Bilingual Services

The Bilingual Health Education Aide program assists immigrants, migrants, Compact of Free Association groups, Native Hawaiians, and limited and non-English speaking to access health and other related services in the community. 

Who qualifies for Bilingual Health Services?

• Legal immigrants who arrived in Hawaii after August 22, 1996
• Migrants from Micronesia and the U.S. Territories

What does BHS provide?

• Bilingual interpretation services
• Provision and delivery of health promotion and education services to non-English and limited English speaking population of the state
• Referral to free and low-cost health services
• Assistance to apply for public health insurance (MEDQUEST) for 0-18 years old
• Information on social services available in the community
• Education for clients about disease prevention, risk reduction and health promotion
• Assistance with language and cultural interpretation
• Home visits and follow-up visits
• Provision of linkages to various health agencies in the community

Bilingual Health Education Aides

Oahu
Chio Yee Pun-Ho (Cantonese/Mandarin)
587-5428
John Ishoda (Marshallese)
587-5425
Lethu Duong (Vietnamese)
587-5426
Tugalei Soa (Samoan)
233-3793
Nena Kim (Ilocano/Tagalog)
453-6070
Susana Quintana (Tagalog)
832-5685

Kauai
Cora Pasqual (Tagalog/Ilocano)
241-3564
Pua Ka’ohelaulii (Hawaiian)

Maui
Nancy Leano (Tagalog/Ilocano)
984-8216  
335-8410

Easy Access Project

The Easy Access Project is a federally funded program that lessens and eliminates the barriers in accessing health services.  Newly arrived immigrants and migrants can contact EAP for an interview to determine the immigrant/migrant’s needs.  After this assessment, EAP will set them up with a Bilingual Health Education Aide.  The EAP is open from 8am to 4pm on Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Friday.  EAP can be reached at: 832-5685 or you may go to the main office on Oahu, located at: Lanakila Health Center, 1700 Lanakila Ave. Room 104, Honolulu, HI 96817.