LIHU‘E — Do you know where your heart is? A shy hand moved uncertainly to a chest, eyes searching for approval Saturday. That look of anxiety blossomed into a smile as the correct answer yielded a premium at the Kids
LIHU‘E — Do you know where your heart is? A shy hand moved uncertainly to a chest, eyes searching for approval Saturday.
That look of anxiety blossomed into a smile as the correct answer yielded a premium at the Kids Summer Fest coordinated by the Wilcox Health Bone and Joint Center and the Pediatric Department at Kaua‘i Medical Clinic.
“We had at least 600 registered, but we always allow for walk-ins,” said Lani Yukimura of the Wilcox Health system.
The 2009 event reportedly saw more than 800 keiki take advantage of the free community health service.
Ronald McDonald was on hand, freely dispensing high-fives to keiki coming off the registration line, and later moving into the workshop area, heartily congratulating winners at the 20 different activity workshops centering around health and wellness for young people.
Tucker, the therapy dog from the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children, was also available for keiki to visit with. The dog visits pediatric patients at the Honolulu-based hospital, helping them recover, assisting them with physical therapy, and just being a friend.
“It’s so good to see parents bringing their children to this event on young people’s health and wellness,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “An event like this not only teaches about health and wellness, it helps develop and strengthen relationships between parents and their children.”
Carvalho said the county is always looking for ways to better connect the young people, parents and kupuna.
Drs. Heather Hopkins and New Sang co-chaired the event that drew on the volunteerism of young people from 4-H Club, the Kaua‘i Community College Nursing Department, and the Kaua‘i High School cross country team whose task was to run water to the different stations that were inundated with young people, eager for information and prizes.
One parent said his high school student was planning on playing sports when school resumes so being able to get a free physical examination, a pre-requisite of high school sports, was reason enough to participate in the event.
“The pediatricians are partnering with the Bone and Joint staff in seeing kids ages 5 through 18 for free sports physicals on a first-come, first-served basis today,” the co-chair said in the event directory. “The Pediatric staff at Kaua‘i Medical Clinic are dedicated to keeping children safe and healthy, specializing in treating a wide variety of diseases from ADHD to asthma, from diabetes to seizures.”
The basis of the Kids Summer Fest is to prepare kids for the variety of summer sports and activities, said Dr. Kalani Brady, the education outreach spokesperson for Hawai‘i Pacific Health who served as emcee for the event, stopping to chat with representatives of the 20 stations on what each offered.
“We are happy to provide opportunities to learn about staying safe and healthy from some of the experts in the community,” the event chairs said.
In addition to the plethora of prizes and literature, young people visiting at least nine of the stations became eligible for a drawing for a new bicycle and helmet. Each registered keiki also received a free snack box containing a balanced healthy snack and a recyclable shopping bag.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
