puts Local organization community health first By Kyle Galdeira By specializing in convening medical and social service providers within communities to work on solutions that improve systems-level delivery, while also breaking down barriers to improve overall community health, Community First Hawai'i embraces the important kuleana of enhancing the health and well-being of those across Hawai'i Island. Community First Hawai'i is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by the late Barry Taniguchi in 2014 to serve as a neutral forum through which the community can come together. The organization was launched as a catalyst for solutions within the community to improve overall health and access to health care. "Through its programs, Community First hopes to shift the model of health care from reactively treating diseases and afflictions to proactively caring for the health of every person on Hawaii Island," says Community First Hawaii Executive Director Randy Kurohara. During the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic, Community First Hawaii was instrumental in bringing together the island's hospitals, community health. centers, pharmacies, independent provider organizations, government, and community-based organizations to help coordinate vaccination and testing efforts. Community First Hawai'i also developed, coordinated and disseminated. community messaging through its "Our Kuleana" media campaign designed to combat COVID-19 across Hawai'i Island. "We continue to bring together provider organizations around health literacy and equity with our Kuleana Health Project, which we are co-champions for with the County of Hawaii and University of Hawai'i at Hilo," Kurohara says. "This federally funded project focuses on COVID-19 safety and mitigation as well as chronic diseases education in a culturally relevant format to communities on Hawai'i Island facing the most health disparities." Visit communityfirsthawaii.org to learn more about the organization's dedication to improving the health of Hawai'i Island residents across various communities. "We are successful in bringing stakeholders together because we are a neutral entity with the community's best interest in mind. We truly put the community first," Kurohara says. COMMUNITY FIRST HAWAI'I Community First Hawai'i PO Box 7158, Hilo 96720 (808)756-9637 communityfirsthawaii.org Aid FOLLOW US @communityfirsthawaii puts Local organization community health first By Kyle Galdeira By specializing in convening medical and social service providers within communities to work on solutions that improve systems - level delivery , while also breaking down barriers to improve overall community health , Community First Hawai'i embraces the important kuleana of enhancing the health and well - being of those across Hawai'i Island . Community First Hawai'i is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization founded by the late Barry Taniguchi in 2014 to serve as a neutral forum through which the community can come together . The organization was launched as a catalyst for solutions within the community to improve overall health and access to health care . " Through its programs , Community First hopes to shift the model of health care from reactively treating diseases and afflictions to proactively caring for the health of every person on Hawaii Island , " says Community First Hawaii Executive Director Randy Kurohara . During the ever - changing COVID - 19 pandemic , Community First Hawaii was instrumental in bringing together the island's hospitals , community health . centers , pharmacies , independent provider organizations , government , and community - based organizations to help coordinate vaccination and testing efforts . Community First Hawai'i also developed , coordinated and disseminated . community messaging through its " Our Kuleana " media campaign designed to combat COVID - 19 across Hawai'i Island . " We continue to bring together provider organizations around health literacy and equity with our Kuleana Health Project , which we are co - champions for with the County of Hawaii and University of Hawai'i at Hilo , " Kurohara says . " This federally funded project focuses on COVID - 19 safety and mitigation as well as chronic diseases education in a culturally relevant format to communities on Hawai'i Island facing the most health disparities . " Visit communityfirsthawaii.org to learn more about the organization's dedication to improving the health of Hawai'i Island residents across various communities . " We are successful in bringing stakeholders together because we are a neutral entity with the community's best interest in mind . We truly put the community first , " Kurohara says . COMMUNITY FIRST HAWAI'I Community First Hawai'i PO Box 7158 , Hilo 96720 (808)756-9637 communityfirsthawaii.org Aid FOLLOW US @communityfirsthawaii