Pu‘ulu Lapa‘au Board of Directors
The Pu‘ulu Lapa‘au Board of Directors is a dedicated group of medical professionals and individuals who generously volunteer their time in the interest of promoting the health of their colleagues and public safety.
Sidney Johnson, M.D. Chairman. Dr. Johnson joined our Board in 2007. He is a Pediatric Surgeon at the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
Geri Young, M.D. Vice-Chair. Dr. Young, who has been practicing Pediatrics on Kaua‘i since 1981, joined our Board in 2012. She is the Chief Medical Officer for the Kaua‘i Medical Clinic, in Lihue, Hawai‘i.
Maureen O'Neil, R.N., M.S.N. Secretary/Treasurer. Ms. O'Neil joined our board in 2011 and is the Nurse Manager at the Gamma Knife Center of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. She also serves as adjunct faculty at Hawaii Pacific University School of Nursing.
William Haning, M.D., F.A.S.A.M., D.F.A.P.A. Executive Committee Member. Dr. Haning has served on our Board in various roles, including that of Chairman, since its inception. He is an Addiction Psychiatrist and an Addiction Medicine specialist, serving as a Professor at the University of Hawai`i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Miki Kiyokawa, M.D. Dr. Kiyokawa joined the board in 2020. She is an assistant professor of the Department of Medicine and Psychiatry at the University off Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. She practices addiction medicine at the Queen's Medical Center.
Mary Kay Montgomery, D.O. Dr. Montgomery joined the Board in 2006 and has served on the Executive Committee since 2009. She is an Emergency Medicine physician at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
John Paul (JP) Moses, APRN-Rx, FNP-BC. Mr. Moses joined our Board in 2016. He works extensively with the homeless population in both family practice and addiction management. He is the managing member of a small group practice in Aiea and teaches Nursing at Hawaii Pacific University.
Michele Pangilinan, M.D., FACOG. Dr. Pangilinan joined the board in 2019. She is a Clinical Instructor of OB/GYN at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. She practices at The Queen's, Kapi'olani and Pali Momi hospitals in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Pajnhiag V. Real, Pharm.D. Dr. Real joined our Board in 2014. She is the Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Melanie Vallejos, D.D.S. Dr. Vallejos joined the Board in 2020. She teaches for the University of Hawaii Maui Campus Hygiene program. Dr. Vallejos has been in private practice on Maui since 1997.
David John, M.D. Director Emeritus. Dr. John joined our Board in 2006 and served as Chairman from 2010 - 2017. He was elected to Director Emeritus in 2021. He is a rheumatologist and practiced in Hawai‘i until 2017. Dr. John then joined the faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. In 2020, he became Associate Dean of Alumni and Community Engagement.
Sidney Johnson, M.D. Chairman. Dr. Johnson joined our Board in 2007. He is a Pediatric Surgeon at the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
Geri Young, M.D. Vice-Chair. Dr. Young, who has been practicing Pediatrics on Kaua‘i since 1981, joined our Board in 2012. She is the Chief Medical Officer for the Kaua‘i Medical Clinic, in Lihue, Hawai‘i.
Maureen O'Neil, R.N., M.S.N. Secretary/Treasurer. Ms. O'Neil joined our board in 2011 and is the Nurse Manager at the Gamma Knife Center of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. She also serves as adjunct faculty at Hawaii Pacific University School of Nursing.
William Haning, M.D., F.A.S.A.M., D.F.A.P.A. Executive Committee Member. Dr. Haning has served on our Board in various roles, including that of Chairman, since its inception. He is an Addiction Psychiatrist and an Addiction Medicine specialist, serving as a Professor at the University of Hawai`i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Miki Kiyokawa, M.D. Dr. Kiyokawa joined the board in 2020. She is an assistant professor of the Department of Medicine and Psychiatry at the University off Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. She practices addiction medicine at the Queen's Medical Center.
Mary Kay Montgomery, D.O. Dr. Montgomery joined the Board in 2006 and has served on the Executive Committee since 2009. She is an Emergency Medicine physician at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
John Paul (JP) Moses, APRN-Rx, FNP-BC. Mr. Moses joined our Board in 2016. He works extensively with the homeless population in both family practice and addiction management. He is the managing member of a small group practice in Aiea and teaches Nursing at Hawaii Pacific University.
Michele Pangilinan, M.D., FACOG. Dr. Pangilinan joined the board in 2019. She is a Clinical Instructor of OB/GYN at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. She practices at The Queen's, Kapi'olani and Pali Momi hospitals in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Pajnhiag V. Real, Pharm.D. Dr. Real joined our Board in 2014. She is the Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Melanie Vallejos, D.D.S. Dr. Vallejos joined the Board in 2020. She teaches for the University of Hawaii Maui Campus Hygiene program. Dr. Vallejos has been in private practice on Maui since 1997.
David John, M.D. Director Emeritus. Dr. John joined our Board in 2006 and served as Chairman from 2010 - 2017. He was elected to Director Emeritus in 2021. He is a rheumatologist and practiced in Hawai‘i until 2017. Dr. John then joined the faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. In 2020, he became Associate Dean of Alumni and Community Engagement.
Program Staff
Ted Sakai. Ted worked in a variety of executive positions in the Hawaii’s corrections system for 29 years. From 1998 to 2002, and again from June 2012 to December 2014, he served as the Director of Public Safety. As Director, he provided leadership to the all State corrections facilities, the State Sheriff, and Narcotics Enforcement. His other assignments included Administrator of Corrections Programs and as the Warden of the Waiawa Correctional Facility. Ted also has served the community as a member (at various times) of the Boards of Directors of non-profit organizations including Hina Mauka, The Path Clinic, Read to Me international, The Hawaiian Legacy Foundation, the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, and the KEY Project. He has also served on the Interagency Council on Intermediate Sanctions, the Penal Code Review Committee, the Advisory Committee on Children of Incarcerated Parents, and the Board of Advisors for the Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Kristopher Bjornson, M.D. Medical Director. Dr. Bjornson has been our Medical Director since 2010 and served on the Board of Directors from 2006 - 2010. He practices General Adult and Addictions Psychiatry in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
Mary Ann Lentz, B.A. Program Coordinator. Ms. Lentz joined us as Program Coordinator in 2018. Prior to joining Pu`ulu Lapa`au she served as Development and Society Relations Director for Hawaiian Mission Houses for eleven years following fifteen years in the high school classroom teaching math and computer courses. She has previous not-for-profit experience as Executive Director of Moanalua Gardens Foundation and Business Manager of Central Union Church.
Kristopher Bjornson, M.D. Medical Director. Dr. Bjornson has been our Medical Director since 2010 and served on the Board of Directors from 2006 - 2010. He practices General Adult and Addictions Psychiatry in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
Mary Ann Lentz, B.A. Program Coordinator. Ms. Lentz joined us as Program Coordinator in 2018. Prior to joining Pu`ulu Lapa`au she served as Development and Society Relations Director for Hawaiian Mission Houses for eleven years following fifteen years in the high school classroom teaching math and computer courses. She has previous not-for-profit experience as Executive Director of Moanalua Gardens Foundation and Business Manager of Central Union Church.