Alicia Higa

Chief Community Health Officer/Executive Director, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center | Elepaio Social Services - Waianae, HI

Alicia Higa is the Executive Director of Elepaio Social Services and Chief Community Health Officer at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC). With more than 20 years of experience in community health, she leads innovative efforts that bring together healthcare, Indigenous food sovereignty, and Food is Medicine to improve health outcomes and strengthen community resilience.

Born and raised in Waianae, Alicia is deeply committed to developing culturally grounded, community-driven solutions that expand access to healthy, locally grown food, advance health equity, and build sustainable systems for future generations. Nationally recognized for her leadership in Food is Medicine and community health innovation, she is helping transform how healthcare systems partner with communities—honoring culture, place, and people while addressing the broader conditions that shape health.

Alicia is currently leading the development of the 25-acre Waianae Community Resilience Hub on land secured through a 65-year lease from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. This first-of-its-kind campus will bring together food systems, healthcare, emergency preparedness, and community services to strengthen the resilience of the Waiʻanae Coast for generations to come.

She also serves on the boards of MAO Organic Farms, Hoa Aina O Makaha, and the Waianae Moku Navigators, reflecting her lifelong commitment to the health, culture, and future of her community.