KAPA‘A — Hanako Ishida became a queen for the day on Tuesday at a Valentine’s Day party hosted by the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital long-term care unit for residents. “I’ve been here for 25 years, and we’ve been doing this
KAPA‘A — Hanako Ishida became a queen for the day on Tuesday at a Valentine’s Day party hosted by the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital long-term care unit for residents.
“I’ve been here for 25 years, and we’ve been doing this from the time I got here,” Josie Pablo, the hospital’s recreation director, said. “The hospital staff comes together and puts this on so the residents can enjoy the holiday.”
Joining Ishida as queen, Alfred Pacheco was named Valentine’s Day king with Melody Pascual as princess and Toraichi Marugame as prince.
Pablo said what made the day special was a visit from the Head Start students in Kapa‘a.
“They come every single month to visit and sing songs for the residents,” Pablo said. “This month, they coincided their visit with the party.”
Kara Kitamura from Health Occupations Students of America at Kapa‘a High School and students from Kitamura’s clinical class arranged to have Valentine’s Day cards distributed among residents.
“This is very special,” Pablo said, looking over the cards. “If I was in here and I got a card like this, I would feel really good.”
