Lupe Kaawaloa grew up in Hauula on Oahu and now resides in Pahoa on the Big Island. She is the eldest of 7 children, the mother of a 12 year old daughter and the wife of a very supportive husband. Her family is her heart and soul. After graduating from the University of Hawaii at Hilo with Bachelors degrees in Administration of Justice and Sociology, Lupe looked forward to pursuing a career as a Juvenile Probation Officer. However, her interests changed after having worked in the social services field for the past 8 years as a Paraprofessional with TIFFE (The Institute For Family Enrichment). She has worked with children/teens with developmental disabilities in DOE settings and children/teens with mental health/ behavioral disabilities in community/home settings. As an Independent Living Specialist with Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, she looks forward to working with Consumers of all ages and disabilities. She enjoys challenges and will do her best to assist her Consumers with achieving the goals that they will set for themselves.

Sam Nagasawa originally from Germany came to live in Hawaii in 1983 when she married a “local boy” from the Big Island. Her family settled in Pahoa in the Puna District. When her husband became disabled in a 1985 car accident she learned firsthand about the challenges of living with a disability.She became a skills trainer and worked with children with autism, along with behavioral challenged youth. After a few years she had the opportunity to work as an Independent Living Specialist. She also took training and became the Elderly Blind Teacher for the agency she was working for. During that time she was a member of the Mayor’s Committee on Aging and involved in the planning of the Adult-Disability Resource Center now established in Hilo on the Big Island.After working in the Child Protective Service field for the last five years, she is excited about the opportunity to work for Aloha Independent Living Hawaii.