Aloha mai kākou.
Scholar Activist and
Public Health Professional
Pronouns: he/him/his
Aloha! ʻO Jake Ryann Sumibcay koʻu inoa (My name is Jake Ryann Sumibcay.
I am a health disparities researcher and health equity scholar who focuses on disparities and inequities among minoritized populations. I specialize in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations. My research seeks to understand the nuances in racialized representations of these communities and how they are reflected in public health policy, practice, and research to advance health equity, anti-racism, and social justice.
Mahalo nui for visiting my website. Here you will find my CV, my social links, and contact information.
You can take the boy from the island…
but not the island from the boy.
I come from Honolulu, Hawai‘i, where I grew up in the ahupuaʻa of Kalihi-Kapālama on the Island of Oʻahu. My parents immigrated from the Philippines as part of the Hawai‘i Plantation migration, and our family has been settled in U.S.-occupied Hawai‘i for over three generations. The unique experience of growing up at the crossroads of the Pacific has shaped my deep appreciation for the land, ocean, diverse communities, food, and extensions of family that make up my identity. I am an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Seattle University in Washington before pursuing both my Master’s and Doctorate in Public Health at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California. Before joining the University of Hawai‘i, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. No matter how far I’ve traveled, I carry with me the pride, passion, and values instilled in me by my island home.
Hawai'i is more than an idealized destination; it is a real place with real people facing real challenges. These challenges include the high cost of living, health issues, disenfranchisement and grievances of our Native peoples, and other social and economic problems. As a Keiki o ka 'āina (child of the land), I have a relationship and responsibility to the land, the Indigenous people, and the communities. I take accountability for our shared and connected histories. I stand for decolonization, addressing the issues of colonialism and systemic racism and improving the health of all.
Kona Lows Flooding Recovery
The “Kona Lows” is a storm that brings heavy rains from the southwest flow off the Pacific. Hawaiʻi has been battered by rainfall that has led to destructive flooding of communities across the islands, especially along the North Shore of Oʻahu (Waialua, Mokuleia, Haleiwa), where they were asked to evacuate from life-threatening flash flooding. Recovery efforts are currently taking place to support the communities and families from the devastating flooding.
Below is a list of organizations that are providing aid and donations to communities and families impacted by the flooding
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement-Every donation matched by the Hawaiian Council, up to $200,000.
UH Foundation: Support our UH ‘ohana impacted by flooding
The Salvation Army: Conducting disaster relief efforts on O‘ahu and across the state.
Lāhui Foundation: Mobilizing cleanup crews and coordinating distribution of donated items.
Hawai'i Food Bank: Serving hungry families, including those affected by the Kona low storm.
Aloha United Way: Operating a help call and text line to serve flooding victims.
Hawai'i Community Foundation: Operates a Stronger Hawai‘i Fund for disaster relief across the islands.
Hawai'i Farmers Union United: Created a Hawai‘i Flood Response Fund supporting farmers and rural areas hit by severe floods.
808 Cleanups: Coordinating volunteer cleanups in affected areas.
‘Āina Momona: Restoring lo‘i at its Aloha ‘Āina Health and Learning Center in Kāne‘ohe.
StormKōkua: A direct-to-ʻohana mutual aid site to provide monetary donations to families and businesses impacted by the storm
(Donations are being collected at multiple community hubs such as the Haleiwa Distilling Co, The Old Sugar Mill in Waialua, and Rainbow Restoration in Wahiawa) — Currently not taking donations but are distribution sites for families.
Volunteer Efforts
Sign up to volunteer to help with clean up across the island — currently closed, for the North Shore.
Visit the Hawaiian Council for more information about getting or giving help.
ʻŌlelo Noeau
E hahai i ke ala o ka hana pa‘akikī
Pursue the path of challenging work
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