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. She is also a RYT- 200 yoga instructor at Core Power Yoga. 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.
Pa'ana Alapai
Pa’ana was born and raised on the Island of Hawai`i on the Hilo side. She now lives on O’ahu and is the owner of CrossFit Waipi’o. She hosts the annual “Grit & Grace” CrossFit workout fundraising event for Let Grace In. As a Kanaka, māhū, biracial, wahine who was born and raised on the Island of Hawai`i, she has been able to use CrossFit to mentor, coach and work with her clients to accomplish their goals. She has also been studying Mahina (moon) cycles with Ka Mahina Projects for two years and learning how the different moons affect us - mentally, physically, emotionally and the connection it has to all of our surroundings. She is now a part of their team as a Hina Circle facilitator. Hina circles are guided moʻolelo (cultural story-based) workshops that discuss Hina, Hawaiian moon cycles and their relation to our own phases of life.
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.
Lon Okazaki
Lon is leading the vision as the President of Let Grace In’s Board of Directors who manages logistics and planning for the Hope Retreats and Legacy of Love Annual Fundraiser. With a deep commitment to improving patient care, Lon has over two decades of expertise in Cardiology as a medical device rep. He also empowers kids as a passionate martial artist by instilling discipline, confidence, physical fitness and essential life skills. Lon is born and raised on O’ahu and lives in Honolulu with his wife and their two boys.
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.