Sometimes a person’s dream vacation to Kaua‘i does not turn out as expected. It might rain, or they might get sunburned, or a tourist might get lost. But when a crime or an unexpected death occurs to a visitor, Kaua‘i
Sometimes a person’s dream vacation to Kaua‘i does not turn out as expected. It might rain, or they might get sunburned, or a tourist might get lost.
But when a crime or an unexpected death occurs to a visitor, Kaua‘i residents reach out the hand of aloha to help turn a nightmare vacation around.
The Visitor Aloha Society of Kaua‘i and the Kaua‘i Hospice Emergency Beeper Team, two volunteer-driven organizations, give time, energy and support to the Mali‘hini who are faced with harsh reality in a beautiful island setting.
The Visitor Aloha Society, headed Robin Pratt, the Executive Director, is contacted by an individual who is the victim of a crime, Pratt said. When a tourist is a victim of a crime, usually theft, they receive a brochure from KPD, and at their leisure, they contact the non-profit group.
“We become a friend while they’re here,” said Pratt. “We listen. A lot of times, they just want somebody to listen.”
When a person’s luggage or items are stolen, the Visitor Aloha trained volunteer on call gets local businesses to donate services in times of need. They also help cancel credit cards, help with plane reservations when a plane ticket is stolen, perhaps even get the visitors a meal if the situation warrants it. They have been known to play tour guide on occasions as well, giving advice on places to go on island, Pratt said.
“It really varies,” said Pratt. “We provide assistance in a number of ways.”
“We provide more of a local sense to the islands,” said Pratt. “It’s what Kaua‘i is all about – spreading aloha. It will hopefully turn people’s ideas around about Kaua‘i” after being the victim of a crime.
The Society receives about 35 calls per month, Pratt said, although there have been as many as 50 calls a month this year. The volunteers number about twenty, but others are encouraged.
“We always need more people to assist, who really care about people,” said Pratt. Anyone interested call Pratt at 246-0506.
When a visitor dies unexpectedly, the hospitals, KPD, or Kaua‘i Fire Department contact the Kaua‘i Hospice Emergency Beeper Team, who come running to provide support.
“We provide very hands-on, practical support,” said Phil Clark, Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Hospice. “We go into the environment and just be present, help” anyway they can.
The team, led by Gina Kaulukukui, also provides support for kama‘aina. The beeper team helps a person or a family take care of the important details that most people don’t normally encounter, such as autopsies, travel, organ donation, or even directions to the morgue, said Clark.
“We not only provide emotional support; we link up with community resources for the logistical things,” Kaulukukui said.
A volunteer, on call 24 hours a day, usually meets the grieving family members at the hospital, Clark said.
From there, it depends on the situation. But, the caring just doesn’t stop on Kaua‘i. When back on the Mainland, visitors can continue to receive calls from volunteers on birthdays and anniversaries, just to make sure the grieving process is moving along.
“We just do a pulse check, see how people are doing,” said Clark, adding that the team also helps tourists get support counseling at their home. They set up grief counseling for locals, too.
The volunteers go through various aspects of training, from bereavement and emergency training, to hospital overviews, Clark said.
“It grew out of the community of Kaua‘i, seeing the gap (in care for a family survivor) and responding to it,” he said.
Beginning in 1989, the hospice started to receive a number of calls to support families vacationing on Kauai when a family member died unexpectedly, Clark said.
“Frequently the calls came from the Wilcox Emergency Room staff requesting that someone come immediately to the ER to meet the ambulance at the door and receive the devastated family members,” he added.
“Realizing the need, we approached the Hospital to formalize a relationship based on meeting the needs of the ER staff to ensure that these visitors were offered emotional and practical support. We offered to develop a team of staff and volunteers to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Since the Spring of 1992, our Emergency Bereavement Support Service has been available to families when someone dies suddenly,” said Clark.
Currently, Kaulukukui is the only staff member (although she has a back-up), and 4 or 5 volunteers take the beeper for overnights and weekends, Clark said. A volunteer would usually take a week at a time, while Kaulukukui is on call as a back-up for the volunteers, he said.
“It is an incredibly unique program, not only in the state, but internationally as well,” said Clark, adding that Kaulukukui has been asked to speak on the program as far away as Belgium.
Staff writer Tom Finnegan can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226)
