Practice, Pain Management

 
Christopher “Scott” Acree is a Board Certified Physician’s Assistant in Primary Care. He joined the Manakai O Malama team in December 2013. He specializes in general medicine, chronic pain management, minor outpatient procedures.  He earned his degree in 1998 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a BS in Physician Assistant Studies. He served in the United States Air Force from 1996 – 2003 where he achieved the rank of Captain, serving as a linguist and later a Certified Physician’s Assistant.
 

He speaks Spanish and Vietnamese conversationally. Having moved to Hawaii in June 2009, he has embraced the local culture stating, “The social differences of the local Hawaiians are very unique and allow excellent experience in dealing with people from different ethnic backgrounds of the many pacific islands.”

Family Nurse Practitioner

Julie Rizzolo is a Family Nurse Practitioner, FNP, that is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She graduated from Simmons College in 2018 with her FNP degree. Prior to becoming a FNP, Julie was an ICU nurse in the Washington D.C area for over 5 years specializing in Trauma and Transplant services. Her nursing degree was received in 2008 from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

She moved to Hawaii in May 2018 and has been embracing the local culture since then. She enjoys hiking, cooking, snorkeling, and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Neurology

 
Dr. David Kaminskas is a board certified neurologist specializing in headache, stroke and general neurological disease, serving the people of Hawaii for over 25 years. He is assistant clinical professor of neurology at JABSOM. Dr. Kaminskas received his MD at USC and completed his neurology residency at UC San Diego.

Dr. Kaminskas is medical director of the Pacific Headache Center at Manakai. The team-based, multi-disciplinary approach to migraine headaches may include Botox for chronic suffers. Services also include dietary and lifestyle guidance, psychological services, sleep optimization, acupuncture and manual therapies.

Throughout his career Dr. Kaminskas has been dedicated to medical service for underserved Pacific Islanders with 21 missions to Fiji. He also served as medical officer on Hokule’a during her Worldwide Voyage from British Virgin Islands to Cuba and South Florida

“My approach to patient care is admittedly fairly simple. You have to sit down and listen to your patient, identify their needs and understand the nature of the problem   Good medicine involves building a relationship and following a well thought out plan.” David Kaminskas, MD

Naturopathic 

 
As a local boy and Kamehameha graduate, Dr. Opunui left the islands to pursue his Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science at Loyola Marymount University while competing as a 4 year NCAA Division I athlete in the sport of rowing. Dr. Opunui then went on to pursue his Naturopathic Doctorate at Bastyr University, one of the most world renowned science-based institutions of natural health.  Bastyr’s rigorous medical program provided him with deep medical knowledge, an awareness of the most innovative developments in medicine, and the creativity to formulate individualized and effective intervention strategies to manage, cure and prevent disease. 

 
Dr. Opunui is a firm believer in the naturopathic principle of Docere (Doctor as Teacher) and agrees whole-heartedly that in order to effectively teach, one must practice what they preach.  Dr. Opunui strives to exemplify health promoting behavior and balance as a competitive endurance athlete having finished 5 Ironman triathlons. Health promotion counseling is at the forefront of successful naturopathic healing which consists of educating patients on how various determinants of health such as genetics, diet, lifestyle, environment, mental and emotional well-being, and ones sense of purpose in life creates the framework for health and one’s capacity to live and be well.
 
With an interest in cardiometabolic disease, endocrine disorders, autoimmune disease, GI pathologies, mood disorders, oncology and Native Hawaiian health, Dr. Opunui is honored to return to the place he calls home with the responsibility of serving the health needs of his community as a naturopathic physician.  Dr. Opunui believes that everyone deserves a safe place to heal and be heard. In private practice, Dr. Opunui’s passion lies in developing relationships with his patients and their health through comprehensive integrative natural medical care and individualized support.  

Family Nurse Practitioner

 
Ambie Fowler is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and American Nurse Credentialing Center. She completed her Master’s degree with distinction from Hawaii Pacific University in 2019. Her background as a registered nurse includes 15 years of Emergency Medicine, Ambulatory Surgery and Medical ICU patient care in both military and civilian health care facilities.

 
She relocated to Hawaii with her family in 2016. She enjoys spending time with her children experiencing the cultural diversity that Hawaii has to offer. Her hobbies include hiking, boating, diving and culinary experiences. She speaks conversational French and loves to travel.

Psychologist

Julie Yurie Takishima-Lacasa, PsyD., obtained her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and is a National Register of Health Service Psychologist. She specializes in providing integrated behavioral health services in a primary care setting, working closely with medical providers to address behavioral factors in chronic illness care, physical symptoms associated with stress, and health behavior change. As a generalist, she treats a broad range of mental health problems and disorders across the developmental spectrum, and has specialized training in the treatment of eating and personality disorders. In her research position at the University of Hawai‘i she focuses on addressing disparities in the accessibility and utilization of effective, culturally informed behavioral health services for at-risk, rural communities of Hawai‘i. Julie is also very active in local and national legislative advocacy for the profession of psychology and the communities psychologists serve. Julie was born in Japan, and was raised between the U.S. and her country of birth. In her free time, Julie is an avid trail runner and surfer.

