Empowering You to Live Life Abundantly
Built on Aloha
Through her upbringing in a family with generations of fishermen in Kona, Dr. Jodi Leslie Matsuo appreciated being out in nature. In helping with the family business, working outdoors, and living simply, she starting contemplating and recognizing the importance of using natural means to maintain good health - healthy food, daily activity, and time outdoors . Her desire to teach others these lifestyle practices was her instinctive calling.
As Drs. Matsuo and Leslie Matsuo grew academically then professionally, they never forgot their humble beginnings and the values taught to them - aloha (love), lokomaika'i (selflessness), 'ohana (family), and aloha ke Akua. These values fueled their drive to help others, especially as they witnessed the health challenges experienced in their families and their community over the years. Learning the disproportionate burden of disease that existed among the Native Hawaiians and drawing from their life experiences, they understood the need for culturally-compassionate medical care that encompassed healing of the body, mind, and spirit to restore lōkahi - balance - in people's lives.
The Kukui Lifestyle Medicine clinic is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of Drs. Matsuo and Leslie Matsuo, to provide comprehensive health care for all individuals and families in the community. They desired to establish a practice where they could incorporate aloha in all they do and share that aloha with others. A practice that provides culturally-compassionate care. A practice that understands the integral connection between physical, mental, and spiritual health. A practice that recognizes the power of healthy lifestyle habits in bringing about positive health change. A practice that empowers patients to take charge of their health, teaching the skills and providing the support needed to promote lasting change.
A practice that helps you realize that abundant health and happiness can be experienced by all.
Dr. Matsuo was born and raised in Kealakekua. He graduated from University of Hawai’i at Hilo in 2000 with a B.A. in Biology and graduated from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 2002 with a M.S. degree in Physiology. In 2003 he completed the 'Imi Ho'ola Post-Baccalaureate Program and entered the University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine where he received his M.D. in 2007. He completed residency training in Combined Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona in 2011. Dr. Matsuo returned to Kona in 2011 to care for the underserved community and became a physician with the West Hawaii Community Health Center until December 2018. He currently works at KLMC practicing lifestyle medicine and primary care. He enjoys spending time with his family, attending church, yard work, exercising, and enjoys traveling.
Dr. Jodi Leslie Matsuo earned her B.S. degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, M.P.H in Maternal & Child Health and Public Health Nutrition, and her Doctor of Public Health in Community-Based and Translational Research. She has been practicing as a Registered Dietitian for over 15 years, completed a Certificate of Training Program in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, and is a Certified Diabetes Educator. Dr. Leslie Matsuo has worked in a number of clinical, public health, private, non-profit, and academic/research settings. She was privileged to have been provided close mentorship by Dr. Claire Hughes (first Native Hawaiian Dietitian) becoming involved and educated in Native Hawaiian nutrition and health programs and studies, including Traditional Hawaiian Diet studies. Dr. Leslie Matsuo enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family.
Dr. Jodi Leslie Matsuo earned her B.S. degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, M.P.H in Maternal & Child Health and Public Health Nutrition, and her Doctor of Public Health in Community-Based and Translational Research. She has been practici
Our Vision
Individuals and communities living ola lōkahi - physically, mentally, and spiritually
Our Mission
Empowering people to live life abundantly