Hale Makua celebrates staff achievements in public health and social services

Hale Makua and Kālele Care Services are proud to announce two major honors for their team. Richard Coloma, Community Health Worker, received the 2025 Peer Award in Public Health from the Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi (HAH), while Maria Eliza Sanado, Social Services Assistant, earned an HAH Scholarship to pursue her master’s degree in Social Work.

For nearly three years as a Community Health Worker for Kālele Care Services (in partnership with Hale Makua), Coloma has helped patients transition safely from Hale Makua back to their home, and ensured clients and families have the resources and support they need. He is known for going above and beyond by tirelessly advocating for his patients, and even personally delivering their medical equipment.

“What makes him truly deserving of this award is not just his ability to navigate complex systems or coordinate care, but the way he builds lasting, meaningful relationships with the patients he serves,” said Rina Choe, Director of Care Management for Hale Makua and Kālele Care Services. “Richard doesn’t see his clients as cases to be managed, he sees them as ʻohana.”

“It’s an honor to receive the HAH Peer Award for Community Health,” says Coloma. “I’m just grateful to walk alongside my clients, helping them break down barriers and connect with the care and resources they need. Seeing those positive changes in people’s lives is what keeps me going.”

Hale Makua also celebrates Maria Eliza Sanado, whose dedication to helping residents at Hale Makua earned her the HAH Scholarship.

“Since landing a job in this position, I have come to realize that there are a lot of people who do not know how to navigate the healthcare system,” Sanado shared. “On Maui, resources are limited. That’s what inspired me to pursue Social Work.”

Sanado says scholarships that she received like the HAH Scholarship and Hale Makua’s Walter & Cathy Scott Scholarship represent more than financial support; they give her a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

Together, Coloma and Sanado embody Hale Makua’s mission to provide compassionate care for Maui’s kūpuna.

For more information about Hale Makua and Kalele Care Services, visit www.halemakua.org. For more information about the Healthcare Association of Hawaii Awards, visit www.hah.org.