Pediatrician - Accepting New Patients!
Gesina N. Recto, MD
BIO
Dr. Gesina Recto is a Board-certified Pediatrician for over 20 years. She obtained a B.S. in Biology from the University of the Philippines, Iloilo. She then received her M.D. from West Visayas State University and completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey. Dr. Recto made her way to Hilo from her long standing private pediatric practice in Laredo, Texas. She decided to join Big Island Healthcare to bring her knowledge and experience in pediatric care to our community. Dr. Recto is passionate about getting to know her patients and helping them to achieve their best health.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
In her free time, Dr. Recto enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls. She enjoys traveling and has a love for the ocean.
Primary Care Providers
Mililani Trask-Batti, MD, MPH
BIO
Dr. Mililani Trask-Batti is a Native Hawaiian Family Medicine physician who obtained a B.A. from Stanford University and an MPH in Health Policy and Management from UH-Mānoa. She earned her medical degree from the University of California Davis School of Medicine and joins the Big Island Healthcare ‘ohana as a recent graduate from the Hawaiʻi Island Family Medicine Residency program. She has special interests in issues impacting health equity, public health and Native Hawaiian health. Born and raised on Moku o Keawe, she is a proud graduate of the Hawaiian immersion program and Kamehameha Schools-Hawaiʻi Campus. E ‘ōlelo mai! It has always been her goal to return home and partner with her community to improve the health and well-being of all, keiki to kūpuna. Additionally, Dr. Trask-Batti often works with her husband through workshops and speaking engagements geared toward encouraging students interested in a health career pathway.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
She spends her free time with her ‘ohana including her first child, who she and her husband recently welcomed. If she is not with her family or friends, you can find her hanging out with her two little pups. She is a fan of sci-fi/fantasy book series and welcomes new suggestions for great Netflix shows!
Craig Y. Shikuma, MD
BIO
Dr. Craig Shikuma, primary care, Board-certified internal medicine physician, has served the Hawai’i community since graduating from the University of Hawai’i Medical School and residency program. He received his B.A. in Biology from Knox College in Galesberg, Illinois, and is a Hilo High School grad. Dr. Shikuma has been deeply involved in the local medical community, including board and medical director positions at HIlo Medical Center, East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association (EHI IPA), Hawaii Care Choices, Hilo Rotary Foundation, Hilo Medical Center Foundation. He strongly believes that a work environment and philosophy encouraging teamwork will allow his clinic to meet patient needs in a caring, comprehensive way.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Hiking, outdoor sports, fishing, traveling, following the UH football at home and on the road with my son.
Michelle Ojiri, NP-C
BIO
Michelle Ojiri, APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse), is a graduate of the University of Hawai’i’s Mānoa’s Master of Nursing Program with a specialty in adult geriatric care. She graduated from Pacific University in Oregon with a B.S. in chemistry. In Hawai’i, APRNs are licensed providers who have full practice authority to treat and diagnose patients. Michelle is active in our community as a member of the Hiroshima Kenjinkai & future President of the Akaka Falls Lions Club, and speaks Japanese fluently.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Playing tennis and gardening.
Gulnara Nadeau, FNP-BC
BIO
Gulnara Nadeau is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and an engineering degree in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She moved from Russia to the Big Island in 2001. After traveling and visiting other countries, she found Big Island is the most beautiful place to live. She enjoys wonderful weather and wonderful people she meets every day.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Her interests include traveling, swimming, hiking, watching movies, reading detective stories, and spending time with her family.
Thomas Weiner, MD
BIO
Dr. Thomas Weiner, Board-certified family medicine physician, has served the Hawai’i Island community since 2020. He studied molecular biology at the University of Georgia before earning his medical degree from Australian National University Medical School. He completed his post-graduate medical training at the University of Pittsburgh. He is passionate about providing primary care but also has a special interest in Hepatitis, HIV, and improving access to care for the underserved. He is credentialed by the American Academy of HIV Medicine.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
He enjoys spending time on the water and exploring Hawai’i’s hiking trails. He also likes to bike and play tennis.
April Lowenthal, MD
BIO
Dr. April Lowenthal is a Board-certified Family Medicine Physician. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in English Literature. She earned her medical degree from Australian National University Medical School and completed residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Shadyside. She enjoys providing primary care to the community of Hawai’i Island.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
She enjoys swimming, hiking, running, biking, knitting, cooking and reading.
