For the past eight years, Hawaii SHIP has been fortunate to have Candace’s quiet leadership and deep compassion guiding its growth.
When she joined EOA, the program had just a handful of volunteers. Through her encouragement and care, that number grew to nearly 100 dedicated volunteers and partners statewide. However, Candace’s impact goes far beyond the numbers. She built lasting relationships, celebrated each volunteer’s contributions, and fostered a sense of ‘ohana united in service to kūpuna.
Under her guidance, Hawaii SHIP became more visible and connected, expanding its reach into diverse communities and strengthening partnerships. Candace’s journey has been defined not by accolades, but by gratitude – for the volunteers, partners, and communities who embraced the SHIP mission. As she begins a new chapter with another DOH division, her legacy lives on in the lives touched and the spirit of service she inspired.
Candace’s greatest impact is perhaps best summed up this way: “Candace has raised the bar on excellence, particularly efficiency,” said Lani Sakamoto, Supervisor. “We’ll truly miss her! She’ll always be part of our SHIP-EOA family, and we wish her the very best.”
