WAILUA — Three dozen residents from the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital were treated to the first of several beach outings on Tuesday at Lydgate Park. “We started out with 36, but some of them
WAILUA — Three dozen residents from the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital were treated to the first of several beach outings on Tuesday at Lydgate Park.
“We started out with 36, but some of them decided they would not go,” said Josie Pablo, the recreation director at Mahelona Hospital, who coordinated the effort. “And a lot of them didn’t want to go in the water because they were concerned about the water quality. We had to call the Department of Health to assure the residents the water was clean.”
Joining the Mahelona group, KVMH arranged for six of its residents to join in, headed up by Maxine Torres, the KVMH recreation director.
“I started last year after the summer season, so I need to take notes so we can arrange the KVMH trip to Salt Pond next month,” Torres said.
Pablo coordinated efforts between a large number of people, including 30 first-year Kaua‘i Community College Nursing students who helped the residents prepare for swimming and getting them into the water. They also spent time helping the hospital’s staff as well as visiting with the residents.
“When we come in August, we’ll have the Okinawa Christian College of Nursing students,” Pablo said. “The first one is for the KCC students and when the Okinawa students come, we’ll even get help from the Kaua‘i Fire Department firemen.”
Joe and Dawn Marie Colaw of Oklahoma could not believe what was taking place in front of them as they watched the community come together to ensure a day at the beach for the elderly. The couple watched as volunteers trooped down floaters and life vests and finally, the elderly residents.
“This is absolutely amazing,” said Dawn Marie. “It’s wonderful to see everyone doing what they do so the elderly can enjoy themselves. It’s really good for everyone.”
Joe said the young people can really feel good about what they are doing simply by looking at the happy faces of the seniors.
In addition, students from Waianae High School — Josiah Endo, Tancy Chee and Shayla Ader — were interviewing Placido Valenciano, a Mahelona Hospital therapist, about the event. The students were doing a piece for the week-long media camp taking place at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
Another bunch of volunteers, the Wahine Beach Volleyball club led by coach Noel Frohman Flibott of San Diego, Calif., stopped by. Flibott wanted to know how they could help.
“We have a very special group of girls,” Flibott said as the girls dispersed among the sea of elders, many wheelchair-bound, to visit and chat. “They like to help people and try to fit into the community.”
Pablo said The Kaua‘i Bus from the county was a key factor in helping transport the residents, along with the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary. The auxiliary provides funds for the special equipment needed for the beach outings as well as volunteer to help at the outing.
“The three bus drivers we had helping, Moki Keale, Kekai Chock and Bryson Gonsalves, were awesome in getting the residents in and out of the bus and securing them for a safe ride,” Pablo said. “They really worked hard, sweating and everything.”
She said the help of the Mahelona Hospital’s Nursing, Physical Therapy, Recreational Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Maintenance, Grounds and Dietary departments made sure the event was a success.
“It was a perfect outing,” Pablo said. “No accidents and all the residents were happy.”
