Honolulu (Island News) – “I'm originally from New Jersey. I've been on the peninsula for about six years,” Keri Anakker said.
Anacker is a school psychologist and spent years in graduate school for a professional degree.
Now she works in many public schools that evaluate students for special education, then comes up with a plan to help them.
Local lawmakers want to attract and retain new Hawaiian health professionals through a bill that will spend millions and allow loans used when studying for their professions.
On the way to the island, she wasn't just her belongings.
“I wanted to say about just under $30,000 on student loans,” Anaker said.
She said she would pay a little bit each month, but she had planned to pay for 10 years under the Public Service Loan forgiveness program. Instead, she signed up for the Hawaii program that almost wiped out it.
“I was awarded money in 2024. I was in a student loan debt of about $26,000 and I sent a check to the loan servicer for $25,500,” Anaker said.
She is one of nearly 900 healthcare workers who have participated in the loan repayment program over the past two years.
Now lawmakers want to put more money aside to help more Hawaiian health professionals.
“$30 million, which is $15 million over the next two years, which I pay for the loans people take away when they study to become a doctor, nurse, physician assistant, or social worker.
The program is popular and has over 1,300 people on the waiting list, but comes with important requirements.
“As part of allowing student loans, they must agree to serve at least two years in Hawaii, almost all of the rural areas of Hawaii. Therefore, we will regain our dedicated healthcare workers to serve in our community.
The House bill survived across the other side of the state legislature, but is now heard by the Senate Avenue and Means Committee.
For new healthcare workers like Anakker, the program has made a difference in her Hawaii career.
“The program didn't help bring me here, but it definitely helped me keep me here,” Anucker said.
She is a fan of this program. She also contacts other current and former students to let them know about the loan repayment program and encourages them to come to Hawaii.
“That's why I want to bring more people to the island. So I'm looking for more people to recruit and even more health workers and mental health workers like me,” Anucker added.
