KAPAA — The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Kauai Region hosted its second Kauai Healthy Living fair on Saturday, and the people came to the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital campus.
The HHSC Kauai Region whose umbrella covers the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, the Mahelona Hospital, The Clinic at Waimea, The Clinic at Port Allen, The Clinic at Kalaheo, The Specialty Clinic at Kalaheo, The Clinic at Poipu/Urgent Care at Poipu, and The Clinic at Kapaa brought out the people of all ages to the fair where Dylan Ancheta of Hawaii News Now returned for a guest stint at emcee-ing the event that covered three big tents, and the Kauai Fire Department Fire House.
HHSC Kauai Region president and CEO Lance Segawa greeted guests next to the Master Mahelona Community Plan, which Segawa described as a 20-year project.
Certain parts of the master plan have work already starting because they are scheduled to open soon. He said the current federal government fund freezing and firings have not impacted the HHSC properties directly yet. However, the management team is keeping a close eye on federal developments to adjust accordingly if the need arises.
Part of the improvements will be Mahelona Hospital getting a Family Birth Center similar to the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital facility, said a staff member from the birth center who was engaged with a visitor who was born in Waimea and still has the keepsake shirt KVMH presented her with upon entering the world.
Kapaa High School Health Academy students showed up to participate to overcome their shyness about working with people. Their instructor and advisor, Kara Kitamura, said there are plans to have a fair similar to the Kauai Healthy Living, where the health academies from all the other schools get together in a central location.
Students from the Kauai Community College Nursing program developed an eBike safety exhibit that only debuted during the Kauai Healthy Living Fair. “
“They worked on this before people started getting injured and even dying,” said one of the class instructors. “This is proactive, not reactive.”
Frank Cruz with Cruz Control got help from Taiko Kauai with the day’s entertainment, and Ancheta said he was given the details for the KVMH event later in the fall.
