Hawaiian Rehab Services

Katie or “KC”, as we call her, graduated from the University of Missouri in May 2019 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy and in June 2019 she joined Hawaiian Rehab.

Katie has completed clinical rotations in outpatient, inpatient, and acute care and enjoys treating all populations and diagnosis, with a special interest for orthopedic conditions and sports performance physical therapy. She has done volunteer work in underserved areas of Guatemala and is a member of the American and Missouri Physical Therapy Association.

Katie has a background in marketing as well, and has worked as a Marketing Coordinator prior to PT school. Her undergraduate degree is from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with a Minor in Philosophy. She began her career in Physical Therapy in Hawaii and has been a positive and vibrant addition to Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services.

Christina, originally from Naples, FL, attended Elon University in North Carolina, earning her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Sports Science. She then moved to Philadelphia where she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University where she had the opportunity to complete one of her clinical affiliations at Magee Rehab, a top acute rehab hospital, and where she first developed her love for working with neurological populations. She spent nearly three years in Washington, D.C., working at a level one trauma hospital, and then transitioned to working in outpatient clinics, honing her orthopedic and manual skills. Most recently she spent a year in central California at Kaiser’s PNF residency, learning new techniques for working with patients with neurological injuries.

In her free time Christina loves to be outdoors. She enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, and in her new home of Hawaii she hopes to spend large amounts of time both on and below the water, learning to surf and improving her diving skills.

Bernadette attended University of Oregon, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wa.

Bernadette has worked in both Outpatient and Inpatient settings, working with orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, neurologic and lymphedema patients. She has a special interest in serving geriatric, neurologic, and lymphedema patients, as well as post surgical orthopedic patients.

Prior to coming to Hawaiian Rehab, Bernadette completed a 9 month PNF Residency at the Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center, learning advanced techniques for working with patients with neurologic concerns.

Bernadette has been working with lymphedema patients since early in her career, and recently completed her Certified Lymphedema Therapist training (135 hours) with the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy.

Bernadette is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Kim attended Brigham Young University in Hawaii where she received her Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science and played collegiate soccer for four years. She then graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.

Kim developed a passion for treating the women's health population while completing her clinical rotations. The Majority of her work experience has been in the outpatient setting, treating a variety of orthopedic and pelvic health conditions. Kim specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation and has completed her training through the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.

She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association including the section on Women's Health.

Kim enjoys providing patient centered, evidence-based practice in order to meet her patients rehab goals.

Ashley received a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida, Gainesville in 2015. Mid-way through OT school, Ashley developed a passion for Hand Therapy, landing a job just after graduation at a Central Florida hand therapy clinic. After a few years working in an outpatient setting, grasping the basics and furthering her OT skills, she applied to the OrthoCarolina fellowship and was selected for the rigorous 18-month OT hand-therapy program.

Ashley made the move from Florida to North Carolina in January 2019, completing the fellowship in June 2020 and joining Hawaiian Rehab in August 2020. In October 2020 she completed her goal of becoming a Certified Hand Therapist, validating her expertise.

Ashley is an experienced, vibrant, and passionate OT, specializing in upper extremity orthopedics and hand therapy. She will serve our population suffering from severe upper extremity injuries, chronic conditions, post-operative patients, work-hardening, or anyone seeking OT services in Kailua-Kona.

Bill found his calling as a physical therapist after teaching high school biology and physiology, coaching baseball and volleyball teams and traveling the world.

His work in outpatient orthopedics for the last 20 years with the young and old, elite athletes and weekend warriors has given him a broad depth of experience. His passion is getting his intuitive hands on people, readjusting thinking that no longer serves the client and helping them return to doing what they love to do, leading them to pain free activity and optimal performance.

Bill received his Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from UCLA before obtaining a Masters in Physical Therapy from California State University at Long Beach. Bill joined the team at Hawaiian Rehab in August 2020.

Alana, originally from Kailua-Kona, graduated from Northern Colorado University with both a Bachelor of Science degree in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology in 2011 and a Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology in 2013.

She has experience working in both out-patient clinics and school settings, from Colorado, to Washington, to Kauai, working with preschool and elementary aged children up to high school students. Alana joined Hawaiian Rehab in May 2019, treating communication and swallowing problems of all ages, from babies to adults.

Paul Thompson received his undergraduate degree in Physical Science from the University of Hawaii. He completed his degree in Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Traditional Chinese Medical College, Hawaii, in 1992.

Post graduate training has included Japanese Meridian therapy , chigung teaching certification and continuing education herbal training seminars.

Paul’s practice focuses on injury and illness treatment, including diet and lifestyle management, herbal teas, sterile needling, ginger moxa and balms. He works with other health care professionals to complement other treatments.

When Paul is not practicing Acupuncture, he is working on his 10 acre avocado farm, maintaining the HRS Commercial building in Kona or surfing. He and his wife, Jean, also enjoy traveling in their motor home and fishing on the North Umpqua River in Oregon.

Katie Lopez, born and raised in Kailua-Kona, grew up immersed in the Big Island health care industry. Hawaiian Rehab, established in 1989, was a family business owned and operated by her parents, Jean Thompson, Physical Therapist, and Paul Thompson, Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Communication Studies from California State University of Long Beach, Katie ran a successful surf shop in Carpinteria, CA as both the general manager and bookkeeper. In 2019 Katie and her husband moved back to Kona with plans to take over the family practice and continue the legacy her parents started.

Katie’s focus as owner and director of Hawaiian Rehab is to provide exceptional care for the Big Island community, develop specialties currently lacking on the island, and work alongside professional alliances to ensure accurate and timely care for our patients. Her leadership has gained Hawaiian Rehab a reputation for providing excellent customer service that treats each patient like family, and fostering both a positive and productive workplace culture for her team.

Jerrica Acol

Trudy Edelmann

Rhiannon Tagabi