Volunteer Directors

B.K. Cannon / co-Director

Childhood Cancer Survivor
Former Camper

B.K. Cannon was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the age of 3 she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. Over several years she received treatment at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and the University of California San Francisco. After countless rounds of radiation and chemotherapy she ultimately received a bone marrow transplant as part of an experimental study that would save her life and become the standard treatment for neuroblastoma today.

B.K. began attending Camp Ānuenue at the age of 7 and has returned for twenty-four consecutive years. In 2011 she assumed the role of Activities Director along with her former counselor and long time friend Alison who became Staff Director the same year. In 2014 the American Cancer Society (ACS) made the decision to divert all money for programing to research, de-funding this program along with hundreds across the country. B.K. and Alison decided to take full responsibility for funding and running Camp Ānuenue, establishing it as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2017.

Today B.K. is a working actor residing in Los Angeles, CA. She is committed to Camp Ānuenue’s legacy and providing the supportive environment that was vital to her emotional well being as a young survivor. “Camp saved my life in ways that medicine could not, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

Alison James / co-Director

Breast Cancer Survivor
Former Counselor

Alison James moved to Hawaii from New Jersey in 2003. Looking for a way to give back to the community, she began volunteering as a counselor at Camp Ānuenue. Though she only resided on Oahu for one year, she has continued to return each June for the past nineteen years, the most recent three as VP & Director.

In the Fall of 2014 Alison was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. She received experimental treatments, chemotherapy, and a double mastectomy at the University of California Los Angeles. Now cancer-free, Alison understands more than ever how important Camp Ānuenue is in the healing process of young survivors and is passionate about this program.

Dianne FOCHtman, Phd / CIt director & board member

Former Pediatric Oncology Nurse at Kapiolani Medical Center

Kiana Rivera (kiki) / logistics c0-director

Former Counselor

des medeiros, MD / medical director & board member

Pediatric Oncologist at Kapiolani Medical Center

Lorren Coelho (wehi) / Logistics Co-Director

Childhood Cancer Survivor
Former Camper & Counselor

Lorren Coelho is better known as Wehi at Camp Ānuenue. She has attended this amazing camp for 18 years, 8 years of which were spent as a camper, 3 years as a counselor in training & another 8 years as a counselor to teen girls. This will be her fist year as a Logistics Director & cannot wait to see where it takes her.

She, like all of our campers & majority of our staff, is a childhood cancer survivor & feels so blessed to be able to give back year after year.

carol kotsubo Aprn, ms, mph / board Member

Carol was one of the co-founders of Camp Ānuenue in 1985. She has worked with the Camp in various roles almost every year since that beginning. Now retired, she still volunteers but in a more background position and is the current Secretary of the Board of Directors. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Oncology at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children for over 30 years, Carol saw on a daily basis the impact of cancer on the lives of the young patients. She firmly believes in the healing powers of camp and is committed to ensuring that Camp Ānuenue continues to be there for children diagnosed with cancer in the future also.