University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Skip Breadcrumb

Last updated on Wednesday, November 29, 2023    Make updates ->

Monica  Esquivel

Name :

Monica Esquivel

Title :

Associate Professor and Dietetics Program Director

Unit :

Department of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences

Address :

1955 East West Rd.
                  Honolulu, HI 96822

Room :

Ag Sciences Building 314L

Phone :

(808) 956-8691

E-mail :

monicake@hawaii.edu

Specialties :

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, community based participatory nutrition, child health promotion, food and nutrition security

Professional Prep/Appointments :


PhD- Nutrition
University of Hawaii- Manoa

MS-Nutrition
California State University Northridge

BS- Nutrition/Dietetics
San Diego State University


Projects :


Multi-State Project W2194. Children's Healthy Living Network (CHLN) in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Region

Produce Prescription Program Evaluations

Traditional and New Lifestyle Interventions for Breast Cancer Recurrence Prevention

Grow Eat Think (GET) Local: Farm to School POW 14-243

Children's Healthy Living Program - Food Systems Resiliency (Extension and Outreach)

Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Training Program (https://mchnutritionpartners.ucla.edu/)


Courses:


FSHN 467 (Medical Nutrition Therapy 1)
FSHN 468 (Medical Nutrition Therapy 2)
FSHN 492 (Field Experience)
FSHN 667 (Supervised Practice for Dietetics)


Extension Interests :


Community food access and health
Child health
Childhood obesity prevention
Dietetics, education
Interprofessional education in Health


Publications :


Fialkowski MK, Aflague TF, Esquivel MK. A Reminder to Nutrition Researchers: Disaggregate Data on Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders From Asian Americans. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2023;55(9):691-692. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2023.06.008


Aflague TF, Hammond K, Delos Reyes B, et al. Barriers, Facilitators, and Strategies for Developing a Culturally Informed Lifestyle Intervention for Native Hawaiian, CHamoru, and Filipino Breast Cancer Survivors: Mixed-Methods Findings from Focus Group Participants. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(12):6075. doi:10.3390/ijerph20126075


Esquivel MK, Aflague TF, Yamanaka AB, et al. Children’s Dietary Intake by Early Care and Education Setting in the US Affiliated Pacific. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2023.03.002


Aflague TF, Esquivel MK, Hammond K, Delos Reyes B, Kaholokula JK. Traditional and new lifestyle interventions to prevent breast cancer recurrence (TANICA): a qualitative study. Support Care Cancer. 2023;31(4):218. doi:10.1007/s00520-023-07663-0


Esquivel M, Higa A, Guidry A, Shelton C, Okihiro M. A Qualitative Study on the Motivators, Barriers and Supports to Participation in a Pediatric Produce Prescription Program in Hawai‘i. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(24):16682. doi:10.3390/ijerph192416682


Novotny, R., Yamanaka, A. B., Dela Cruz, R., Strasburger, S., Boushey, C. J., Butel, J., Esquivel, M., Aflague, T. F., Fleming, T., Coleman, P., Deenik, J., Shallcross, L., & Wilkens, L. R. (2022). Food group, macronutrient intake and metabolic status in the US-Affiliated Pacific’s Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program. The Journal of Nutrition, nxac173. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxac173


Fialkowski, M. K., Sandlin, M. R., Kai, J., Ng-Osorio, J., Custodio, R. C., Odom, S. K., Boyd, J. K., Medina, C., Takahashi, D., & Esquivel, M. K. (2022). An Exploratory Mixed Method Cross-sectional Study to Identify Opportunities to Increase Enrollment and Retention of Native Hawaiian Students in an Undergraduate Dietetic Program. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.08.127


Joo, K. A., Fialkowski, M. K., Esquivel, M., & Haumea, S. L. (2022). Hawai‘i Registered Dietitian Nutritionist 2019-2020 Workforce Assessment. Hawai’i Journal of Health & Social Welfare, 81(4 Suppl 2), 31–38.


