For the average Kaua‘i resident, a day at the beach is something that is easily taken for granted. But for 40 residential patients of Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital who were graciously bestowed with the rare opportunity to leave the confines
For the average Kaua‘i resident, a day at the beach is something that is easily taken for granted.
But for 40 residential patients of Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital who were graciously bestowed with the rare opportunity to leave the confines of the norm and bask in the sprightly essence of summer, a day at the beach was not only a dream come true, but also a chance to participate in a distinctly unique program.
A staple of the hospital’s agenda of annual ventures, the celebrated beach outing, held twice a year during the summer months, is currently the only one of its kind in the state, according to a hospital spokesperson.
“We are and always have been the only hospital statewide who hosts this type of program,” said Josie Pablo, recreational therapist at Mahelona and co-coordinator of the event.
“Of course, being that there are so few pristine beaches available elsewhere in the states, there is also a good possibility that we may be the only hospital to provide this type of program nationwide. But that remains to be seen.”
About half of the 40 patients who first gathered in the main pavilion at Lydgate Park earlier this week were slowly wheeled out to the manmade pond one by one and in pairs, in two, large, state-of-the-art, gray beach wheelchairs.
Mahelona staff and auxiliary members, volunteers, Kaua‘i Community College nursing students, advisors, and family members assisted the patients into the water, fitting them with life vests and decorative lounging floating devices in the process.
Though seemingly reluctant to leave the shore, once in the fluid expanse, the patients lost all sense of worry or care, squealing in delight, splashing around, showing “shaka,” and smiling from ear to ear.
For Julia Paik, a residential patient at Mahelona, being able to spend time soaking up the calm water was a chance to reminisce about her earlier years when she used to reside in a beach house directly across from ‘Anini Beach Park, according to several Mahelona staff members.
For another Mahelona patient, Shirley Rawlins, who was transferred from a Moloka‘i care home to Mahelona Hospital due to a lack of room, the beach outing was the first time she had ever been to a beach.
“This year, we have a big turn out,” beamed Pablo. “When JoAnne Noone (a KCC nursing instructor) and I first began the program about 18 years ago, there were only 10 patients present. Now, the number has quadrupled,” Pablo said.
“And the number of workers and volunteers have increased as well. We have people from the Mahelona Recreational Therapy Department, Mahelona Physical Therapy Department, Mahelona grounds staff, Mahelona Auxiliary, students from KCC’s nursing program, and the families of the patients,” she added.
“The only volunteers we are missing today are the Boy Scouts, who were our first partners when we began this program. But, unfortunately, they had another commitment to attend to.”
Aiding in the beach outing for the third consecutive year, were the students of the KCC nursing program and KCC Nursing Club. Under the watchful eye of advisors Noone, Mary Jo Sweeney, and Maria Fabro, the 16 students in attendance attended to the patient’s every need.
According to Sweeney, the students had a full day helping the patients prepare for their day of fun. “This morning after they arrived at Mahelona at 7, the students fed the patients, made sure they took their medicine, helped load them onto the buses, and helped the staff with any remaining responsibilities, before coming to the event.”
The students, who began their summer session of schooling on Monday, go through a rigorous curriculum and training for their anticipated chosen profession.
“The students have one day of theory classes, three days of clinical studies, and one day of teaching and learning sessions, so it’s a relief for them to participate in these types of hands-on programs,” said Sweeney.
“They are able to witness and learn first hand how the nursing profession can be integrated into the community and the public. All in all, it is definitely a good learning experience, and the students enjoy it very much.”
Also regular participants in this program are the nursing students of the Okinawan Prefecture College, who have participated in the second of the two annual beach outing events for three years as well. According to Noone, the Okinawan students were the first nursing students to be involved with the project.
“Actually, we had a four-year contract with them, but they were not able to make it here the first year. Luckily, ever since then, they have been coming to the event.”
Although there are a multitude of people who have contributed greatly to the success of the program year after year, if it had not been for generous donations of different modes of transportation, the program would not have been able to flourish, Pablo said.
“Being that the program has continuously grown in size, we have also had a continual difficulty transporting the patients to and from the beach,” said Pablo.
“Thankfully, The Kaua‘i Bus has leant its support, and provided us with three buses to transport the 40 patients for today’s event. Also, we are blessed to have received a donation of two state-of-the-art, gray beach wheelchairs, expensive health-care equipment, costing $2,700 apiece, provided by funding of the Visitor Industry Charity Walk and the Mahelona Auxiliary,” continued Pablo.
The next beach outing will be Wednesday, Aug. 10, and will kick off a string of other Mahelona events during the month of August, including an Admission Day lu‘au and Kaua‘i’s official last bon dance of the year.
