WAILUA — Seventeen nursing students from Okinawa Prefecture College in Japan made a big splash recently with the long-term-care patients of Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, abetting attentive hospital staff members at the hospital’s second beach outing held this year at
WAILUA — Seventeen nursing students from Okinawa Prefecture College in Japan made a big splash recently with the long-term-care patients of Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, abetting attentive hospital staff members at the hospital’s second beach outing held this year at Lydgate Park.
The students, in the midst of their second-week stay on Kaua‘i to garner hands-on experience in the American health-care system, giggled with delight and exulted as patients, some feistier than others, enjoyed themselves in their picturesque surroundings.
“When they first got here, they were all traditional Japanese-style,” laughed Kaua‘i Community College science instructor and program coordinator Brian Yamamoto. “They were all shy and quiet, and didn’t say much. Now, look at them, they’re more open and having a blast. And the way they pick up English so fast is amazing.”
The nursing students spent one week on O‘ahu before arriving for a two-week stay on Kaua‘i. “They’ve come to Kaua‘i to improve their English and compare the differences between the Japanese and American health-care systems,” noted Yamamoto. “So far, during their stay on Kaua‘i, they’ve visited hospitals, sat through lectures, and now they’re here because they wanted to help.
“Many of them are second-year college students,” continued Yamamoto. “They’ve taken English classes at Kaua‘i Community College (KCC), and massage classes, because they believe in the hands-on approach in the medical field. They’re even learning a bit about holistic medicine. Tomorrow we are going to pay a visit to the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), to go walking and have a discussion,” he explained.
“I’m even going to shampoo one of the girls’ hair with ginger. When they heard about the plant’s ability to produce a sudsy-like substance that could be used to shampoo hair during a lecture, they got all excited and couldn’t believe it. So I told them that I would show them.”
While this is a first time venture out of Japan for most of the students in this year’s group, since the beginning of the nursing-exchange program five years ago, there have been no returnees.
“Every year the college sends us new students,” added Yamamoto. “Which is good because every year a new group of students are able to enjoy a new experience in their field. And of course, the beauty of Kaua‘i.”
Yamamoto, is also KCC’s group-tour coordinator, who plans guided tours to Japan for interested KCC students. “It’s neat because the Kaua‘i students from KCC are able to go to Japan for two weeks, and learn about their culture there,” explained Yamamoto. “Now that’s what you call a cultural exchange, even if it is two separate programs.”
Also on hand to assist Mahelona staff members was none other than five-year volunteer Veronica Pablo, daughter of Mahelona long-term-care administrator Josie Pablo.
The Lydgate Beach outing marked Veronica Pablo’s last stint as a volunteer with the hospital, which has been an integral part of her life. “I am going to miss everyone so much,” expressed Veronica Pablo.
“It’s so sad. I’ve known most of the patients for years, and have developed friendships with them,” said Veronica Pablo, a member of the Kapa‘a High School Class of 2005 who has left Kaua‘i to study at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
“I have seen them go through things like sickness, and seeing them get better. I’m lucky to have at least one more chance to spend time with them,” she said.
“In fact, this is my fourth year helping out at the Lydgate-beach outing. I enjoy it a lot, and they’re all so cute and funny,” she said of the senior citizens.
She is attending UH to get her first two years of classes completed, then plans to transfer to another university whose leaders offer an orthodontist-training program.
“I think my leaving is going to be even harder for my mom,” admitted Pablo. “After all, I am the oldest, and this will be a first-time experience for her. It will be a different experience for the both of us. It shouldn’t be too bad, though, because I’ll be on the next island, and my parents go up to O‘ahu regularly.”
The mother-and-daughter duo participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk. “My mom asked me to join her just this morning,” said Pablo. “And I said I would be glad to do it.”
A California resident, washing off the sand from her toes, congratulated Mahelona staff and volunteers on a job well done. “I think this program is so wonderful,” beamed the Kaua‘i visitor. “It’s just fantastic what you here on Kaua‘i are doing.”
Other even volunteers included KCC staff, KCC nursing students, and a handful of active Boy Scout members, hailing from Troop 83 and one of their leaders, John Iwamoto, of the Lihue Hongwanji Mission.
Despite being absent at the first Mahelona beach outing held earlier this year, due to a previous engagement, the boys helped transport the patients in and out of the crystalline water to the large pavilion, reserved for those who preferred the shade.
