HFAA Staff Biographies

Adaniya, Jonni – Jonni has been a Parent Partner with Hawaii Families As Allies for several years and is currenlty the Parent Partner for Project Ho'omohala.  This project is focused on providing transitional services to youth in the Kalihi Palama area on Oahu, as they transition into adulthood. She has four children; two adult daughters, a teenage son and another school-aged son.  The three older children have been diagnosed with a variety of emotional and behavioral disorders.  Jonni became a part of HFAA when she realized that there were many parents out there that, like her, are confused and don’t understand what they can do for their children and need some guidance and support to get the services their children need.  Jonni has three grandchildren recently received her real estate license, likes to sing and loves a good ghost story!

Ancheta, Brendelyn - Brendelyn is from the Garden Island of Kauai.  She resides in a small community on the Westside known as Kekaha.  Brendelyn has four sons, three with Developmental Disabilities.  "As a parent we all have dreams for our little ones," but when Brendelyn was given the news on her children’s diagnosis, she was in shock and disbelief to learn that 2 of her sons had Autism. She didn't know anything about Autism.  However, her children had bigger dreams for her .  She started to network and read as much as she could. It was so overwhelming.  She attended support groups, conferences, workshops … anything to help her cope. She met others that were feeling just like her . Through them and with their support she started a support group on the Westside. She became involved with the Kauai Community Children’s Council. It was there she learned a lot more about Services.  Representing Hawaii Families As Allies as a Parent Partner for Kauai has given her the opportunity to share the knowledge she has .  She is so thankful for Mikela, Makena and Maikah for they have taught her what she knows today.

Boots, Jazmin - Jazmin recently joined HFAA as a Youth Specialist. In this position, Jazmin will provide insight and participate in projects to ensure that the youth voice speaks loud and clear. She is currently a student at UH Hilo and has traveled to the mainland to be a featured presenter at a national conference. Jazmin is also with Hawaii Youth Helping Youth, HFAA's youth organization.

Bowman, Carmen - Aloha, my name is Carmen Bowman, born and raised in the community of Hilo on the Island of Hawaii.  I am a single parent of two sons, Jonathan and Ian, as well as the HFAA Parent Partner for the Hilo/Puna Family Guidance Center. As an active member of various community groups involved in helping families, I am also a proud supporter of the Child and Family unit within the Department of Education and Department of Health.  "Malama i na Ohana"  A Hui Ho!.

Daraban, Charlene - Charlene "Charlie" Daraban is a single parent of 5 grown children, one of which is challenged with ADHD and A Typical Depression.  She is also the grandmother of 14, 4 of which have been diagnosed with various challenges.  Charlie has been with Hawaii Families As Allies (HFAA) since November of 1994 and currently holds the position of Consumer Family Relations Specialist. She was born on the island of Kauai, and raised from the age of 2 on Oahu.  She has been a resident of Wahiawa for the last 18 years.  

Daraban, Malia - Malia is the Central Oahu Parent Partner for HFAA. Malia works out of the Central Oahu Family Guidance Center as well as the HFAA office. She holds many support groups and workshops in Wahiawa as well as Pearl City areas. Please check our calendar for upcoming events.

Fronius, Deedee - Deedee is the Kona Parent Partner. She will be providing workshops and support groups in the Kona area of the Big Island. Her bio and schedule will be coming soon...

Kaonohi, Sylvianne – Sylvianne is the Parent Partner for Oahu's Windward coast. Sylvianne will soon be holding parent support groups and workshops in the Windward Oahu area. She will also be providing Parent Partner services to the Windward Oahu Family Guidance Center.

Lum, Shanelle - Shanelle is the Public Policy and Information Specialist for HFAA. She is the mother of 3 children, the middle child having Autism and Epilepsy. Having first hand knowledge of the trials and tribulations of raising a child with special needs, her compassion and knowledge about the issues as well as her personal experience in dealing with the obstacles related to parenting a child with a disability help her to better assist those in need. Shanelle's goal is to provide as much information, resources and support as possible so that parents and caregivers can give their children the quality of life that they deserve. In addition to her position at HFAA, Shanelle is also an active member of several Mental Health coalitions and various Autism related support groups. Shanelle also moderates this website and is the writer and editor of HFAA's quarterly newsletter.

Machado, Linda - Linda is the Executive Director and former Deputy Director-Consumer/Family Relations Specialist. She has been with HFAA since May 1995 as a Parent Partner Leader and Youth Coordinator.  She enjoys working with families/youth and having the opportunity to learn something new each day.  In her spare time, she enjoys her quiet time and music.  The loves of her life are her handsome & supportive husband, loving five grandsons, beautiful two daughters, challenging hanai sons, spirited soul sisters & fiesty rotweilers.  Linda was also a Parent Educator, airline retiree, current Foster Parent/PRIDE trainer, past co-chair & member of the Leeward Children's Community Council.

Maikui, Clarita - Clarita also known as "Nani” is the Partner for the island of Molokai. She is a loving wife and a mother of a 19 year old daughter. She enjoys working with families and finds it very rewarding to be able to help others. She has been a substitute teacher since 1989, taught Physical Education and has been involved in the new Molokai Complex attendance program called ESAP (elementary school attendance program). Presently Nani is pursuing an Associate degree in Business. She also serves as a link with the families, schools, community, other resources, and service providers. In the past she has helped abused children obtain grants to help them improve and build self esteem. As a Parent Partner with Hawaii Families as Allies, she has the opportunity to work with families and share her first hand experience, knowledge and information that she has obtained being a parent of a special needs child and a DOE employee.

