Lena was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Hawai’i Pacific University, cum laude, in 1989. She attended BYU - Hawai'i and is an alumnus of BYU in Provo, Utah. She joined the Health Center in 1990, after working for many years at Doctors On Call in Waikiki as a Japanese translator/receptionist and later as a nurse. Lena certified in College Health in 1991.

She served in the Okayama, Japan Mission and is married to Warren. They have three children, Michaela, Nevyn and Kawai. When not being mom, Lena enjoys genealogy work, going on family vacations and exploring her creative side with home decorating.