Board of Directors
Ira Ono - President
I moved to Volcano Village from Maui (previously New York City) in 1980. I was an artist looking for an affordable place to make and sell my work. I was able to purchase land and several years later I founded Volcano Garden Arts & Café Ono. Volcano Garden Arts is a historic 3 acre property with gardens, a contemporary art gallery featuring over 100 local artists www.volcanogardenarts.com
When I first arrived in Volcano Village, I lived a few doors down from Betsy & Mitch Mitchell. Betsy was the President of the Volcano Community Association at the time and for many years thereafter. We became friends and noticed that there were virtually no services for seniors living in Volcano. Many of our friends wished to stay in their homes as they got older “Aging in Place”, which meant they had a long drive to Hilo in order to pick up medicine or attend medical appointments.
Other friends, including Be Jones (a wonderful addition to the Volcano community), were interested in a senior care facility for themselves or a partner and there are also no options in Volcano.
Another resident of Volcano who was instrumental in this initiative was Nona Wilson, a nurse. She started a “lending library” for medical equipment in Volcano such as crutches, blood pressure cuff, etc. She passed away in 2025 - a most inspiring individual.
This is where the idea of the Volcano Health Collaborative was born. Our goal was to make it possible for kupuna in Volcano to stay in Volcano as they age with the resources and care they require for themselves and their partners.
David Goodman - Treasurer
Kathleen Mishina - Secretary
Kathleen was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a Masters in Health Planning. Her career in nursing included acute care, home health care, and over 20 years as a public health nurse in West Hawaii and Ka’u. She was a founding member of the West Hawaii Chapter of the Alzheimers Association and the Hawaii Community Caregiver Network, and represented West Hawaii on the Hawaii Island Subarea Health Planning Council. She also served as the Project Coordinator and Director of the Kona Adult Day Center in Kealakekua.
In 2017, Kathleen and her husband relocated from Captain Cook to Volcano. In 2025, Kathleen joined the Volcano Community Association and the Volcano Health Collaborative to help address the need for healthcare services in the Volcano community.