Happy Camper for Feb. 29, 2016

Happy Leap Year!

The calendar made Jamie Panoy and Myra Ornellas work an extra day before retiring from the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. Today is their final day of work.

Panoy has been serving the hospital’s Housekeeping Department for nearly 24 years, and Ornellas leaves as the hospital’s administrator after nearly 35 years of service. Liza Cabal-Trinidad was on hand during the employees’ farewell luncheon to learn the ropes from Myra.

Elaine Morita made it a point to come and have fun, and Gloria Shimizu created a memorable quilt with sentiments from the employees, and Josie Pablo said the residents will do their own farewell event apart from the employees.

Placido Valenciano was chatting with Sharla Hasegawa, and Myra said she’ll help Betty Matsumura with the planning of the hospital’s 100th anniversary, now that she’s retired.

She was moved to tears when Sheila Ventura showed up, triggering memories of how Myra was hired right out of nursing school with only a temporary license.

Kudos to Steve Kline (he has an office at Mahelona Hospital now) on being featured as the occupational therapist on the cover of “Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners,” the national resource for OTs.

•••

Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.