Charlene Cuaresma Appointed BOE Member

Charlene Cuaresma

HONOLULU- Active Filipino community leader Charlene Cuaresma of  Oahu was appointed member of the Board of Education (BOE) by Governor Neil Abercrombie along with eight other members  last March 30.

In a media release,  Abercrombie said, “I was encouraged by the number of quality people who applied to serve on the BOE, all who were ready to commit themselves to a new day in education.”

“It was important for me to find the right balance of individuals who could bring their diverse experiences to the table. Education is one of my highest priorities. Hawai’i depends on the success of our public schools and these individuals have stepped up to take responsibility for increasing public confidence in our schools and fundamental change to improve outcomes for children and our community,” he added.

Cuaresma was born and raised in Waipahu  at a sugarcane plantation camp.  She is a descendant of sakadas from Ilocos Norte. Her love for education was instilled by her parents and grandparents. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and masters in public health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Currently, she is the Community Director of the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training.  She is also the  Associate Director of the Graduate Professional Access Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.