Paloma will be first CEO of Lunalilo Trust

Diane Sheryl Leinani Paloma, director of the Native Hawaiian Health Program at The Queen’s Health Systems since 2006, has been selected as the first chief executive officer of The King William Charles Lunalilo Trust. She will begin her new role Aug. 7.

The position is part of a larger plan to implement strategic initiatives that extend the reach and impact of Lunalilo Home’s mission to support the well-being of kupuna.

Lunalilo Home’s services include residential, respite and adult day care, hospice options, home-delivered meals and caregiver workshops. It admits those of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian ancestry while maintaining its commitment to subsidize Hawaiians who are unable to pay for residence at its care home to the extent that finances permit.

“We exist to fulfill the mandate of King William Charles Lunalilo’s 1874 will to benefit the less fortunate elders of Hawaiian ancestry,” Kamani B. Kuala‘au, chairman of the board of trustees of Lunalilo Home, said ahead of today’s official announcement. “We constantly strive to remain relevant as we serve the needs of our beneficiaries now and into the foreseeable future.”

Dr. J. Kuhio Asam, executive director of Lunalilo Home, worked with the trustees and community representatives to develop a new strategic framework to optimize the home’s reach and impact, enhance and sustain its quality of services, assure financial sustainability and strengthen its organizational excellence. Among the many recommendations was that Lunalilo Home seek its first CEO “to bring life and leadership” to its new strategies.

“We are grateful to Dr. Asam for his leadership and honored to welcome Dr. Paloma as our first CEO,” Kuala‘au said. “Her education, professional experience, years of community engagement and volunteerism are ideally suited to this new position.”

Asam plans to continue his relationship with the Lunalilo Trust and Home to support the transition of leadership and the further development and implementation of the strategic plan.

Before joining Queen’s, Paloma was director of management affairs for the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine from 2003 to 2006. She worked for the Hawaii Medical Service Association and its subsidiaries from 1997 to 2003.

“My career so far has spanned the full spectrum of health care from prevention and education to instituting relevant programs in hospitals,” said Paloma, whose last day at Queen’s will be Aug. 4. “Bringing this experience to Lunalilo Home in service to our kupuna is a natural kuleana and personally fulfilling.”