Our Staff at BrightStar Care^® Hawaii

Steven and his wife, Alison, opened BrightStar Care of Honolulu in 2010.

Steven is a "local boy" who graduated from Aiea High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii.

After over 20 successful years in the mortgage industry, Steven felt a yearning to seek a more meaningful career where he felt he could truly make a difference. Initially unfamiliar with the home care industry and the services home care provided, Steven and Alison became aware of the need for a high-quality provider of private duty in-home care in Hawaii.

They chose to bring BrightStar Care, a proven organization with a demonstrated commitment to a higher standard of care, to serve the local community.

In 2015, Steven and Alison experienced the need for home care services first hand, when Steven's dad was in the end stages of cancer. Despite wanting to do everything herself, Steven's mom found that having a BrightStar Care caregiver to provide respite helped to ease the burden and allow her to focus on making her final moments with her husband the best they could be.

Steven is proud to offer BrightStar Care's high-quality services to the community.

Alison and her husband, Steven, opened BrightStar Care of Honolulu in 2010.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Alison is a graduate of Punahou School and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University.

After working in the financial services industry for over a decade, Alison was a stay-at-home mom to her and Steven's three children for eight years. With two physicians for parents, Alison grew up around the medical field, and was inspired by the difference her parents' care made in their patients' lives. 

After making the decision to bring BrightStar Care to Hawaii with her husband, Steven, they brainstormed their vision together and the "Hoku'alohi Promise" was born:
 
"We promise to provide the kind of care we would want for our own loved ones; to be compassionate, empathetic, patient & kind, while providing reliable, trustworthy, and top-notch, professional home care."
 
It is this promise that has become our "North Star" which guides every action and decision in our organization.

Noah is a proud member of the BrightStar Care of Honolulu team, where he brings a fresh perspective and an unwavering dedication to serving the local community. Born and raised in Aiea, Hawaii, Noah graduated from Punahou School and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Project Management from Arizona State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2024 and was honored with the prestigious Moeur Award in recognition of his exceptional academic achievement.

Noah’s passion for helping others drives his commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those he serves. Collaborating closely with his colleagues, he strives to uphold the highest standards of care and service excellence.

Outside of work, Noah treasures quality time with his family, girlfriend, and beloved dogs. A devoted sports enthusiast, he finds joy in attending Hawaii sports games, embracing the vibrant sense of community and connection these events foster.

Michaela was born and raised in Corning, NY, where her high school biology teacher helped her find her passion for environmental science. She continued her education locally at Corning Community College, where she earned two associates degrees (in environmental science and mathematics and sciences). In 2017, Michaela moved to Hawaii island to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo, eventually earning a bachelor’s of Science degree in Marine Science. She has spent six years as a graduate research assistant at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, studying oceanography and researching marine microbial nitrogen cyclers.

Having pursued a career in natural sciences, not medicine, it was personal experience which drove Michaela to join the BrightStar Care of Honolulu family. Specifically, Michaela contracted covid in 2022 and continues to experience its impact. As a result, she understands firsthand what it means to experience chronic pain and lose the ability to complete tasks she once didn’t think twice about. While she is immensely grateful to have recovered at all, she knows she would not have gotten through her worst flares without the friends and family that provided the support and care she needed along the way.

Michaela knows many of our clients have similar stories and is excited to use her background in research and data organization, as well as her love for properly labeled binders, to ensure our caregivers spend more time focused on our clients and less time on administration.

Christine "Betty" Lavender is BrightStar Care's Director of Nursing.  Her outstanding career spans 20 years as a Registered Nurse and in leadership roles.  Betty began her healthcare career as a young teen, earning her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), specializing in long term care and in-home health care.  Betty then embarked on her journey earning her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at Iowa Central and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Aspen University in Denver, Colorado.  She excelled and continued to develop her skills and expertise, becoming a Registered Nurse.  

Betty's direct experience has been in the emergency the room - assisting with surgeries and postpartum care, medical clinics and nursing schools.  She found her passion and calling in In-Home Healthcare and has been an advocate for providing exceptional patient care.  

Betty was born and raised in Iowa and resided in Oklahoma where she met her husband, Michael - her dream man.  Betty's love for our island home called her here to Oahu, and she absolutely cherishes her time at our beaches, hanging out with family, roller skating and collecting Pokeman cards. With such a full life and schedule, she also loves when she has the opportunity to get in a good nap!  Betty has three wonderful children and two golden retrievers.

"I am elated to be a part of this journey with BrightStar Care Honolulu and aspire to utilize my skills to support the success and growth of our team, while providing our clients excellent care and service."

Janet was born in California and moved to Hawaii in 2020 to support her son’s budding military family. She received her Associate of Nursing from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, TX and her Bachelorette of Nursing degree from the University of Texas, Arlington.
 
Janet has worked in various health-care fields for the last 30 years. From an Emergency Medical Technician to Hospital Heart Monitor Technician, to Emergency Room RN, to an at-home pediatric nurse; Janet brings her comprehensive and diverse experiences to the BrightStar Care team. She has the training and experience to address any health care emergency.
 
Janet has dedicated her life to ensuring everyone can enjoy life in their home and with their families because clients that are able to stay in their own homes have a better quality of life in my opinion. She says, “all of my clients deserve to have the highest quality of life, we ensure this only by treating our clients as if they were our own family”
 
She wants BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and caregivers to know “I will take care of your loved ones as if they were my family.”

