Many Languages of KKV
Below are the languages and staff we rely upon for interpretation services. Mahalo!
Burmese Dr. Mya Hla, Khin Aung
Cantonese Evonne Chen, Mui Kong, Chan Hou Lei, Bonny Lo, Van Nakashima, Tuphan Tiet
Carolinian Innocenta Sound-Kikku
Chuukese Melida Angkiwin, Klaza Rudolph, Wenana Angang, Elizabeth Aten, Bewena Angang, Jeannie David, Sihla Jain, Rose Kaminanga, Raimy Kansou, Anthony Kolios, Alien Nick, Amenina Opet, Norma Rousan, Innocenta Sound-Kiku, Evelyn Sowas, Merki Mikel
Fukienese Van Nakashima
Hawaiian Puni Jackson
Hindi Nabin Oli
Ibang Sheryl Yoshimura
Ilocano Aileen Ramos, Toni Agustin, Sharonne Ancheta, Morena Bautista, Sharon Dela Cruz, Imelda Sagisi, Merlita Compton, Michelle Coloma, Georgina Doles, Connie Pacada, Chinkee Dait, Magarette Pagsisinan, Norma Pascua, Josie Sagisi, Mariselle Shirai, Betty Bartolome, Sheryl Yoshimura, Janice Iglesia
Ilongo Jasmin Nepomuceno
Japanese Dr. David Derauf, Etsuko Yamaguchi
Korean Maria Oh
Laotian Amy Hardin, Phayvanh Keunkham
Mandarin Van Nakashima, Evonne Chen, Tuphan Tiet, Jo His (Ro) Wang, Mui Kong
Marshallese Nabin Oli
Nepalese Nabin Oli
Pohnpeian Sihla Jain
Portuguese Dr. Lisa Ambosino Ho
Samoan Senara Lupe, Cynthia Punefu, Mili Samifua, Rebecca Seumanu, Aveletai Young
Spanish Dr. Eréndira Aldana, Dr. Laura Devilbiss, Dr. Lisa Ambrosino Ho
Tagalog Aileen Ramos, Sharonne Ancheta, Zenaida Aquilar, Angie Balbuena, Jennifer Clemente, Michelle Coloma, Merlita Compton, Sharon Dela Cruz, Chinkee Dait, Georgina Doles, Cherish Mendaros, Jasmin Nepomuceno, Imelda Sagisi, Margarette Pagsisinan, Norma Pascua, Betty Bartolome, Rose Savellano, Sheryl Yoshimura, Francis Tolentino
Thai Amy Hardin, Dr. David Derauf, Phayvanh Keunkhan
Tieu Chau Van Nakashima, Evonne Chen, Tuphan Tiet
Visayan Anglie Balbuena, Margarita Lopez, Toni Agustin, Rose Savellano
Yapese (Woleaian) Samuel Foulchang
KKV’s Devoted interpreters
KKV recruits, trains, and celebrates a hardworking team of interpreters who provide essential support for both patients and providers. Miriam (Super Auntie “Mili”) Samifua, Nabin Oli, and “Super Auntie” Merina Sapolu (who just retired) oversaw KKV’s interpreter training for many years, instilling in our staff the importance of love, compassion, and building relationships between patients and providers. With so many multilingual staff, KKV is fortunate to have a rich resource of people who can train as part-time interpreters. Below are a few of the many stories KKV staff can tell about working as or with our interpreters. We celebrate all they do for KKV and for the people of Kalihi!
Klaza Rudolph is one of KKV’s plethora of interpreters who works as a intake screener at KKV’s Na Koa clinic. For her, interpreting creates an important bond with the patients she helps: “There's this old lady that comes in all the time – the first time I met her she came in to walk-in for dental. I was called from Na koa. It was a Saturday so I was the only one here. I came and I helped her… And she just seemed so grateful that day. Now, every time she comes in to KKV, no matter what department she’s going to, she’ll come looking for me. And she will ask me to go with her [because she trusts me]. I also see her outside of work. She always stops and talks to me, asks me where I'm going. Like she’s my mom. She has grown daughters that now call me their sister just because I interpreted for her. Before she leaves KKV, she will stop and pray for me… And I say thanks mama! She’s asked me a few times, ‘Why are you down here? [at Na Koa]’ [She is worried that I am working on the frontline of our COVID response team.”
KKV’s Dr. Melissa McKinney relies on interpreters for many of her patients. “I absolutely love working with our interpreter named “Today.” She is so pleasant, warm and willing to help out anytime. I had a Marshallese new patient come in with severely uncontrolled blood pressure (systolic blood pressure greater than 200). This is dangerous and can lead to stroke, heart disease and kidney problems. He had never been to a doctor in the past. He required blood tests, EKG and medications. This was all new to him and he seemed worried. Today was integral in helping to educate the patient on the diagnosis, workup, lifestyle changes needed and medication use, risks and benefits. She did a fantastic job, comforting him and patiently helping us to work through all the details, questions and follow-up. I was so pleased with how well the patient did at following through on his care and I strongly attribute that to Today's excellent interpretation and support.”
Nabin Oli, Care Coordinator and interpreter. “As we serve our clients in Kalihi who have language and cultural challenges, I believe the interpreter services at KKV really helps. Interpreters can foster trusting relationships between clients and providers, which is very critical for better and successful outcomes. They also help to ease cultural ‘bumps.’ To me, it’s a win win. I have so many stories working as an interpreter and working with KKV’s interpreters…earlier this year, we helped out with patients who were hesitant to get the COVID vaccine. We talked story, [made them feel comfortable] and told them about how the vaccines work. This finally helped to convince them to get their vaccines. Another time that meant a lot to me was in treating diabetes patients. Most of our patients don’t like insulin and have different beliefs about it. We help them to feel comfortable and understand how insulin works, how it helps them manage their diabetes. Now, many of our clients are taking insulin. We often help patients understand the impact of food and exercise, teaching them that food can be our first medicine so they need to cut down on eating processed products. With the language and interpretation we have brought 50 new Marshallese patients to KKV this year. We also helped another 25 patients apply for health insurance. These are just a few of the things that we do as interpreters…and lists goes on and on.”
KKV does an in house training program with a 32-hour curriculum that includes the following topics:
State and Federal Laws that Apply to Language Access; How Language Access is a Social Determinant of Health; Roles of a Medical Interpreter; How to Interpret in a Clinical Setting; How to Navigate Difficult Situations as an Interpreter; Medical Interpreter Code of Ethics; and Basic Medical Terminology.
For more information, contact Erendira Aldana at ealdana@kkv.net.