Makaiwi, Donna - Donna is the Youth Programs Coordinator, concentrating her efforts into HFAA's youth group called Hawaii Youth Helping Youth (HYHY).  Donna joins HFAA after serving as the Central Oahu Site Program Coordinator/Lead Caregiver for Hawaii Family Services, Inc. (formerly known as Time Out Services). Her experience working with families and children, including those with special needs, spans more than twenty years.  Donna is actively involved in her church, and has served in many leadership positions.  She is also continuously volunteering in her community through various organizations.  Donna and her husband, Daron, have four children.  They are also the foster parents of three young children who have emotional and behavioral challenges.  

Naihe, Donalyn - Donalyn is the Parent Partner for the Hana area on the island of Maui. She holds various workshops and support groups in Hana. She also facilitates a youth group in Hana and has many years of experience working with children and youth with emotional, social and behavioral challenges.

Nelson, Sunday Leimomi - Sunday is the mother of two children, one diagnosed as bipolar and the other with depression. Although her children excel in school, she has experience with the problems parents face when children have special emotional and behavioral needs, and with the unique difficulties obtaining services on the outer islands. She was born and raised in Waikiki and went to high school and college in Arizona. She has a BS in Elementary Education, a Master's in Educational Technologies and twenty years experience teaching in various multi-cultural settings in the United States, Europe and Africa. She started her family in Cape Verde Islands, West Africa where she worked for the US Agency for International Development. She speaks basic French and Portugese and fluent Cape Verdian Criolo. Her husband's position with the United Nations brought her to Washington DC where she continued to teach, later ending up in Switzerland where she taught at an International School. Sunday and her family currently reside in the town of Puna on the Big Island. She is aware of the profound difficulties for parents and children dealing with the problems of domestic abuse, addiction and divorce , as well as how these social problems affect families. Sunday has found that her unique insights (founded upon cultural sensitivity, acceptance and inclusion of other cultures learned as a child growing up in Hawaii's melting pot), as well as her own family's mix of Filipino, Swedish, Dutch, Cape Verdian and Portugese has been an integral part of her success in working with peoples all over the world. Currently, she is an active member of NAMI in Hilo, a Professional Co-Chair for the East Hawaii Community Children's Council and shares her breeding pair of Shiba-Inu Therapy Dogs and their puppies with special needs children and the elderly. She adds that she now 'walks and water and wears a halo" :)

Pantezzi, Caren - Caren is one of the newest additions to HFAA. She lives on the island of Maui and is the Maui Parent Partner. She will be holding various support groups and workshops, so please check back with us for those available dates and times.

Puna, Esther – Esther is the Office Manager for Hawaii Families As Allies and has been working for HFAA since August 2000. Being a part of the HFAA ohana Esther has become more aware of the challenges that parents who have children with serious emotional/behavioral challenges have to go through to ensure that their child gets the services that they need. When Esther began work at HFAA she had little or no knowledge of what serious emotional/behavioral challenges are, and now she is often found educating others about children with serious emotional/behavioral challenges. Esther enjoys being a part of HFAA because it is a chance for parents to meet other parents who know exactly what you’re going through. Whenever you call our office, it's Esther's friendly voice that you will usually hear on the other end!

Raboin, Angela - Angela is HFAA's Lanai Parent Partner. Angela lives on the island of Lanai and will soon be available for workshops and support groups. Please check back with us for those upcoming dates and times.

Rivera, Kim - Kim is our Family Court Coordinator and Youth Programs Assistant. She will be keeping HFAA families aware of what is going on with Juvenile Justice locally, as well as assisting with Hawaii Youth Helping Youth activities. Kim also serves on the Special Parent Information Network Advisory Committee.

Rodrigues, Sheena - Sheena recently joined HFAA as the Conusmer Resource Specialist. She will be keeping HFAA families aware of what is going on with activities and services available throughout the various communities. In addition to this, Sheena will also be working closely with specialty projects, such as Lokahi and other community service projects that HFAA families can benefit from.

Tulenkun, Antonette - Antonette was born in Honolulu, however she was raised on a small island called "Wake Island" from the age of 3, until returning to Honolulu when she was 12 years old. She is the eldest of seven children and graduated from Farrington High School. She has three wonderful boys and a sweetheart of a husband that she enjoys spending time with. She is an active member of her church and holds her faith in high regard. Antonette is the Honolulu Parent Partner, serving Kalihi Palama thru Diamond Head, and she holds monthly support groups and workshops on a regular schedule in those areas.

Watters, Maile - Mailed has also joined HFAA as a Youth Specialist. Maile was a previously a member of Hawaii Youth Helping Youth, until her educational demands limited her availability. Maile also brings with her experience and compassion for her peers who are dealing with various challenges. She resides on the island of Oahu and is seeking a degree within the medical field.

Yee, Curtis - Curtis has recently joined HFAA as the Leeward Oahu Parent Partner, serving families from Waipahu through the Waianae Coast. I am the parent of two children, one child diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and am serving HFAA as the Leeward Parent PartnerI have worked as an Educational Assistant in a Day Treatment program for the Department of Education. I am currently a PRIDE (Parents Resource for Information, Development and Education) Co-Trainer and a general licensed Foster Parent for the State of Hawaii. I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, going to the beach and golfing. I am a true resident of the Leeward Oahu area (born and raised) and familiar with resources and families in the community.

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