The History of the Hawaii Primary Care Association

Before the Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA) formally came into existence, its roots were planted in a series of informal meetings among the executive directors of four community health centers (CHCs) on Oahu. At the time, these CHCs included Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley (KKV), Waikiki Health Center, and Kalihi-Palama Health Center (KPHC). The visionary leaders who convened these early discussions were Mike Tweedell from Waianae Coast Comprehensive, Jory Watland from KKV, Frank Chong from Waikiki Health Center, and Beth Giesting from KPHC.

Adding to this core group was Dick Knobel, who brought his expertise from an immigrant health initiative run by Kaiser Permanente, based at Palama Settlement. Together, they laid the groundwork for what would become a pivotal organization in Hawaii’s healthcare landscape.

Establishing the First Office

The HPCA's first office was established in Kaimuki, at 3442 Waialae Avenue. This modest second-floor walk-up space, located above the 9th Avenue Bakery, became the organization's early hub of operations. Initially, the organization was known as the Hawaii State Primary Care Association to emphasize its statewide focus and to avoid the perception that it was limited to the Big Island. However, over the years, this name led to unintended confusion. People often mistook it for a state agency or even misinterpreted the acronym as the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. To resolve this, the name was eventually streamlined to Hawaii Primary Care Association.

Leadership Through the Years

The HPCA's history is marked by dedicated leadership from its executive directors and CEOs:

• Virginia (Ginny) Baresch became the first executive director, serving for two years. Her leadership helped establish the foundation of the organization.

• Bob Grossman succeeded her as the second executive director, also serving for two years.

• Beth Giesting took the helm in 1995, bringing her experience from Kalihi-Palama Health Center. She expanded the organization by hiring Charlene Blair and continued to operate from the Kaimuki office.

• Robert Hirokawa became the fourth CEO in December 2011, bringing a fresh perspective and leadership to the association.

• In early 2026, we were excited to welcome to our team our current CEO, Emily Chung.

A Legacy of Advocacy and Collaboration

From its humble beginnings, the Hawaii Primary Care Association has grown into a vital advocate for community health centers and the communities they serve. The early collaboration among its founders set the tone for an organization committed to improving access to quality healthcare for all residents of Hawaii. The legacy of those initial meetings and the leadership that followed continues to shape the HPCA's mission and impact today.