Psychologist

 
Dr. Jessica Rosenfeld is a licensed psychologist and member of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. She graduated with her PsyD in 2018 from the University of Denver, and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of San Francisco, Counseling and Psychological Services. She recently moved to Hawaii from Oregon with her fiancé and their “furbaby,” Loki. She enjoys many aspects of psychology, including assessments and therapy. In assessment, she has worked across the lifespan and is focused on neuropsychological assessments for ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental concerns, as well as personality testing and therapeutic assessment. In therapy, she works with adults of all ages, with a special interest and experience in young adulthood, neurodiverse women and adults, and adults in transition. In the past, she has had experience working with new parents (in particular, new fathers), ADHD adults, high functioning Autistic adults, and clients experiencing anxiety and stress. She takes a relational stance with her clients, hoping to build trust first, and then co-creating a treatment plan to address their goals. Prior to becoming a psychologist, she was involved in the performing arts, mainly theatre. When not working, she enjoys exploring new foods and restaurants, spending time at the beach or hiking, or having a night in watching movies and knitting.

Occupational Therapist

 
Peggy Fye has over 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist. She has specialized in manual therapy for 15 years, with extensive experience in gentle techniques including Craniosacral, Strain/Counterstrain, Mobilizations with Movement, Muscle Energy, Myofascial Release, and Trigger point therapy. She enjoys treating chronic pain conditions, and can treat patients of all ages because the therapies are so gentle. She also believes in teaching self strategies so patients can participate in their own healing.
 
She moved to Hawaii 4 years ago from Kansas, where she was a Jay Hawk from the University of Kansas, collected Wizard of Oz memorabilia, and dodged tornadoes.

Physical Therapist

 
Steve Thomas has been practicing physical therapy since 2004 when he graduated from the University of North Dakota.  In 2007, he continued his education and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  Steve’s focus is general orthopedics, but because of his experience as both a high school and collegiate athlete, he has a passion for treating sports medicine patients as well.

Physical Therapist

 
Lia has been practicing physical therapy since 2005 after graduating from Pacific University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Born and raised on Maui, Lia has been greatly enjoying her recent return back to Hawaii after practicing in Portland, Oregon for over 10 years. She is certified in ASTYM soft tissue therapy, and enjoys helping people return to activity, sport, and work.

Physical Therapist

 
Fabienne earned a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from State University of New York in Buffalo in 1983. She moved to Hawaii that same year where she began to practice physical therapy full-time. In 1997 she opened a physical therapy practice in Guam and spent the next three years there serving as the lead physical therapist. She has since moved back to Oahu permanently and lives on the North Shore. Fabienne specializes in the treatment of orthopedic injuries, with particular expertise in spine rehabilitation. She also works closely with patients to encourage them to move forward in their lives, beyond the pain and disability they have been dealing with.

Physical Therapist

 
Nani earned her PTA license from Oregon State University and a PTA certificate from Kapiolani Community College in 1996. She has 15 years of experience in outpatient rehabilitation and offers particular expertise in orthopedics. Nani was born and raised on Oahu where she first became interested in integrative healthcare.

Acupuncturist

Laurel is a board certified acupuncturist with a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine. She is also a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree in both Nursing and Human Communication. Her journey with acupuncture began as a patient more than 20 years ago and prompted her exploration into a variety of healing modalities. Thus far, her journey has culminated in several different healing arts certifications, including Level IV certification in Healing Touch and a Certified Yoga Instructor, and has landed her where she is today. She is passionate about transforming the concepts of health and healthcare through acupuncture and integrative medicine.

She is originally from Colorado, but has bounced around the Western part of the US and has also lived abroad in Japan. She loves spending time outside and connecting with nature. In her spare time she can often be caught at the beach jogging or practicing yoga and meditation

Acupuncture

 
Tara Mattes graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A in World Religions and Biology. Upon graduation her career took her to various parts of the world where she eventually encountered acupuncture. Determined to learn more about this art, she was fortunate enough to land in Hawaii where she choose to study under Taoist Master, Dr. Chang Yi Hsiang, Ph. D. at the Tai Hsuan College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. She has had a wide variety of experience from women’s health, addiction and recovery, to pain management. She currently practices at Manakai O Malama.

Acupuncturist

 
Born and raised in Ireland, Alia received her Social Work degree from Trinity College, Dublin. Ten years in California exploring various healing and life enhancing arts led her to the study of acupuncture. She moved to Hawaii in 1993 where she received her Master Degree in Oriental Medicine from Tai Hsuan Foundation. She currently lives in Honolulu and practices acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Manakai O Malama.

Massage Therapist

 
Born in Tibet and trained in India as Tibetan Buddhist monk, Lama was assigned by his elder brother His Eminence the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche to teach meditation in Hawaii. He has followed these instructions over the past 21 years. In 2012 he pursued his education in massage therapy, acquiring his license in 2014. Since that time Lama has worked at Manakai O Malama as a medical massage therapist providing his patients with a variety of massage techniques including Swedish, Shiatsu, and Lomi Lomi with the goal of reducing pain, increasing circulation, and improving range of motion. Lama incorporates his training as a monk and meditation leader into his massage sessions, providing patients with a unique experience.