Senior Vice President Stevette Santiago Receives HR Lifetime Achievement Award from SHRM Hawai‘i

In recognition of her myriad contributions to the industry, Stevette Santiago, UHA Health Insurance’s senior vice president/chief human resources & brand officer, will receive the HR Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai‘i Chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM).

The honor will be bestowed on Oct. 16 at the 2026 SHRM Hawai‘i Conference and Expo at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

HR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Stevette K. Santiago, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Brand Officer | UHA Health Insurance

Stevette has been involved with SHRM Hawai‘i for more than 25 years. She served as chapter president and is currently its co-chair of the Workforce Development Committee.

Planning for the future of the industry and Hawai‘i is a constant focus for her: One of her greatest contributions to the field was her leadership of a two-year effort that created a dedicated human resources course within the Hawai‘i Department of Education’s Business Career Pathway. That initiative to formally introduce local students to the field was so groundbreaking that it earned SHRM Hawai‘i its first national SHRM Pinnacle Award in 2015 in recognition of its advancement of the profession.

A committed community volunteer, Stevette also serves as an advisor to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business Master of Human Resource Management program. 

As chief human resources & brand officer, Stevette helped shape one of UHA’s guiding mantras: “Big enough to serve, small enough to care deeply.” She oversees UHA’s unique health-focused corporate culture, directs the team responsible for employee development and support, and leads the organization’s efforts to attract new talent.

Stevette is a key member of UHA’s executive leadership, which has guided the organization into a major force in Hawaiʻi’s healthcare landscape, providing medical, drug and vision plans to over 4,200 employer groups and more than 57,000 members through one of the largest physician networks in the state.

Even as it has grown, Stevette has helped ensure UHA has not sacrificed its unique culture. It has earned multiple Hawaiʻi Business “Best Places to Work” and “Healthiest Workplace” honors, as well as a #30 ranking on the 2025 “Hawaiʻi Top 250” list. It also won a Pacific Business News 2025 “Kokua Kahiau” award, which recognizes companies for exceptional corporate citizenship and dedication to their local communities.

About UHA Health Insurance
Celebrating 30 years of service to Hawaiʻi, UHA Health Insurance is a physician guided, homegrown health insurer committed to care, not just coverage. UHA combines personalized support with coverage designed to put people first.

Through one of the largest physician networks in the state, UHA provides medical, drug and vision plans to over 4,200 Hawai‘i employer groups and over 57,000 members statewide.

Founded in 1996 by University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine educators, UHA is the only Hawai‘i based health insurer established by physicians themselves. Today, UHA remains physician-led with a continued focus on influencing healthcare in Hawai‘i for the better, while ensuring its members have access to high-quality, clinically sound care. UHA was the first health insurer in the state to offer plans centered on wellness and disease prevention and is accredited in Health Utilization Management through URAC, the independent non-profit that promotes healthcare quality.

For information, visit uhahealth.com.

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