationships as an integral part of any transaction or interaction.

Noreen Kohl Children’s Health and Wellness Policy Advocate

Noreen’s current role involves advocating for long-term policy solutions to improve child mental health, safety, and wellness in Hawai‘i. She brings a decade of experience to projects addressing inequities through data-driven decision-making, programming, and social policy in Hawai‘i. Noreen’s prior work spans issues relating to childhood health and mental health, social inequalities, and the criminal legal system.

A social scientist by training, Noreen is passionate about making data accessible and using research to advance equity and social justice. She is dedicated to policy changes that support family caregivers throughout their lifespan and has worked on initiatives such as paid family leave, long-term care services, and equitable workplace policies. In addition to family caregiving and gender equity, she is committed to non-punitive approaches to address problems from anti-racist and trauma-informed lenses.

Noreen is grateful to be raising her two young children with her partner on the island of Oʻahu. She enjoys swimming, spending time with family and friends, trying new places to eat, going to the beach, and reading with her kids.

Diane Tabangay Anti-Hunger Advocate

Diane is the Anti-Hunger Advocate focusing on food insecurity and policy solutions to child hunger in Hawaii. In this role, she works collaboratively with public and private entities to address gaps and barriers to food access, including participation in Child Nutrition Programs. Diane’s entire work life has been dedicated to serving children and families as an educator and program administrator. She was born and raised on Oahu, educated through Hawaii’s public-school system, and earned a B.Ed. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education with an emphasis on early childhood education and school administration. Reflecting is her favorite pastime, as she finds great happiness in reminiscing about time spent with family and friends and staying in touch with them.

Malia Tsuchiya Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

Malia is a mother of five and a strong advocate for everything early childhood. She spent nearly twenty years as a direct service provider, working as a family childcare provider, infant-toddler lead caregiver, and preschool teacher. She has vast experience in curriculum development, accreditation, and licensing procedures. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Child Development, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus on Child Development, and is currently completing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.

In recent years, Malia’s focus has been on community organizing, implementing systemic quality improvements, and workforce and leadership development. She is a strong believer in the need for systems approaches to solutions. Malia believes that through the work of a strong body of early childhood advocates, Hawai’i can make the systems changes needed to become a champion for the rights our children deserve.

Malia’s passion for early childhood has inspired her to reach out to the broader community to help advocate for the rights of young children, their families, and their communities. Growing up between Hawai’i Island and Kaua’i, Malia understands and respects the need for strong communities as a foundation for the wellness of young children. Malia approaches life and work from a servant leadership perspective, seeking to empower the voices of everyone who desires to create a better world for our children. Who will advocate for the rights of our children, if not us, then who?

Courtney Velazquez Deputy Director

Courtney grew up in the red dirt of Central Oʻahu. She has 20+ years of experience working in government and nonprofit organizations in Honolulu and Seattle. Her philosophy is to get resources to change-makers and get out of the way. For the past 12 years, she worked alongside community partners to address homelessness, gender-based violence, and labor protections. Prior to that, she advocated with youth to access post-secondary opportunities and taught adult English language learners.

Courtney is deeply grateful to community organizer mentors for showing her how to translate racial equity principles into actions. She is excited to be back in Hawai'i, contributing to the place and people who raised her. She received her master's degree in public administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and she speaks Spanish. She loves to travel, surf, fish, read, and spend time with her family.

Gwen Whiting Program Manager

Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Gwen is an alumnus of the Hawai’i Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), where she honed her leadership skills and deepened her commitment to community development. With years of experience in developing inclusive and impactful programs, Gwen has established a reputation for her ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including schools, families, and local organizations. A deep understanding of the unique needs of local families and communities guides her work.

Currently, Gwen is focused on increasing awareness, enhancing accessibility, and promoting participation in the benefits and services available to families in Hawai’i. She is particularly excited about her involvement with initiatives such as the Preschool Development Grant Media/Outreach Campaign for Hawai’i, where she is helping to expand the reach of early childhood education opportunities and ensure that more families have access to the resources they need to thrive. Gwen’s goal is to foster a stronger, more inclusive future for Hawai’i’s keiki through empowerment, education, and community involvement.

Nicole Woo Director of Research and Economic Policy

Nicole is the Director of Research and Economic Policy. She focuses on the economic empowerment of Hawai‘i's families and children through initiatives such as the state budget, tax credits for working families, and food security programs. She has over two decades of experience in policy and research, focusing on childhood hunger, work-family support strategies, wages and economic inequality, and tax and budget policies, at non-profit organizations and think tanks in New York City, Washington, D.C., Bangalore, India, and Hawaii. Nicole received her B.A. from Harvard University, where she concentrated in Government.

Deborah Zysman Executive Director

Deborah provides overall leadership at HCAN and works with the Board of Directors and community partners to improve the lives of children. Deborah previously served as Executive Director of Coalition for Tobacco-Free Hawaii from 2003 to 2012. The non-profit organization advanced Hawaii’s smoke-free workplace and tax laws, achieving a substantial decrease in smoking rates.

She has a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her work has spanned chronic disease, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse prevention, women’s health, and community health. Her work has focused on public policy, advocacy, organizational capacity building, and developing community coalitions.

Deborah is a Weinberg Fellow and the winner of the 2017 AIM for Excellence in Nonprofit Management award. Deborah was named one of Hawaii’s “Forty Under 40” by Pacific Business News, and she is the past board President of the Hawaii Public Health Association and the Junior League of Honolulu.

In her free time, she enjoys yoga, reading, and spending time at the beach with her long-time partner and their two young children.