OUR TEAM
Gabby Gouveia, RN, BSN
Co-Founder & Executive Director
After losing her 5-year-old son, Grayson, to an aggressive brain cancer called Glioblastoma in 2016, Gabby has a sincere desire to support other bereaved families. She and her life partner Ka’eo founded Let Grace In (LGI) to create a compassionate, safe space to companion grieving ohana on this daunting journey. Gabby is a Grief Recovery Specialist and oversaw the production of LGI’s children’s book My Journey with the Wind: A Magical Story of Grief. Gabby also currently works as a Registered Nurse for Hawaii Pacific Health’s Straub Medical Center on the Resource Team. She began working for Straub in Intensive Care Specialty after receiving her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of San Francisco. She has been caring for patients and their families through sickness and the end-of-life process for 22 years and is implementing evidence-based interventions to help staff, patients and their families through the death and dying process and beyond. Gabby was recognized as the 2021 Nurse of the Year for Community Stewardship. Gabby (Maryknoll '96) was born and raised in Hawaii and lives in Honolulu with Ka'eo and their two daughters Olivia and Charli.
Ka'eo Gouveia, MBA Co-Founder & Director
Kaʻeo is the Co-Founder and Director on the Board and manages the financial operations and compliance. He received his bachelorʻs degree in business administration from the University of San Diego where he also played and coached football. Later, Ka'eo earned a MBA in marketing at Hawaii Pacific University. He is the Co-Owner of Pacific ComTech, a local telcom construction company in Kapolei. He is an operations executive with leadership experience across a diverse set of industries. His specialties include general management, business development, strategic planning and execution, technology integration, team development, and business operations. Ka'eo (Kamehameha '96) was born and raised in Hawaii and has enjoyed coaching Grayson, Olivia and Charli's soccer teams throughout the years.
Jessica Ando, MA, LMFT
Jessica was born and raised in Honolulu. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and studio arts at Loyola Marymount University. She continued her studies there and received her master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy and Clinical Art Therapy. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Hawai’i. She worked as a grief counselor with adults and children in Hospice for almost 10 years. Currently, she works as a Behavioral Health Specialist in the educational system. She enjoys utilizing her skills in art and art therapy to help patients and families express themselves and find healing. She also began to pursue her identity as a professional artist, realizing her true gift is being able to create mindful and intentional art. She is certified in the art therapy modality of nature mandalas. Jessica is a vital member of our programs team and also serves on our Board of Directors.
Cody Keale, MScs
Cody earned a Bachelors in Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii and holds a Master of Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Mental Health. He is a passionate La’au Lapa’au (green medicine) practitioner, and studied under the late Kumu Levon Ohai. He is also a seasoned Lomi Lomi practitioner and studied with Aunty Noelani Veary, Uncle Freddie Tira and Kaliko Chang. He currently works for Keiki O Ka ‘Āina and educates the community on Native Hawaiian La’au Lapa’au through workshops.
Paul Lum, RN
Paul was born and raised in Hawaii and is the father of three children. He has been a registered nurse for 10 years specializing in critical care and adult care. Paul participated in changing the way end of life is done in the hospital setting by implementing evidenced based intervention to help staff, patients and their families through the death and dying process. Paul plays an essential role in logistics for the Hope Retreats and is a lover of outdoor activities.
Natalie Star Mansfield, RN, BSN
Star, born and raised in Duwamish land, Suquamish, she feels deeply connected to the land, the water and mountains that helped raise and teach her. She is a fourth-generation registered nurse in her family. Star has served in her community as a labor and delivery Doula and educator. The gift of Storytelling was encouraged, coached and passed down to Star by her mother Gwen Mansfield (her favorite Storyteller). She has been honored to serve as a part of the Mauna Medic Healer’s Hui. Star enjoys local community engagement and involvement in the practice of Pilina (relationship/connection) building Circles. She has had the privilege to study and learn more about building pilina within the community and with āina, under Kumu Punihei Lipe. Star considers herself to be a “forever student” in her spiritual walk. She delights in learning from her community and Creation.
Ashley Wolfe, MA, CCLS
Ashley is the author of the childrenʻs book My Journey with the Wind: A magical story of grief. She has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for the past 14 years working in hospital, hospice, and community settings helping children and their families emotionally through therapeutic play activities, educational coaching, and support groups. Last year, Ashley was a virtual adjunct professor at Central Washington University teaching Therapeutic Play for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her favorite part of teaching has been helping students understand the theory behind therapeutic play but most importantly encouraging them to think creatively about real life application of these theories and what these concepts actually look like in practice. She is a Grief Recovery & Bereavement Specialist and will be offering grief support groups in the community, 1-1 adult grief coaching, and support for caregivers to help their children experiencing grief. She is devoted to her three young sons and loves raising them with her husband where she grew up in beautiful Hawaii.
Joyce Wong, RN, HN-BC, CHTP, LMT
Joyce has been a registered nurse for 33 years primarily working in pediatric oncology. She founded the Integrated Medicine Program at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and specialized as a holistic nurse for 8 years. Joyce brings Healing Touch and holistic activities to retreats and monthly events. She is also a licensed massage therapist. Joyce is a cancer survivor and co-founder of Ikaika, a camp for teen oncology patients and survivors. She has 3 adult children, 5 grandchildren, and is the maternal grandmother to Grayson, Olivia, and Charli. Joyce and her husband Glenn reside in Honolulu.