Our Team of Addiction and Mental Health Experts
All our Honu House Hawaii addiction counselors and mental health experts are highly trained drug and alcohol recovery specialists.
Our compassionate team of professionals are dedicated to providing the best possible care to our clients in a safe and supportive environment where our clients can overcome addiction and heal completely.
We work closely with our clients to create individualized drug and alcohol treatment plans that address each client’s unique needs and goals.
Honu House Hawaii’s all-inclusive recovery team includes licensed therapists, certified addiction counselors, medical doctors, nurses, and other healthcare and wellness professionals who are experts in their respective fields.
John Burke
John Burke is founder and co-owner of Honu House Hawaii. Before getting sober, John was a chronic relapser. He slowly learned that “self-knowledge availed him nothing.” After more than a decade in recovery, he learned the true meaning of surrender and helped form Honu House Hawaii. John’s lengthy experience in 12 step based programs has helped create a new foundation for everyone to succeed in their recovery. He believes that it is only after an ultimate act of humility, self-sacrifice, and surrender, that we can begin to live freely. John now devotes his life to his passion for helping others find freedom from addiction.
Nick Terry
Meet Nick Terry, an accomplished author, certified life coach, and breathwork practitioner dedicated to helping individuals find long-term recovery and personal growth. With a profound understanding of addiction and mental health, Nick has spent over nine years working in the field of addiction and mental health treatment.
After overcoming his own struggles with addiction and achieving sobriety in 2014, Nick discovered the transformative power of breathwork. He has since become a fervent advocate and teacher of breathwork, sharing its benefits with the residents of Honu House Hawaii, a therapeutic wellness recovery program that he co-founded.
Nick firmly believes that deep breathing techniques can play a pivotal role in regulating the nervous system, providing individuals with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse challenges a pathway to explore the underlying causes of these conditions.
In addition to his expertise in breathwork, Nick is deeply passionate about cold water immersion therapy. This natural practice enables individuals to effectively manage stress, boost dopamine levels, and regulate mood and inflammation.
Through his diverse experiences and comprehensive knowledge, Nick Terry TNT offers a unique and holistic approach to personal transformation, supporting individuals on their journey towards sustainable recovery, mental well-being, and overall vitality.
Meet The Honu House Hawaii Team
Lead Therapist/Program Director
I am excited to join the Honu House team as Primary Therapist and Program Director. I have had the tremendous pleasure of knowing both John and Nick through their recovery journeys and am honored to help build a treatment program that reflects our collective passion for compassionate, integrative care to support the healing of the whole person. I have had the privilege of helping people who are struggling with addiction for over a decade and adhere to the wisdom that it is pain, suffering and trauma that compel people to use substances and behaviors addictively. When we address the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual conditions that created the vulnerability for addiction, a resilient and enduring recovery becomes possible. I look forward to partnering with you, or your loved one in this journey of discovery and recovery!
Deep Sea Boat Captain
Captain Craig Hawkins has been fishing, surfing and diving in the Hawaiian Islands for over 30 years. Raised in Capistrano Beach, California, Craig dedicated his growing years to surfing and fishing the Southern California and Baja California coastlines, frequenting places like San Quintin, Todos Santos, Blacks, Trestles and Beach Road. In 1986 Craig set his sights on the Hawaiian Islands. Craig currently operates out of world famous Honokohau Harbor in Kailua-Kona, and specializes in daily trips for tourists and locals alike. Living on the rugged and beautiful Kona Coast has become a way of life for Craig, and he considers the opportunity to share his knowledge and experiences a true gift. Visit his website here.
Doctor in Acupanture
Dr. April Johnston is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, a board-certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine and a licensed acupuncturist who helps reorient patients towards better health using individualized combinations of acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy and connective tissue work. Dr. Johnston is a lifelong learner, completing hospital externships in China and two years of additional mentored herbal medicine training outside of her formal acupuncture studies. Her prior work as a research scientist and equine fascial therapist grounded her in the crossroads of science and patient care. She uses an integrative evidence-based approach to inform her clinical work in traditional healing methods to help patients with very challenging conditions restore their health. Dr. Johnston is an avid scuba diver, competitive swimmer, and equestrian in Kailua Kona, Hawai’i. You can email her at info@bigislandorientalmedicine.com or go to www.bigislandorientalmedicine.com to contact Dr. Johnston.
Medical Director
Kristina Roberts N.D. is the founder and medical director of Kona Integrative Health. She utilizes a functional medicine approach that combines the best of both conventional and alternative medicine to provide proactive and effective health solutions for her patients. IV Therapy: Intravenous (IV) therapy is a safe and effective treatment for numerous conditions as it allows for 100% absorption of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Formulas are custom made for each individual utilizing nutrients such as vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, glutathione, amino acids, and much more.
Manager/Therapist
Case manager Gary Jaster is both a student and teacher of creating self-empowerment through everyday conscious choices that break through both perceived and unconscious barriers to living authentic and fulfilling lives. Gary is living his passion by “teaching what he needs to learn and reinforce in himself” with both individuals and groups; through his work with men’s groups, domestic violence offenders, those struggling with addiction and codependency, and anyone seeking to live a life of honesty, integrity, accountability, and conscious choice.
RN
Alyssa Heenanis our Registered Nurse on Staff. She over sees medication management and provides 1-1 medical needs for our residents. Alyssa specializes in IV therapy and provides infusions for our residents needing Meyers cocktails, Super Enriched Vitamins, NAD and others.
Massage Therapist/Herbal Detox Wraps
An Herbal Detox Wrap uses a blend of locally sourced medicinal herbs that are allies in detoxing the body. With our skin being the largest organ in the body, the medicinal properties of the tea are directly absorbed into the bloodstream facilitating detoxification. The application of heat alongside medicinal herbs stimulates the circulatory system allowing all that is being detoxed to effectively be eliminated. During this session a decoction is made with the herbs, a sheet is then soaked in the tea and heated up to the perfect temperature. From there the sheet will then be placed on your body and you will be wrapped up in thermal blankets, so heat is retained. This herbal wrap will leave you feeling brand new & replenished!
Massage and Yoga Therapist
Finding yoga in 2010 was Christine’s initiation to living a holistic life.
Rooted in Ghosh lineage, she completed a teacher training in 2015 at BYTT and in 2021 a teacher training with e84 yoga.
In 2019 she graduated from The Aloha Massage Academy in Kealakekua, specializing in Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. She enjoys using both yoga and massage as healing modalities to reset the body, clear the mind, and deepen our connection to self.