We believe nothing essential is missing in any child
We are a group of Hawai’i educators and therapists exploring what true mental health is, working with keiki before crisis rather than after.
About us
Joshua Dimand, MBA. Joshua is a K-8 substitute teacher in Hawaii public schools, holds an MBA, and is completing a second Masters in Social Work. In his classrooms he saw how many children were struggling with emotions while SEL was neither standardized nor required, so in 2024 he asked his mentor Sharon Usagawa to help him create a mental health curriculum. He brings compassion, curiosity, and real classroom insight to the work.
Sharon Usagawa, MSW, DCSW, LCSW. Sharon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience supporting individuals, families, and children, and the founder of the Pacific Institute for Innate Mental Health on O’ahu, which is leading a movement to transform how Hawai’i understands mental health. Her work starts from a simple understanding: people are born with a natural capacity for well-being, and helping children and adults recognize that capacity empowers them to navigate life with clarity, resilience, and emotional balance.
Together, Joshua and Sharon are dedicated to transforming how children understand their minds and emotions. Rather than teaching rules or coping strategies after distress has appeared, they guide students to see life from the inside-out before struggles become entrenched, building confidence, reducing anxiety, fostering emotional balance, and creating stronger relationships. Their shared vision is a world where mental health education is as fundamental as physical education, giving every child the tools to thrive in school and life.
Mission
To ease the pressure of growing up and help every child recognize the innate well-being and ancestral wisdom already alive inside them.
Vision
A world where every child recognizes their inner wisdom and innate mental health, creating more compassionate classrooms, stronger communities, and healthier lives.
