KAPA‘A — In 1959, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital was basically a “tuberculosis hospital,” said Karen Davis, the hospital administrator. Since then, the year Hawai‘i became a state, Mahelona has grown to offer the community 24-hour mid-level emergency services staffed by
KAPA‘A — In 1959, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital was basically a “tuberculosis hospital,” said Karen Davis, the hospital administrator.
Since then, the year Hawai‘i became a state, Mahelona has grown to offer the community 24-hour mid-level emergency services staffed by board-certified emergency room physicians and emergency room nurses, states a Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp. paper for the 2005-06 state Legislature.
Mahelona also offers various outpatient services, psychiatric services with nine acute beds and a locked unit, a long-term care program with a total of more than 60 skilled nursing and intermediate care beds.
This was brought out during the hospital’s annual statehood lu‘au, an event that has been taking place at the Kapa‘a facility for the past 23 years — close to the Admission Day holiday Aug. 21, said Josie Pablo, the hospital’s activities coordinator.
“Since people are living longer in Hawai‘i than any other state in the country, the need for full service health care is essential,” said Congresswoman Mazie Hirono in a letter celebrating the occasion. “As the first established hospital on the island of Kaua‘i, SMMH has grown into a community partner and resource. Today, SMMH is an important asset to the island, caring for generations of families over the past 92 years.”
Pablo said Aunty Beverly Muraoka has been performing for the lu‘au since it started and continues to turn out and provide entertainment for the hospital’s residents and staff.
Muraoka was joined by Lynnette Niau and Rhoda Libre, who at the time of statehood was “in the process of being made.” The Friday performance drew a rousing applause from everyone when Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. performed a number paying tribute to Kaua‘i and getting Davis to join Libre in an impromptu hula.
“It’s good to return after the blessing of the courtyard built by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay,” Carvalho said. “I live across the road on Mailehuna Road and know how important the kupuna are because I was raised by my grandparents. We will continue to find ways to provide the best we can for our kupuna.”
Joining the Muraoka ensemble, Allan Alalem, Pat “Skipper” Cacayon, Wes Kaui and friends continued the kanikapila as patients and their families lined the hospital’s corridors that were decorated with special tables for the Hawaiian lu‘au.
“Pat comes to play for us every Christmas and offered to help us with the statehood celebration,” said Elaine Morita, a SMMH staff member.
Jerry Walker, the regional CEO for the West Kaua‘i Medical Center and SMMH, said he was in summer school at Kailua High School when Hawai‘i became a state.
Walker recalled why Chief Justice William Richardson said it was an important event.
“People were going through the Depression and World War II where many people laid their lives on the line,” Walker said. “My grandmother was born in 1898 and spoke of the importance of becoming ‘Americanized.’ People of different times had different reasons for becoming a state.”
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, in a letter for the occasion, said Hawai‘i is unlike any other state in the union.
“The story of our 50th state is one that tells of Native Hawaiians who persevered against forces that nearly extinguished their existence, of poor immigrants whose hope sustained them while they toiled to achieve the American dream, and of a remote chain of islands that experienced the unique challenges of attaining statehood in the 20th century,” Inouye said in the letter. “I am proud to be from such a unique and culturally rich state.”
Placido Valenciano, of the SMMH physical therapy staff, said he was just two years old and doesn’t remember anything other than “playing in the dirt.”
“I’m 81 years old, and I can’t remember what I did yesterday,” said George Mukai of the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary. “But I know that Dr. Peter Kim was the hospital’s administrator when we became a state.”
Throughout the day, Valenciano seeded the audience with statehood trivia questions, state Rep. Mina Morita attempting to name the Congressional representative at the time of statehood for the prize of a Ken Yasutake pineapple and helping of lychee.
The highlight of the day came when John Borales of King Auto Center discretely passed the ownership papers and keys of a 2009 Honda Odyssey van to Pablo.
“This van just happened to be delivered today,” Pablo said. “But it was a long time in the making, and is possible because of a (Antone and Edene) Vidinha grant and the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary.”
The van that will be used to transport patients for errands and other needs is specially equipped with wheelchair access on both sides.
SMMH is the oldest operating hospital on Kaua‘i and was founded in 1917 as a tuberculosis hospital, receiving its name from a member of the Wilcox family who died of tuberculosis as a young man. It was transitioned to providing acute psychiatric, skilled nursing, medical acute, tuberculosis, and ancillary outpatient and inpatient services in the 1960s, the HHSC paper states.
“Demonstrated excellence makes the SMMH an outstanding contributor to Hawai‘i’s well-being and a valuable resource to the community,” Inouye said.
