Kainoa is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California (USC), majoring in Health & Human Sciences with a double minor in Healthcare Studies & Theatre. During Fall 2024, he will be doing an extra semester abroad in London to study theatre. He is passionate about advocating for AANHPI health and addressing marginalized health disparities. This summer he is interning with USDA-ARS as a member of the Delta Human Nutrition Program. In his free time, he loves to act in film and theatre, work out, relax at the beach, and listen to R&B.
Internship Placement: USDA ARS (Delta Human Nutrition)
As a CAPAL scholar/intern, what does CAPAL mean to you?
CAPAL is an inclusive community of ambitious and genuine leaders who aim to create greater accessibility, serve underrepresented voices, and commit to a development in equity for AANHPI communities. Each interaction and connection with fellow CAPAL interns is a wonderful opportunity to inspire and learn new perspectives on what it means to be AANHPI.
What is an issue or topic within the AANHPI communities that you feel passionate about addressing?
I’m passionate about advocating and spreading awareness for AANHPI health and addressing health disparities in AANHPI communities. This is a topic I’ve been involved in through research these past couple of years, and there is a strong need for acknowledgment and education of the socioeconomic and sociocultural impacts facing AANHPI communities. Funding educational resources to mitigate the health problems and inequities of marginalized communities is essential to improving accessibility and awareness.
What are your main responsibilities at your position? What are some of your big projects?
As a member of the Delta Human Nutrition within USDA ARS, our primary goal is to improve the health and well being of the nations children and adults. Through the Edible Cover Crops Project, we catalogue farms, food stores, and other means of accessible nutritious food while conducting qualitative analysis’ to help inform decisions to mitigate the negative effects of adult obesity and to take preventative measures for child obesity.
How does this internship fit with your professional and career goals?
As I continue my work in public health, interning with USDA ARS’ Delta Human Nutrition team has proven invaluable. It provides me an opportunity to engage and learn from professionals that are well-informed, problem-solvers, and that align in my mission for health awareness. Additionally, the leadership team works to improve my knowledge of coding softwares through demonstrations, and they are more than willing to prepare other applicable practices to reinforce my skills in the health field (e.g. mock focus group interviews).
What does public service mean to you? What sparked your interest or desire to get involved with public service?
Public service is a commitment to bettering underserved communities, pursuing equity and accessibility, and very importantly, a consistent exercise of empathy. Through public service, we have the opportunity to represent ourselves and others to create tangible change. My initial interest in public service stems from observing my mom. For as long as I grew up, she was always adamantly taking part in the NHPI community through cultural awareness, education, and art, so naturally it was something that was embedded in me early on.
