DIVERSE VOICES WITH UNIFIED PURPOSE, HPU NURSING STUDENTS LEAD WITH EXCELLENCE

Nursing students from across Honolulu, representing HPU, University of Hawai‘i, Kapi‘olani Community College, and Chaminade University gathered at Chaminade University’s campus for the 12th Annual Hawai‘i Student Nurses Association (HISNA) Conference. The event’s theme, “Diverse Voices with Unified Purpose,” celebrated unity, culture, and leadership among Hawai‘i’s future nurses.

HPU students proudly served as key leaders at the statewide event. Kale Luna Sinay (level 3) serves on the HISNA Executive Board as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Representative, advocating for inclusive learning environments and cultural awareness in nursing education.

Aaliyah Salazar-Garcia (Level 4) represents HPU as the Director of Communications, connecting student nurses statewide through professional outreach and collaboration.

Providing guidance and support to the statewide organization is Dr. Jen Nafarrete of Chaminade University, who serves as the HISNA State Faculty Consultant. Nafarrete’s mentorship ensures that student leaders maintain academic balance while pursuing meaningful professional engagement.

Sinay shared in his correspondence to faculty that Nafarrete’s “guidance and support will be instrumental in ensuring that my academic pursuits remain unaffected by my engagement in extracurricular activities.”

The conference also celebrated HISNA’s remarkable national achievements at the 2024-2025 National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Convention in Seattle, where the organization earned six prestigious national awards:

• Breakthrough to Nursing® Monthly Award – December 2024
• Disaster Preparedness Award – State Level
• Health Advocacy Award – State Level
• Image of Nursing Award – State Level
• Population and Global Health Award – State Level
• Social Media Award – State Facebook

These accomplishments reflect the collaborative spirit, innovation, and leadership that define Hawai‘i’s nursing students and faculty mentors.

Joy Bliss, Ph.D, HPU Assistant Professor, Chair of the BSN Program, and Student Nurses Association Advisor led three dynamic breakout sessions titled, “One Ocean, Many Shores: Nursing Lessons from Japan, the Moloka‘i Mission, Chuuk, Micronesia and Native Indian Traditions.” 

Her presentations highlighted cultural humility, innovation in simulation, and compassion-driven care for underserved communities and third world experiences in nursing. She also participated in the panel discussion in the afternoon. The conference was well attended by the over 60 student nurses at the conference

“Seeing students from across our islands come together with shared purpose is deeply inspiring,” said Bliss. “They embody the heart of our diversified nursing in Hawai‘i — many voices, one ocean, and a unified commitment to caring for others.”