WASHINGTON – The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) congratulates Krystal Ka’ai on her appointment to serve as executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). Ka’ai, the long-time executive director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is the first Native Hawaiian to serve as head of the WHIAANHPI.
“Krystal Ka’ai has been at the intersection of nearly every issue of importance to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities over the past decade,” said Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of APIAHF. “As one of the highest-ranking Native Hawaiians in the Biden administration, and with her extraordinary background, we are confident that she will elevate the voices of our communities through a whole of government approach, advancing the health, well-being and full potential of our communities. We congratulate and look forward to working closely with Ms. Ka’ai.”
President Biden appointed Ka’ai prior to the signing of the Executive Order that establishes the WHIAANHPI at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. With an ambitious agenda to advance equity, justice and opportunity for AANHPI communities, the Initiative, among other aims, will work toward: mitigating COVID-19 related anti-Asian bias; tackling long standing structural barriers to care like the lack of comprehensive and federally coordinated disaggregated data and accessible information in language; advancing health equity; strengthening public awareness and education about our communities, cultures and traditions; addressing equitable Federal funding and grants; and empowering civic engagement through electoral participation.
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The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.