KAPAA — Christmas almost didn’t happen for Sharon Gushiken on Friday at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. “We didn’t have water,” Sharon said. “They turned off our water and you can’t bake without water.” Jack Gushiken, Sharon’s husband, said she
KAPAA — Christmas almost didn’t happen for Sharon Gushiken on Friday at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
“We didn’t have water,” Sharon said. “They turned off our water and you can’t bake without water.”
Jack Gushiken, Sharon’s husband, said she traditionally bakes a cake for the hospital’s annual family Christmas luncheon.
“She did brownies, instead,” Jack said, stopping to visit residents and friends who collected in the hospital’s activity room for the annual gala.
“This all started with Spencer Gushiken while his mother was a resident here,” said Josie Pablo, hospital’s recreation director. “I usually call them Gary’s Band, but their real name is…”
Gary Smith finished the line for her, “We’re the Kilauea Social Club,” breaking into a lilting “La la lala Joy to the World” which triggered Mahelona Hospital resident Melody Pascual into dance at the front of the group.
The event unites residents, families, and hospital staff for a celebration of the season with an overflowing of food, music from the Kilauea Social Club, and fellowship highlighted with a visit from Santa Claus who had packages for all of the residents courtesy of the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary.
“These are new faces you will need to know,” Pablo said, taking the opportunity to introduce new staff for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. “Steve Kline is the occupational therapist, Alice Baptista is the nutritionist, and Carolyn Tschupp is Infection Control.”
The introduction provided everyone an opportunity to meet the new staff under informal conditions.
“This is such a good event,” said Col. Robert Levoit, director of the Kapaa High School JrROTC program. “The warmth and fellowship, the decorations, it’s Christmas.”
Pablo said it takes many hands to pull together such a friendly luncheon filled with people from around the island.
The Kapaa High School food service club provided centerpieces of gingerbread houses and Christmas scenes which guests could take home, the St. Catherine’s School students worked on the activity hall decorations, and the Auxiliary provided the guests with Christmas gifts.
