KAPA‘A — Shirley Rawlins, originally from Kaunakakai, Moloka‘i, had all the family she needed, Friday during the 95th anniversary lu‘au for the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa‘a. Rawlins is one of the hospital’s Long Term Care residents which is
KAPA‘A — Shirley Rawlins, originally from Kaunakakai, Moloka‘i, had all the family she needed, Friday during the 95th anniversary lu‘au for the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa‘a.
Rawlins is one of the hospital’s Long Term Care residents which is part of the Mahelona Hospital ‘ohana.
“She doesn’t have family here and it costs so much for her family to fly here from Moloka‘i, we ‘adopted’ her,” said one of the guests who was visiting family, Friday.
Alice Hall, representing Bruce Anderson, president and CEO for Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp., said Mahelona Hospital is a gem within their hospital system and epitomizes the rural health care it expects of all of its properties.
The ‘Ohana concept extends beyond the hospital’s walls as Josie Pablo, the hospital’s recreation director, had her family involved in all phases of the hospital’s calendar. Pablo’s husband, Jamie, designing the special commemorative shirt which joined the collection of special shirts being offered by Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary members.
“I’m doing one hula,” said Veronica Pablo, Josie’s daughter who holds several scholarship queen titles. “Just because she’s my mother, and she asked.”
Veronia took the stage, accompanied by impromptu performances by hospital residents as Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. offered a Hawaiian rendition following his congratulatory remarks.
Started in 1917, Mahelona Hospital was one of the first hospitals on Kaua‘i, built as a memorial to Samuel Mahelona, son of Emma Kauikeolani Napoleon Mahelona Wilcox, wife of Albert Wilcox.
The young Samuel passed away from tuberculosis and the hospital, located then where the senior housing is now situated, served tuberculosis patients on the island.
In 1951, the current hospital building was constructed, and with the cure of tuberculosis, Mahelona Hospital began focusing on long term care needs and started admitting patients with acute mental illness.
A separate psychiatric unit was opened in 1983 and in 1996, the hospital became part of the Kaua‘i Region of Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp., joining the West Kaua‘i Medical Center, including the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital and the West Kaua‘i Clinics in Kalaheo, Port Allen and Waimea as part of HHSC.
Being part of HHSC brought many benefits, including upgraded technology such as teleradiography, telemedicine, video teleconferencing and advanced clinical information systems.
In 2006, Mahelona Medical Center continued to change to meet the needs of the community, opening its 24-hour Emergency Department in December, 2005, with five acute care beds.
Today, more than 5,000 patients are cared for by the Emergency department, annually.
In celebration of its 95th anniversary, Jean Littler, celebrating her 93rd birthday, headlined 10 residents who are in their 90s, including Atsushi Yasutake who will celebrate his 99th birthday, Aug. 21.
Charles Tanigawa is 97, Koon Ye Ching is 97, Leonora Schies is 97, Yoichi Arita is 95, Vera Holland is 95, Eulalia Castaneda is 93, Tama Pinney is 91 and Rosendo Passion enjoyed her 90th birthday, July 12.
Josie said the Friday lu‘au is possible only due to the help she got from all of the Mahelona Hospital staff and departments, starting with Ornellas who, in addition to providing the two anniversary cakes and prizes for the Hula Hoop contest, was on the planning committee along with Colleen McCracken, Sharla Hasegawa, Valerie Caminos, Jennifer Mariano.
Entertainment was headlined by Skipper Caycayon and friends, Pearl Shimizu who coordinates the hospital’s bon dance, and JoAnn Ho Parongao and the Tsunami Taiko students who performed the special dragon dance, coinciding with the HHSC theme.
Ken Yasutake and Jamie Yasutake provided the tropical flowers and protea, George and Yvonne Mukai, in addition to their help through the hospital auxiliary, added more flowers, along with Alice Taogoshi. Growing Greens offered potted plants and Mike Dandurand of Kustom Sounds came up with the hula hoops and the bubble machine.
Aimee Leong donated Aloha Sweet Delites cookies for the goodie bags and Teddy and Queenie Daligdig coordinated the 95 pigeons which took flight for the celebration.
Visit www.smmh.hhsc.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
