Kauaians line up for generous offer

LIHU‘E – The phrase, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth” took on significance Friday, Dec. 24 as Sue Budlong of North Shore Dental worked on a patient’s mold for just that.

While other dental offices were dark with signs declaring their closure for Christmas, the offices of Great Smiles Dental and Pacific Eyewear bustled with activity as Dr. Greg Naganuma and Dr. Larry Scherrer hosted their 9th Annual Free CARE Day for island residents who need dental and eye care and have no means of paying for them.

Although the program at one time included foot care as well as free flu shots administered by public health nurses, this year, Dr. Naganuma explained that they couldn’t offer the flu shots due to the nationwide shortage of vaccine. But, that didn’t deter the number of people that turned out to take advantage of the free services.

“We’re a lot busier than we were last year,” said Ursula Torres, one of the receptionists at Pacific Eyewear. Within an hour of opening, Pacific Eyewear had already recorded 38 appointments with more people coming in.

Both doctors’ offices worked on a first-come-first-served basis, and Joanne Naganuma of Great Smiles Dental said when they arrived at 6:30 a.m., there already was a line outside the door for the 7:30 opening.

This scenario, which has become commonplace for the two offices, was also repeated at Pacific Eyewear.

Naganuma explained that this could be that the Kaua‘i Bus was operating on a Saturday schedule, allowing more people to be able to access the services. She noted that during the years that the bus isn’t runnng, the patient count isn’t that high.

Naganuma said that it wasn’t uncommon to have one patient check in for dental work and move around the corner for an eye examination appointment while waiting their turn.

While waiting, many patients spent their time sitting on the sidewalk and curbside, several of them occupying their time on the cell phone making holiday greeting calls to loved ones, while others peered into the darkened offices of Cellfaces.com that was closed for the holiday.

Employees from both offices volunteer their time for the free CARE program, many extending their volunteerism to also include members of their families.

Nicole Kahawai was one of those volunteers as she worked alongside Sue Budlong of North Shore Dental.

Last year, Nicole was doing bell ringing chores at the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle that accepted donations from those patients who wanted to contribute something for the effort being extended by the dentist and eye care offices.

“I still have the bell,” Nicole said proudly. But, this year, due to the amount of work required by Budlong, Nicole’s area of responsibility went from bell ringing to working with the dental lab technician.

Budlong, who has been working with the Kukui Grove doctors since the first year the program was offered, noted that her first year she only had one patient in the four-hour period, and one one year, she actually had no patients, but was more than happy to be able to “get into the room”

Leland Kahawai, Nicole’s dad, took some time off from his First Hawaiian Bank duties to make sure the offices had food. “They’re so busy, they don’t have time to get food,” he said. “So, I just brought them some food. My son, Jordan who goes to Kamehameha Schools is also volunteering in there.”

Chad Naganuma, despite having a tough soccer game against Waimea the night before, was also working in the lab section as he’s done for the nine years the free CARE program has been going on.

Another volunteer was Lynne Yamamoto of Kalaheo who is currently home from Dental Hygiene school. She brought along a friend, David Leung of California, who came to Kaua‘i for a visit.

Meanwhile, the patient’s mold was curing nicely, and Budlong said, “She’ll get her two front teeth.”

Just in time for Christmas.

Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.