Our Team
Our compassionate team delivers client-focused care, providing you & your keiki with a safe space to meet your unique needs and goals.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | DIRECTOR OF WALA’AU THERAPY
Syd Wang, M.S., CCC-SLP
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Syd is a local-born kama'aina of the Big Island of Hawai'i. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i Campus, she completed her higher education at California State University, Sacramento, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 2012 and Master's Degree in Speech Pathology in 2014. She has worked in a variety of settings including private practice, school district, home health services, skilled nursing facilities, adult/pediatric outpatient clinic, and ICU/Acute care unit in several U.S. states. In addition, she has volunteered her time internationally at child development centers in the rural countries of Nicaragua, Uganda, and. Ghana. She returned home to the Big Island in February 2020 to share her expertise and knowledge with her local community. In her free time, she loves traveling the world to lesser-known places and spending quality time with her husband and growing family. Se habla Español.
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Hawai'i License # SP-1661
Board Certified Autism Specialist
ASHA Member of Special Interest Group (SIG) 13 Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders
Member of Hawaii Speech and Hearing Association (HSHA)
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Zonta Club Microgrant Recipient for Women in small business, Fall 2024
Article published in ASHA Leader entitled "Lessons Learned from My Sister" Spring 2017
https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/full/10.1044/leader.FPLP.22082017.88
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ASHA, New Orleans, November 2022
Talk Tools Feeding First Virtual Conference, January 2022
Parkinson Voice Project Training, October 2021
Hippotherapy Treatment Principles Part 1, September 2020-August 2021
Orton Gillingham Intermediate Training, October 2020
SOS Approach to Feeding 4-day Conference Level 1 July 2019
Dysphagia in Older Adults Online Conference March 2019
Social Thinking Level 1 Assessment April 2017
The Zones of Regulation: A Framework to Foster Self-Regulation and Emotional Control December 2016
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Smiles for Speech, Project Ghana 2022
July 2022, Volunteer Speech-language Pathologist
Kyaninga Child Development Center, Uganda
October - December 2019, Volunteer Speech-language Pathologist
Nuestros Pequeño Hermanos (NPH), Nicaragua
January-June 2018, Volunteer Speech-language Pathologist
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Shayla Lemon, M.A., CCC-SLP
Shayla was born and raised in Kansas, keeping busy playing sports and hanging out with family. She went to undergraduate college playing soccer and received a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. Shayla then graduated in 2022 with her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. She has since moved to Hilo and has been working at Wala’au Therapy LLC learning and growing into a holistic-based SLP.
Shayla has experience in settings that include: schools, hospital-inpatient, private practice, and university clinic. She hopes to find a specialized passion further in her career; right now, she enjoys all areas of Speech-Language Pathology.
In her free time, Shayla enjoys snorkeling, reading by the beach, hanging out with her two cats and husband, visiting different parts of the island, and learning about the culture.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Stephanie Mullin, MHS,
CCC-SLP
Stephanie Mullin is an experienced speech language pathologist (SLP) practicing since 2007. She takes pride in providing the most current, research-based care, with interprofessional collaboration to ensure all options are considered for an optimal outcome. Stephanie is driven by the desire to help clients achieve their goals, with a target of "putting herself out of business because the client is doing so well that they don't NEED her anymore."
She looks forward to remain in contact with many families post-graduation considering the personal bond that is formed and the beauty of close community on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she calls home. Personal time is spent enjoying all the nature and beauty that home has to offer, Stephanie received the Parkinson's Voice Project Grant for 4 years in a row (2019, 2020, 2021,and 2022), hosts a free weekly maintenance speech group for Parkinson's patients, hosts a free monthly ‘Talk Story’ group on Zoom for individuals with communication and cognitive challenges, historically volunteered on the educational affairs committee for the Hawaii Speech Language Hearing Association (HSHA), co-collaborates the SLP medical caucus for Hawaii, and is a preceptor for new hires in home health care.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Kimberly Koga, MS, CCC-SLP
Kim is a professional Speech-Language Pathologist born and raised in Hilo. Her journey began back in 2012 when she graduated with her Masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Johns A. Burns School of Medicine. Since then, she has dedicated her career to providing developmentally appropriate speech and language services to various populations within early intervention, school aged, and community based settings. Much of the Covid years were spent enjoying and exploring the Pacific Northwest as an Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Specialist.
Kim currently holds a Certification of Clinical Competence through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed through the State(s) of Hawai’i, Alaska, and Oregon.
In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, traveling, reading, golfing, and engaging with good company.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Motoko Matsumoto, M.A.,
CCC-SLP
Motoko Matsumoto was born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan and received her B.A. in Philosophy from Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto, Japan) in 1999. Years later, she decided to learn communication sciences and disorders in the U.S. and earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from California State University, Chico in 2008. She has lived in Hilo since then. Over the years, she has worked with young children and families through early intervention and the Department of Education. Supporting children’s development and growth has always been her passion. In recent years, she has been learning more about AAC (Augmentative-Alternative Communication) and AT (Assistive Technology).
Motoko lives with her husband and two kids. Although she has limited time for herself, she strives to live in the moment “here and now.” She likes watching little plants grow and wild birds play in the yard, savoring the aroma of coffee and tea, and chatting with her friends and family.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Kendall Reininger, M.S., Clinical Fellow
Kendall was born and raised in Washington State and is excited to be completing her clinical fellowship year on the Big Island at Wala’au Therapy! She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences at Washington State University with minors in Spanish and Psychology and her Masters of Science in Medical Speech Language Pathology at the University of Washington.
Her experiences during graduate school included multiple pediatric private practices, Evergreen Health Outpatient Rehab, and the UW Medicine Otolaryngology Head and Neck Center. Additionally, during her graduate education she was able to volunteer and travel to Guatemala for a week to provide speech and language services through Hearts and Motion.
Kendall’s primary clinical interests include assessment and treatment of articulation/phonological disorders and voice disorders. Her history as a singer inspired her to pursue this career at 14 years old and she has continued on the path to becoming a speech language pathologist ever since. Besides singing, Kendall enjoys skiing (she was on the WSU ski team), hiking, reading, swimming in the ocean, and searching for the best coffee on the island. She is looking forward to learning more about the culture of Hawai'i and serving those in need of services throughout her career as an SLP.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Essie Jennings, M.A., CCC-SLP
I decided to address you directly as a first time mother. I feel this is my most sacred title: mom. My first name is Essie (sounds like the letters "S" and "E" blended together "SE") but originally my mom named me "Lesley", but my older cousin did not have her "L" sounds in yet and called me "ssseee" and the name stayed. I love helping children and adults talk. When I was little, I talked to trees the most on the playground in Kindergarten. My mom was concerned, but my teacher helped me. I feel that I am called to help others communicate. Whether that be with using their hands (signing), singing, pointing, or just through their facial expression, I want to help them share their thoughts. I started in hospital setting, now I love providing communication intervention across modalities and environments. whether directly at the Wala'au house or your home, let's continue to connect and potentially across the globe.
Schooling: Master's UH Manoa Communication Sciences & Disorders JABSOM
Passions: Faith, parenting, farming, reading and time with the ohana
Field Interests: AAC, sign-language, brain injury, voice