Lydia Kite

Lydia Kite is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of Student Affairs in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Hawaii Pacific University’s Graduate College of Health Sciences. She plays a key role in developing the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program and mentoring students in clinical and community-based practice.

Her educational background includes an OTD and MS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences and a BA in Psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Dr. Kite's research and clinical interests focus on improving quality of life for adults with neurological and orthopedic conditions, as well as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is passionate about community integration, injury prevention, and creating sustainable partnerships between academic programs and community day programs. She is a certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS) and works as an onsite injury prevention specialist.

Her professional work bridges clinical practice, academic leadership, and community engagement, particularly in outpatient rehabilitation and adult day programs like The Arc. She also treats patients in outpatient settings and contributes to interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams.

• Director of Student Affairs, OTD Program
• Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)
• Onsite Injury Prevention Specialist
• Active clinician in adult rehabilitation

Dr. Kite is involved in program development and student mentorship within the OTD program at HPU. While no formal grants or funded research projects are mentioned, her capstone project focused on building sustainable relationships with community organizations serving adults with disabilities, indicating a strong commitment to applied, service-oriented scholarship.

She is affiliated with community programs such as The Arc and works across multiple clinical settings including skilled nursing, subacute, long-term acute, and outpatient rehabilitation. Her work emphasizes accessibility, client-centered care, and lifelong support systems for vulnerable populations.