About
Dr. Julie Kaneshiro, DAc
DAcCHM (Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization) from Pacific College of Health & Science, MSOM (Oriental Medicine) from the National University of Natural Medicine, Clinical Studies at Chengdu TCM Hospital, China
Julie was born in Hilo, went to college on the east coast, lived in Japan and then studied Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine in Portland Oregon before returning home over 15 years ago to her beloved community of Hilo, Hawaii. She helped run Kaiao Community Garden - one of only two community gardens on the island at the time.
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Making the wonders of acupuncture accessible to all through Hawaii Community Acupuncture was a life-long goal for Julie. She has seen it help hundreds of family, friends, neighbors and even folks visiting Hawaii on vacation alleviate acute as well as chronic pain and suffering.
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Since 2016, Julie has been focusing much of her private clinical attention on veterans care. If you know a veteran who could use pain relief, please have them get in touch with us!
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David is a chiropractor serving Hilo, Pahoa and the surrounding communities. He customizes your chiropractic solutions to fit your unique needs, whether you are suffering from back pain, neck pain, headaches, or even just plain old muscular tightness and tension. You may need pain relief after suffering an accident, experiencing an injury, or if you have a specific condition such as chronic back pain or a spinal condition; even if you just want to improve your overall health, your chiropractor can help you achieve your wellness goals!
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At your first visit, Dr. David Shapiro will explain the science behind how chiropractic care works, and give you a full evaluation to see if chiropractic care is right for you. If there is a good fit, he can develop a plan of chiropractic care that is specific to your condition and health goals.
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Dr. Shapiro is accepting new patients, including veterans, Workers Compensation, car accident personal injury, and some insurance plans.
Dr. David Shapiro, DC Chiropractic Kinesiologist
DC (Doctor of Chiropractic)
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Dr. Lori Pusateri, DAc
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Lori is an amazing acupuncturist and herbalist and sees veterans by appointment. She considers herself a lifelong student of the healing arts and enjoys combining many modalities into her sessions. After first becoming a certified Yoga Teacher and licensed Massage Therapist, she went on to complete her Masters degree as well her Doctorate in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization in Honolulu. Lori is so happy to be a part of Aloha Acupuncture & Wellness, Inc. When she’s not happily working, Lori loves spending time in nature with her dog, creating herbal remedies, and reading one of the books on her ever-growing list!
Michael Ceraso LAc, LMT
Michael has been a licensed massage therapist since 2003 and a licensed acupuncturist since 2014. He was founder and director of the Hawaii Massage School at Kalani and served as Kalani's Principal Massage Therapist and supervisor for their student massage clinic. He also started and ran a community style acupuncture clinic at Kalani from 2014-2018. His practice focuses on Kiiko Matsumoto Style Japanese Acupuncture, Classical Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Traditional Thai Massage.
'Porter' Courtney Dusschee, LAc
'Porter' has been practicing acupuncture since 2015 after training and receiving her master's degree in acupuncture and oriental medicine on Hawaii island. She uses both traditional Chinese medicine and Japanese styles when working to help people achieve meaningful healing and wellness. She is grateful to spend time with her family, in the ocean and dancing on beautiful Hawaii island.
Taapai Mataoa, LMT MAT 13758
Taapai graduated from Utah College of Massage Therapy in 2004. He has been a massage therapist in Hawaii since 2014. Taapai works from a client-centered focus to tailor each session to your specific wellness goals. He utilizes an eclectic combination of modalities ranging from cranial sacral to reflexology, deep tissue and sports/injury recovery to gentle relaxation and rejuvenation. He was an avid outdoorsman and wilderness therapy guide in Utah for many years.
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Bernadette Griebenow, LMT MAT-15143
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Faye Plescia, LMT MAT-12112
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Lana Burko, Office Manager
Lana is living her dream life in Hawaii! She came to us by way of Colorado, New York, and Pennsylvania all the way from Minsk, Belarus. She graduated from CCA in Colorado with a degree in Business Administration.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son. She also looks forward to discovering more about this amazing place. Her favorite foods in Hawaii are Spicy Crab Poke and Kalua Pig. She is a pro at everything computer-related and we are grateful she is here to welcome everyone with her beautiful smile and warm heart!!!
Tisa Figueroa, Administrative Assistant
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Tisa is an outgoing, forward-thinking Hilo girl who is always willing to lend a helping hand. She welcomes everyone with empathy, thoughtfulness, and curiosity. Tisa is a "team player" who assists our practitioners, staff, and patients with her very own style. Tisa listens thoughtfully to all of us, and can "talk story" 'til dawn! She has a wealth of interesting facts and ideas!
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She is our "accidental chef" and knows all the secret places to try and explore in Hawaii. She is currently building her knowledge bank of our 9th island, Las Vegas. Tisa is a devoted wife and mother, and in her free time, can be found creating sublimation crafts and gifts.
