My Story

I like to think that a career in Health and Wellness chose me.

I first began my pathway to herbalism in 2012, supporting customers with supplements at a local health food store on Maui. This was my first exposure to herbal medicine and I was absolutely fascinated.

I sought out the best teachers in herbalism and obtained my Family Herbalist certification through the School of Natural Healing, founded by the great herbalist Dr. John Christopher. I also began studying with the East West School of Planetary Herbology with Michael Tierra and Thomas Avery Garran in pursuit of becoming a professional herbalist.

In 2015, I began working at the Dragon’s Den Herb Shop in Maui, Hawaii, providing my extensive herbal knowledge full-time to both locals and tourists on the island of Maui. I spent 10 years as an acupuncturist assistant and intern with the owner, a well-known Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

In 2021, I began to focus on my formal education in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. It took 3 years, and I worked alongside teachers like Dr. Cathy Low and Dr. Tim Nguyen, treating patients from children to elderly at the school clinic in Honolulu. I saw hundreds of patients during my internship and was so inspired to make a difference in the quality of our patients’ health and wellness.

During that time, I also studied under Dr. Whitfield Reaves, an acupuncturist specializing in Sports Medicine. It was my experience with Dr. Reaves that ignited my passion for treating sports injuries, learning physical exams, anatomy and physiology related to sports medicine, trigger points, electric stimulation (like a TENS unit but with acupuncture needles), and specific techniques that utilize both Chinese and Western medicine principles.

Me & a colleague at the Dragon’s Den Herb Shop.

In 2023, the town of Lahaina, Maui suffered terrible tragedies from multiple fires. Through the non-profit organizations ICARE and Acupuncturists Without Borders, I was able to offer free acupuncture treatments to those affected by the Lahaina disaster. A small team of supervisors and students gave free weekly treatments to our community and found that although people were new to acupuncture, they felt its benefits both physically and emotionally.

This opportunity opened my eyes and heart, realizing that I possess the skills and tools necessary to impact individuals in our community in a positive way.

I believe it’s my job to promote the healing art and science of Acupuncture and herbal medicine. I know I am meant to serve people from all walks of life, regardless of “status”, income, occupation, etc. I truly believe that Acupuncture should be an accessible medicine.

In 2024, I attended the first meeting for Acupuncturists of Hawai’i, a non-profit dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the profession of Acupuncture in Hawai’i. Collaborating with my colleagues brings me such joy and fulfillment, knowing that we are all working towards the same goal: sharing the wonders and healing available through East Asian medicine by serving our community.

Lastly, in 2025, I accepted a position as Board Director at ICARE. This non-profit organization promotes the advancement of research and education for acupuncturists. My work with this non-profit is to help new and seasoned practitioners with access to resources and continuing education necessary to better our profession.

The first meeting of Acupuncturists of Hawaii, a non-profit dedicated to advocating for Acupuncture as a profession. I’m second from the right!