Emily Chung Named Hawai‘i Primary Care Association CEO, Brings 20+ Years' Experience

Emily Q. Chung, MPH MCHES, assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association on Jan. 5, 2026, succeeding Robert Hirokawa, who retired at the end of 2025. The leadership change places a public health official with more than two decades of experience at the helm of an organization that supports community health centers statewide and serves more than 150,000 people.

Chung most recently served as public health director for Santa Cruz County, California, and holds a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley. The Hawai‘i Primary Care Association presents Chung on its welcome page as “Emily Q. Chung, MPH MCHES.” Chung said, “I am excited to join [Hawai‘i Primary Care Association] and work alongside our dedicated staff, health centers and partners. My career began in a community health center, and I am honored to lead [Hawai‘i Primary Care Association] at a time of unprecedented challenges and opportunities in health care. Together, we will champion innovation and wellness to ensure every community in Hawai‘i receives the care they deserve.”

Terrence Aratani, chief executive officer of Ko‘olauloa Health Center and chairman of the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association’s Board of Directors, announced the appointment and emphasized Chung’s fit with HPCA priorities. “We are delighted to welcome Emily as our new [chief executive officer],” Aratani said in the announcement. “Her proven expertise in strategic and policy leadership in public health, along with a demonstrated history of working across governmental, community-based and healthcare sectors, aligns perfectly with [Hawai‘i Primary Care Association’s] strategic priorities.” Aratani added, “Emily’s leadership will be instrumental in driving innovation and advancing the association’s commitment to ensuring high-quality, accessible primary care for all communities throughout Hawai‘i.”

HPCA describes its mission as “Doing what's right for Hawai‘i” and states that it improves the health of communities in need by advocating for, expanding access to, and sustaining high quality health care through a statewide network of community health centers. For over thirty years, HPCA has worked on behalf of vulnerable populations and supports community health centers operating from fifteen health centers across all major islands. The association lists Maui County partners such as Lāna‘i Community Health Center, Hāna Health, Malama I Ke Ola Health Center, and Moloka‘i Community Health Center as examples of its reach.

For Kauai County residents, Chung’s appointment matters because HPCA’s advocacy, member services, and strategic direction shape how community clinics secure funding, staffing, and policy support. The CEO role includes guiding strategic direction, advocacy, member services, and collaboration with health centers and partners statewide to strengthen access to care. HPCA messaging also urges people who have become uninsured to seek help, saying “COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE HERE FOR YOU.”

HPCA announced Chung’s arrival across its channels, including a social media post that began, “In this new year, we are excited to welcome Emily Chung as HPCA's new CEO. Emily brings decades of public health experience and a deep” but the social post was truncated in the release. As Emily Chung settles into the job, community health centers and local leaders across the islands will be watching how she translates public health experience into concrete supports for island clinics, workforce stability, and expanded access that directly affect Kauai residents.