KAPA‘A — The sleigh did not get used for this year’s Christmas parade, but instead was put into service Tuesday giving sleigh rides to guests and residents at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. Josie Pablo, director of the hospital’s recreation department,
KAPA‘A — The sleigh did not get used for this year’s Christmas parade, but instead was put into service Tuesday giving sleigh rides to guests and residents at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
Josie Pablo, director of the hospital’s recreation department, said Sharla Hasegawa coordinated the effort, taking advantage of Kapa‘a Elementary School being on winter break to give guests and residents longer rides.
Mahelona Hospital hosted its annual Christmas party, with its residents and their guests being entertained by the serenading Kilauea Social Club.
“The Kalaheo School Sunshine Express opens the holidays for us, and we’ve had people entertaining our residents every single day,” Pablo said. “We even had Skipper Caycayon and his group coming to entertain.”
Pablo said she’s been with the hospital for 25 years and, as far as she remembers, the hospital has always had a Christmas party for its residents and their families and guests.
“We have 58 residents, and more than 100 people responded they were coming,” Pablo said. “This is way bigger than the original parties where only a few people came.”
Myra Ornellas, the hospital’s administrator, agreed.
“I’ve been in administration just two years, and already the room is too small,” Ornellas said. “But we’ve done some great things outdoors, like the wedding ceremony earlier this year and the lu‘au and the bon dance. So next year, we’ll move this outdoors, too. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.”
Pablo said it takes a lot of coordination and contributions from the community to make events memorable for the residents and their families.
“Our centerpieces have been donated by Kapa‘a High School teacher Judy Kololoi‘a’s food science class with poinsettia plants from Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping and the Growing Greens Nursery,” Pablo said.
“The Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary with Aunty Betty Matsumura makes sure all of our residents get presents. The hospital’s staff does all the decorating and helps with the food.”
During parties in earlier years, the staff would have to use funds donated by families of people who no longer were at the hospital to get presents for the residents, Pablo said. Today, gifts are made possible by an array of supporters.
“Christmas is so special,” Pablo said. “Recently, we had a visit from Larry Rosa who dropped in with his family bearing gifts of blankets and toiletry items for all the residents. He said he was doing this to show his young children that giving is better than receiving.”
Pablo said the hospital staff is already gearing up for the 95th anniversary celebration of the hospital in 2012.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
