The setting has changed in their 25 years of service on Kaua‘i but the intent behind the caring has not. Kaua‘i Hospice, an organization that provides care for patients and families facing terminal illnesses, began with a handful of volunteers
The setting has changed in their 25 years of service on Kaua‘i but the intent behind the caring has not. Kaua‘i Hospice, an organization that provides care for patients and families facing terminal illnesses, began with a handful of volunteers working out of a storage room in the Wilcox Annex. On January 31 Kaua‘i Hospice will host a luau fundraiser in celebration of 25 years of compassionate caring at Smith’s Tropical Paradise in Wailua. Smith’s will host a traditional program complete with imu, garden tours and a show.
Today Kaua‘i Hospice offices are in the green plantation-style building in Lihu‘e and house a staff of nurses, aides, social workers, volunteers and office support. But that is a far cry from their humble beginning.
“When they started it was a very informal group,” said Sandra Tedder, Kaua‘i Hospice events coordinator. “Linda Akana (Sutherland) was a Wilcox nurse and Aimee Yamamoto Leong a social worker. They were the ones who got Hospice started. The first board of directors were all full time doctors and nurses. That first year they met in each others’ offices.”
In 1983 Kaua‘i Hospice incorporated and Sutherland was appointed the first board of directors president. One year later the group would move into their first office at Wilcox, which they occupied until 2001.
“We’ve had so many people involved for so long,” Tedder said. “This fundraiser is like a reunion for many of our donors. It’s an opportunity to reminisce and reconnect.”
Today Kaua‘i Hospice has over a thousand volunteers and just this year serviced 123 families — compared to the 30 families serviced in 1997.
“Without our volunteers and donations it’d be impossible to do the work we do,” Tedder said. “We keep growing and that’s why we keep doing more fundraisers.”
In addition to providing care to insured individuals, Kaua‘i Hospice provides direct patient care to the terminally ill who cannot afford to pay for their hospice medical services. While indeed the government requires the provision of bereavement services, hospice is not reimbursed by government programs. One-hundred percent of grief and bereavement services are provided through the generosity of donors.
“Even if (a client) doesn’t have Medicare, they are going to get the care from us,” Tedder said.
“Thousands of volunteers provide care to Hospice so that we can provide care to the patient,” she said. “That’s why volunteers are so important to us.”
The next volunteer training begins March 4. It’s a two-week training that falls on two consecutive Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. A pre-training interview is required of all applicants. To make an appointment call 245-7277.
Tedder encourages people to RSVP for the luau by January 17 so they know how much food to make. Tickets are $50. To pay cash visit the Kaua‘i Hospice office — the green plantation house next to the KIUC office or for credit cards go to Smith’s Tropical Paradise on the Wailua River.
Want to go?
What: 25 year anniversary luau for Kaua‘i Hospice
When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 31
Where: Smith’s Tropical Paradise, Wailua
Cost: $50