Cory was born in Boulder, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. He moved to Hawai’i in 2001 to pursue a degree in Political Science at Hawai’i Pacific University. After a raucous first semester – living near a beach proved enticing – Cory threw himself into his studies and graduated cum laude, reaching the Dean’s List every semester thereafter. Once graduated, Cory’s singular focus was remaining in Hawaii, specifically on Oahu, and he found a career in retail management.

Rising through the ranks Cory eventually settled into the role of Human Resources, finding an affinity in balancing legalese with the ever-fluid human condition. His studies of law and regulations prepared him well for this position and he’s been doing it ever since.

Having worked in management for more than twenty years, fifteen of which in Human Resources, Cory wanted to shift his focus to a community-based industry and found BrightStar Care of Honolulu. Seeing firsthand the ever-present need for homecare, and the difficulties older folks face in their later years, Cory was drawn to an opportunity to give back. A self-proclaimed “non-nurse” Cory is excited to bring his skills and knowledge to take care of those who take care of others. Cory wants BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and employees to know that he's "...very interested in helping other people feel fulfilled and excited about what they do."

Cory enjoys writing, rock climbing, being civically engaged and, most importantly, spending time with his wonderful wife.

Born and raised here on O’ahu, Jayda is proud to bring her community-oriented ideals to the company. With a background in social work and psychology, she feels right at home with Brightstar Care and is dedicated to creating and maintaining life-long partnerships with the families we serve.

A true team-player at heart, she believes that the way forward is together, and that every family deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. As the daughter of a well-loved and highly respected CNA and being her grandparent’s primary caretaker herself, Jayda understands the sensitivity and patience that is necessary when finding and providing quality care.

Outside of work, you can find Jayda with her daughter and ‘ohana at the beach doing their favorite activities… laughing and eating!

She wants BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and caregivers to know that “earning and keeping your trust is of utmost importance to me, and the opportunity to provide top notch care is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I will always do my best to treat everyone as if they were my own family.”

Emily grew up in a small Oregon town with immigrant parents, an older brother, and two step-siblings—where she learned the value of hard work and determination.

Inspired by her sister, she began working with seniors at 16 and stepped into in-home caregiving in Oregon at 18. In 2024, Emily made the brave move to Hawaii and joined BrightStar Care of Honolulu as a full-time in-home caregiver. After seven months of compassionate, hands-on client care, she was promoted to Care Support Specialist, blending her caregiving with behind-the-scenes support for the clinical team.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys weightlifting, beach time, and cherishes the company of her two beloved cats. She's also planning to pursue a nursing degree to deepen her healthcare impact.

Emily lives by a heartfelt belief: to provide the same compassionate, reliable care she would want for her own family—bringing warmth, professionalism, and dedication to every individual she serves.

Genelyn was born in Zamboanga Del Norte and raised on the island of Negros Oriental, Philippines.
 
She is a graduate of Negros Oriental State University and with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Tourism Management.
 
Her 11 years of working experience includes being a Customer Service Representative. She then worked as a receptionist in a hotel and got her experience in working administrative tasks for almost two years.
 
Genelyn enjoys hiking, going to the beach, and she’s a fan of travel and long drives. She is also adventurous when it comes to food.
 
She wants BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and caregivers to know. “I am grateful to be part of this company to be able to provide care and support. To all our field staff, I am rooting for all that you do. I am here to answer and take your request.”

Grace was born and raised in Tondo, Manila in the Philippines. She has over 15 years of working experience in Customer Service and is excited to share her experiences with BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and caregivers.

Having a young daughter diagnosed with early signs of autism and speech delay and a father who recently got stroked last 2021, she is really close to people with medical needs and provides medical assistance. Her main goal is to give light to those who experienced or experiencing this season as well.

She wants BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and caregivers to know. "I will give out my 100% to provide excellent service to you all, our dearest BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and Caregivers."
 

Born and raised in the Philippines, Hazel joined Brightstar Care Honolulu team in 2022. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from Negros Oriental State University in the Philippines and eventually was certified as a public accountant. 
 
After more than 8 years of experience in providing accounting services in the real estate industry, she sought for new experience and was attracted to home care industry for the values it holds that focuses on compassion which provides warmth to the lives of its client. 
 
She wants BrightStar Care of Honolulu clients and caregivers to know," I will go an extra mile to be able to represent the values and maintain the quality of services BrightStar Care provides."

Carla has been with BrightStar Care of Honolulu since 2011.

Carla is a “local girl,” born and raised in Aiea, Hawaii. Carla is a graduate of Aiea High School and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, as well as an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Carla has over a decade of experience in sharing her compassion and excellence in the healthcare field. Carla shares that "Working in home care has allowed me to feel that I can help make a difference in the lives of many families. I may not be the one physically helping the loved ones, but I feel that by listening and talking with the families I am helping them emotionally. With so much going on in the world, the families need that reassurance that we are here to help."

Though our clients' and caregivers' interactions with Carla are limited to after-hours and holidays, she is a favorite among everyone.

A little known fact about Carla is that she is an avid photographer who loves to take all kinds of photos. She once took a week-long family trip to Vancouver BC (before the days of digital cameras) and used 12 rolls of film!

Carla is very devoted and loving to her family, and she works very hard to take care of them.