Meet Audrey: A Journey of Service, Community, and Leadership at The Villas

Audrey Ma'ilo, Social Worker for The Villas by Ohana Pacific Health.

From Kahuku Roots to a Career in Healthcare

For Audrey, helping others has always been important. Growing up in Lāʻie with Kahuku roots, she learned from her community that when someone needs help, people step in and support one another. As she balanced the commitments of family and career, Audrey remained guided by a deep sense of service. She decided to go back to school and work toward her goals. Through hard work and determination, she earned a bachelor's degree in Public Administration with a focus on healthcare. In August 2025, she completed her master's degree. Although her journey took time, Audrey says it helped shape her into the person that she is today.

Building a Career in Social Services and Healthcare

Audrey works alongside staff in a team building as part of her Administrator-in-Training journey, developing leadership skills and strengthening team connections at The Villas.

Audrey's passion for helping others began with community outreach work through Helping Hands Hawaii. That experience opened the door to a career dedicated to serving people. From there, she worked as a Social Services Assistant at Hale Nani, became Social Services Director at Liliha Healthcare Center, and eventually joined The Villas as a Social Worker in February 2026.

What drew her to The Villas was more than just an opportunity for professional growth.

"The Villas have such a great reputation for giving back to the community," she says. "I wanted to be a part of that."

Growing Through the Administrator-in-Training Program

As both a Social Worker and an Administrator-in-Training, Audrey skillfully balances her dual roles while working with staff.

Audrey is continuing her journey through the Administrator-in-Training (AIT) Program, where she is learning from leaders across Ohana Pacific Health (OPH) and gaining a better understanding of healthcare operations. "The staff have been welcoming and supportive," she says. "I'm excited to learn and continue growing." As she looks ahead, Audrey stays focused on the values she learned growing up and hopes to lead by serving others. Whether she is helping residents, supporting staff, or improving daily operations, she believes leadership is about making a positive difference. She believes in showing up each day with purpose, leading with kindness, and helping others succeed. Her advice for future healthcare leaders is simple: "If you're going to do something, do it because you genuinely care." She believes that when people lead with compassion and authenticity, they can make a lasting impact on those around them.

Continuing The Villas Mission of Caring for Our Community

Audrey continues The Villas’ mission of caring for our community as a Social Worker and Administrator-in-Training.

The values she learned growing up in Lāʻie were unity, service, and aloha. She continues to guide her path as an Administrator in Training with OPH. OPH’s mission, “to improve the quality of life for all we serve,” reflects the kind of care she believes our kūpuna deserve. One of Audrey’s favorite aspects of the AIT program is learning facility operations alongside the teams that make exceptional care possible, including Nursing, Social Services, Rehabilitation, Dietary, and Environmental Services. Each day reinforces a lesson she learned early on, “Unity is built through communication, follow-through, and shared purpose.”

As Audrey continues her AIT journey with OPH, she stays committed to leading with humility, integrity, and aloha. By working with every department at The Villas, she has gained a deeper understanding of how teamwork helps provide the best care and support for our kūpuna. With guidance from the Regional Administrator and leadership teams, she is growing into a leader who values service and builds strong community connections. We look forward to seeing the positive difference she will continue to make for residents, families, staff, and the community in the years to come.

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