Esquivel, M. K. (2022). Nutrition Benefits and Considerations for Whole Foods Plant-Based Eating Patterns. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 16(3), 284–290. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276221075992


Esquivel, M. K. (2022). Addressing Food Insecurity to Optimize Nutritional Status. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 16(2), 173–175. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276211062886


Esquivel, M. K. (2022). Probiotics for Mental Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Trials. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 16(1), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276211049178


Olfert MD, Hagedorn-Hatfield RL, Houghtaling B, Esquivel M, et al. Struggling with the basics: food and housing insecurity among college students across twenty-two colleges and universities. Journal of American College Health. 2021;0(0):1-12. doi:10.1080/07448481.2021.1978456


Eng S, Khun T, Esquivel M, Ooki N, Bloese J, Sand S, Lincoln NE. Farmers' perceived needs of extension’s support during COVID-19 in Hawaii. Journal of Extension. 2021; 59 (2). 


Esquivel MK. Nutrition for Pregnant and Lactating Women: The Latest Recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 and Practice Implications. Am J Lifestyle Medicine. March 2021.


Hagedorn RL, Olfert MD, MacNell L, Houghtaling B, Hood LB, Savoie Roskos MR, Goetz JR, Kerns-Lyons V, Knol LL, Mann GR, Esquivel MK, Hege A, Walsh J, Person K, Berner M, Soldavini J, Anderson-Reeves E, Spence M, Paul C, Waity JF, Wall-Bassett ED, Hingle MD, Kelly EB, Lillis JP, Coleman P, Fontenot, M. (2021). College Student Sleep Quality and Mental and Physical Health are Associated with Food Insecurity in a Multi-Campus Study. Public Health Nutrition, 1-23. doi:10.1017/S1368980021001191


Esquivel MK. Energy Balance Dynamics: Exercise, Appetite, Diet and Weight Control. Am J Lifestyle Medicine. 4 Feb 2021.


Esquivel MK. Nutrition Strategies for Reducing Risk of Burnout Among Physicians and Health Care Professionals. Am J Lifestyle Medicine. 2 Dec 2020.


Greenberg JA, Luick B, Alfred JM, Barber LR, Bersamin A, Coleman P, Esquivel M, Fleming T, Leon Guerrero RT, Hollyer J, Lorring Johnson E, Novotny R, Remengesau S, Yamanaka A. The affordability of a thrifty food plan-based market basket in the United States-affiliated Pacific Region. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare. 2020 79(7). 


Esquivel MK, Higa A, Hitchens M, Shelton C, Okihiro M. Keiki produce prescription (KPRx) program feasibility study to reduce food insecurity and obesity risk. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare. 2020; 79(5). 


McElfish PA, Purvis RS, Esquivel MK, Sinclair KA, Townsend Ing C, Hawley NL, Haggard-Duff LK, Kaholokula JK. Diabetes disparities and promising interventions to address diabetes in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Curr Diab Rep. 2019 Mar 18;19(5):19. doi: 10.1007/s11892-019-1138-1.


McElfish PA, Yeary K, Sinclair KA, Steelman S, Esquivel M, Aitaoto N, Kaholokula K, Purvis RS, Ayers BL. Best practices for community-engaged research with Pacific Islander communities in the US and USAPI: A scoping review. J of Health Care for Poor and Underserved. 2019: 30(4).


McElfish PA, Ayers B, Purvis R, Long CR, Sinclair K, Esquivel M, Steelman S. Best practices for community-engaged participatory research with Pacific Islander communities in the USA and USAPI: protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2018; 8 (1).


Esquivel M. Nutritional Assessment and Intervention to Prevent and Treat Malnutrition for Fall Risk Reduction in Elderly Populations. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2018: 12 (2).


Esquivel MK. Probiotics for mental health: A review of recent clinical trials. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 


Esquivel MK, Fialkowski MK, Aflague T, Novotny R. Engaging Head Start Teachers on Wellness Policy Implementation to Improve the Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Head Start Classrooms: A Qualitative Study of the Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL) in Hawai‘i. Journal of Family Medicine and Community Health. 2016.

 

Esquivel MK, Nigg C, Fialkowski MK, Braun K, Li F, Novotny R. Head Start Wellness Policy Intervention in Hawai‘i: A project of the Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL). Childhood Obesity. 2016; 12 (1).


Esquivel MK, Nigg C, Fialkowski JK, Braun K, Li F, Novotny R. Influence of teachers’ personal health behaviors on operationalizing obesity prevention policy in Head Start preschools: A project of the Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL). Journal for Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2016; 48 (5).