Hāmākua-Kohala Health

Board of Directors

Supporting Board Members of Hāmākua-Kohala Health

Diana Moriarty – Diana Moriarty is originally from England. She visited Hawai’i in 1970 and has lived here ever since. In 1971 she moved from Oahu to the Big Island and has resided and worked in North Kohala for the past 26 years. She attended nursing school in Hilo and is currently employed at Kohala Hospital as the quality manager, social worker designee and occasionally staff nurse. This experience in a community hospital serving as a safety healthcare net for the area prompted her to accept a position on the Hamakua-Kohala Health Board of Directors where she assumed board leadership for the patient services committee. She enjoys swimming, walking, gardening, and a new hobby, playing the recorder. She is dedicated to the support of community health centers and hospitals and the vital role they play in providing healthcare to the people of North Kohala and Hamakua.

Diane Ashley – Diane Ashley has been a resident of the Hamakua coast and a patient at Hamakua-Kohala Health Center since 2005. She is a teacher at Honokaa High and Intermediate and had also been teaching there since 2005. Her education includes BA, University of California at Santa Barbara, major Sociology, minor Spanish and MA, Boise State University, Curriculum & Instruction. During her time on the Big Island, she has also been involved with numerous community organizations, including Big Island Sailing Foundation, Kahilu Theater, Waimea Ocean Film Festival, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, United Methodist Church, Lydia’s Closet and Sew Fun, and the Up-Link After School Program for the Intermediate School. Working with teens at HHIS has made me particularly aware of the need here for a quality rural health care center and since I have been a client of the health center which promotes health and wellness, I have been both impressed and pleased with the services that are offered right here in our small community. With this particular perspective of our rural community, I am deeply inspired to assist with the HKH Center’s contribution to maintaining our community’s health and wellness. Mahalo for giving me this opportunity to give back to our awesome community something that I strongly believe in.

Kenneth Kaneshiro – resides in Honokaa and graduated from Honokaa High School in 1960. He later graduated from Fresno State in California with a degree in Geology. Returning to Honokaa, he started his career with the USDA – Soil Conservation Service as a Conservation Technician, (now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS). After working in the Honokaa Field Office for a year or so, he transferred to Phoenix, Arizona, as the geologist on the Watershed Planning staff. After about five years, he came home to Hawai’i and served as the geologist on the Hawai’i Watershed Planning Staff. He stayed in Hawai’i for the rest of his career with the NRCS, taking positions as the Watershed Planning Staff Leader, Assistant State Conservationist and State Conservationist before retiring in 2003. Ken is quite involved in our community. Before joining the Hamakua-Kohala Health Center Board, he served on a County Commission on Public Access and the County Water Board, and is a member of the Hamakua Lions Club, the Hamakua Farm Bureau and Honokaa Hongwanji.

Nidhi Chabora – APRN-Rx, BC, creating art is “worthy of prescription.” After several years of spending her days working as a Nurse Practitioner in Hilo, Hawaii doing medication management paired with some supportive and motivational therapy, she noticed a persistent sense that there was a piece missing. “Clients who responded to medication came in feeling better with reduction of symptoms, but I felt something was missing in their presentation,” she remembers. “There was relief but very few signs of healing: such as high self esteem, solid sense of self, engaging in purposeful activity and enjoying meaningful relationships.” Nidhi joined the Hamakua-Kohala Health Board of Directors in 2019.

Ravi Inder Singh – lives between Honokaa, SF Bay Area & New Delhi. After receiving an MBA at the age of 22, he was involved in building 4 technology companies. He was the Founder & CEO of MPS Technologies which served over 200 medical research schools. After his corporate career, he has focused on serving the community in different ways.

Mr. Singh joined the Patient Care and Quality Improvement Committee in 2019 and serves as its Chair since 2020. He is delighted that the committed team at HKH vaccinated over 90% of the community against Covid. When taking a break, he enjoys hiking, singing, and traveling the planet. Ravi loves all forms of “woo-woo” and aims to get into interesting conversations with all kinds of weird and wonderful people. He doesn’t eat animals, loves cheese, electric vehicles, and life-enhancing ideas.

Jenna Geier – has spent 17 years in value based care delivery and healthcare technology. After receiving her bachelor’s in biology (summa cum laude), she spent 10 years supporting large health systems in quality, regulatory, and value based care. Jenna spent the next 7 years supporting oncology and primary care ACOs through technology and advisory services. She received her Divemaster training and certification from Jack’s Diving Locker (Kona) in 2019.

Richard A. Lasser – For 25 years, Richard successfully ran Teachers’ School Supply, Inc., a multimillion dollar, school furniture marketing company with over 30,000 customers worldwide.

After selling the business, Richard turned to writing and is the published author of two books for Chronicle Books and a contributor to The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and other publications. He also had a hand in writing the screenplays for 5 produced feature films, which star Academy Award Winning Best Actors Ben Kingsley and Christopher Plummer. He’s also written parts for Natasha Lyonne and Maggie Q. His most recent film, “Miranda’s Victim”, stars Abigail Breslin, Luke Wilson, Andy Garcia and Donald Sutherland.

The spouse of a doctor who worked for a rural health clinic in Washington State, he’s now able to devote much of his time to serving on the board of Hamakua Health.

Lara Sonoda – Born and raised in Hawaii, Lara is a vice president and team lead for the Commercial Banking Group at First Hawaiian Bank. Aside from working in finance, she has an extensive background in communications, having run her college newspaper, Ke Kalahea, and her own small business as well as having written for Ke Ola Magazine and the Chancellor’s Office at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She is an alumna of UH Hilo and graduated valedictorian of her class with a BBA in finance and management. Lara is passionate about helping local businesses succeed and was awarded Young Professional of the Year in 2022 by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication to our local community is further demonstrated through her current volunteer service as the Secretary for The Arc of Hilo and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team for The Alzheimer’s Association. Past service includes board leadership positions with the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaii Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, Hilo Rotary Club Foundation, and the Big Island Press Club. She is also an avid supporter of Special Olympics. In her free time, Lara loves to travel with her family and enjoys audio books, yoga, and photography.

Megan MacArthur – Born and raised in Hawaii, Megan MacArthur, has been a teacher and trainer in mind-body fitness and wellness for over 30 years. As a teacher, trainer, choreographer, dancer, and somatic expert, her profound understanding of movement arts has inspired countless individuals to unlock their true potential and deepen their connection to their bodies. Beyond her impact in the movement realm, Megan’s 23-year tenure as a highly successful real estate agent is marked by unmatched knowledge of the Hawaii market, a legacy rooted in her family’s successful real estate background, and numerous accolades including Chairman’s Circle award recipient and recognition as a Top Producing Agent. With a passion for business, fitness, wellness, cycling, and dancing, Megan embodies a commitment to an active and full spectrum lifestyle, and as a mother and grandmother, she values family and community. Her dedication, expertise, and genuine desire to help others live their greatest lives makes her an invaluable asset in both the movement arts and real estate industries.