Pediatrics
Darrett Choy, MD
BIO
Dr. Darrett Choy is a Board Certified Pediatrician. He obtained a B.A. in Biology (Highest Honors) and History (with distinction) with an emphasis on U.S. History from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He then received his MD from the John A. Burns School of Medicine and completed a residency in Pediatrics at Kapiolani Medical Center. He made his way to Hilo from Kaneohe by joining Dr. Brian Wilson in a long standing pediatric practice in 2007. He enjoyed the friendly people and decided to make Hilo his home and has never looked back. After being in private practice for 13 years (and the retirement of Dr. Wilson), he decided to join Big Island Healthcare to continue providing pediatric care to the community and also mentoring new physicians. He has a passion for teaching and has enjoyed a wide range of students from high school shadowing to medical student, nursing and resident mentoring.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
He is an avid lover of all things Disney and chances are you will find him spanning the globe on his quest to make it to all of the Disney Parks and Resorts in the world. So far he has made it to Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland. He also enjoys seeing and listening to musicals and tries to make it to NYC once a year to enjoy the lights of Broadway and the fantastic museums. He is also a very amateur photographer and enjoys photographing his two favorite destinations. At home he will crochet, sew, play the occasional tennis game and go out for the occasional meal. He is longing for Korean BBQ and dim sum to make its way to Hilo.
Gesina N. Recto, MD
BIO
Dr. Gesina Recto is a Board-certified Pediatrician for over 20 years. She obtained a B.S. in Biology from the University of the Philippines, Iloilo. She then received her M.D. from West Visayas State University and completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey. Dr. Recto made her way to Hilo from her long standing private pediatric practice in Laredo, Texas. She decided to join Big Island Healthcare to bring her knowledge and experience in pediatric care to our community. Dr. Recto is passionate about getting to know her patients and helping them to achieve their best health.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
In her free time, Dr. Recto enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls. She enjoys traveling and has a love for the ocean.
Michelle Franz, DNP
BIO
Michelle Franz is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She has a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Nursing and earned her Nursing Degree and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice Degree from the UH Mānoa. She was born and raised in New Jersey and has experience working in many different job settings prior to beginning her career in healthcare. Michelle and her husband moved to the Big Island in January of 2015 and have all intentions to stay and continue to build strong community connections, despite their setback during the 2018 Lava Eruptions. Michelle has worked in both the realms of mental health and physical health and strives to see each person she meets in practice with a holistic mindset. Michelle is excited and grateful to join Big Island Healthcare and looks forward to building a lasting rapport with each of her patients.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Michelle is a seaglass collector & ocean lover. During her free time she enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and dog, and hiking.
Mark Aguiar, CPNP
BIO
Mark Aguiar, APRN (Advance Practice Registered Nurse), is a Board-Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is a 35-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Mark is originally from Massachusetts but has travelled the world with the military and decided to start his next chapter on the Big Island. His goal is to continue to provide optimal seamless pediatric care so that parents can maintain their trust in the Big Island Healthcare team.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Mark and his family enjoy community activities and participating in all the outstanding hiking and eating opportunities the island has to offer. He and his family also enjoy traveling as much as possible.
Our Story
Aloha! Welcome to Big Island Healthcare. We’re so glad you’re here.
Our mission is to provide the Hawai’i Island community with access to comprehensive quality healthcare that is compassionate, patient-centric and cost effective. Our Hilo clinic, which opened October 1, 2020, aims to provide excellent customer service to all patients regardless of ethnic or socio-economic background.
Our parent organization Big Island Docs, formerly East Hawaii IPA, is a physician-driven independent practice association (IPA) formed to improve the practice of medicine and healthcare delivery on Hawai’i Island (Big Island). Incorporated in 1994 as a non-profit physician organization, Big Island Docs has grown to a membership of over 60 physicians on the Big Island.
Location
Ponahawai Clinic (Adults)
633 Ponahawai St., Ste. 101
Hilo, HI 96720
Kilauea Clinic (Pediatrics)
409 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
Call Today
(808) 885-DOCS
(808) 885-3627
Fax Us
(808) 969-3852
Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00AM-5:00PM
