Cherry Yamane

Cherry Y.E.W. Yamane (Kanaka ʻŌiwi) is from Waiʻanae, Hawaiʻi, and was raised in a rich community of culture and relations. She brings their personal and lived experiences as a Kanaka who was born and raised in a dominantly Native Hawaiian community into their practice as an Indigenous researcher and practitioner. Their experiences are the foundation to advocacy and care for their beloved home community and they work diligently to foster spaces for healing and thriving. 

Cherry holds a Bachelor of Public Health, Minor in Sociology and Certificate in Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. They hold a Master of Public Health degree specializing in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice from the University of Washington - Seattle, School of Public Health. She is currently a PhD candidate in Indigenous Health at the University of North Dakota - School of Medicine and Health Sciences where she is building community-based and culturally-driven evidence that privileges ancestral Knowledges and practices. 

Cherry lives in South Dakota which is the ancestral home of her long-term partner and their dog Toffee. Outside of work, Cherry enjoys going for long walks with their dog, weaving, drawing, and spending time along any body of water.