KAPA‘A — Christmas carols with a Hawaiian flavor were the order Wednesday at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. The Kilauea Social Club, headed by Spencer Gushiken, provided the musical main course that accompanied lunch for the hospital’s residents and their families
KAPA‘A — Christmas carols with a Hawaiian flavor were the order Wednesday at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
The Kilauea Social Club, headed by Spencer Gushiken, provided the musical main course that accompanied lunch for the hospital’s residents and their families during the annual Christmas celebration.
“They were drunk when they started 25 years ago,” said Josie Pablo, the hospital’s recreation director and co-organizer of the celebration. “When they started, all drunk, they sang in the back of a truck. They would drive around the neighborhood and provide shows from the back of the truck.”
Pablo said the appearance of the Kilauea Social Club climaxed almost a month of guest performances from different groups around the community who visited the hospital to provide holiday music for the residents, sometimes on a daily basis.
“Kilauea SC has been performing for the past five years whenever we’ve had our parties, so it’s only appropriate they close off almost a month of guest musical performances for our residents,” Pablo said.
Pablo and Elaine Morita have been coordinating the Christmas celebration for the past 24 years, and said this year, they were able to get presents for each of the residents because of the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary.
“Santa is coming to deliver presents for everybody in both our long-term care and psychiatric area,” Pablo said. “This is all because of the Auxiliary.”
The Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary operates the hospital’s Thrift Shop and in addition to providing support to the hospital, also helped in getting everything put together for the luncheon celebration.
Pablo said the party comes on the heels of the hospital residents volunteering to ring bells for The Salvation Army Red Kettles, Monday at the Safeway Stores.
“That was a very good event,” Pablo said. “This year, we only did it for a little while, but everyone was happy and the residents were very lively. I think we might have started a new tradition.”
Morita, who was recruited to help at the bell ringing, said Pablo is already looking at doing it for a full day, next year, rotating crews at two-hour shifts.
“This party closes off our calendar year, and we just want to thank everyone for all the support provided for the hospital, the staff, and especially our residents,” said Myra Ornellas, the hospital’s administrator.
