LIHU‘E — It was Valentine’s Day, but the Garden Isle Health Care staff were garbed in yellow hard hats and OSHA safety green, Monday. “This is because of our Project: Blessing,” said Kurt Akamine of Garden Isle Health Care. “Today,
LIHU‘E — It was Valentine’s Day, but the Garden Isle Health Care staff were garbed in yellow hard hats and OSHA safety green, Monday.
“This is because of our Project: Blessing,” said Kurt Akamine of Garden Isle Health Care. “Today, we’re celebrating one phase — the completion of our dining service facility.”
But the celebration was not limited to the start of food service for the residents of the Wilcox Hospital long-term care. It extended to a blessing of the residents and staff who care for the kupuna, said Chucky Boy Chock who officiated the blessing.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., noting that he, too had relatives who are part of the kupuna population, and in a departure from the norm, paid tribute to the inspiration provided by one of the residents — Karen Batis.
As Carvalho outlined Batis’ progess through the Garden Isle Health Care rehabilitation, Batis uttered, “Never give up!”
Kaua‘i County Council member Mel Rapozo offered a congratulatory certificate from the county council, noting that his mother is a resident with the program.
Richard Kishaba of
Ohana Pacific Management Co., the parent firm of Garden Isle Health Care, acknowledged the caring staff, noting that Valentine’s Day was bittersweet for him after his grandmother passed away on Valentine’s Day last year.
“One day, I’m going to get lucky and meet the person who hires all these people,” Chock said, leading the group in a musical number he wrote for the occasion. “I have a small company and I have one more position to fill.”
Akamine said the completition of the dining service facility is just one more step toward Garden Isle Health Care’s mission of “A Place to Call Home,” offering inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing services, respite and long-term care.
“As the mayor said, it’s also about creating opportunity,” Akamine said. “The addition of the dining service facility created 10 more openings at our hospital facility, bringing the number of staff to 135 at Wilcox alone. This includes full- and part-time employees because of the 24-hour nature of the business.”
Overall, Garden Isle Health Care provides employment to close to 300 Kaua‘i residents within its three facilities.
Akamine said the new dining service facility under the leadership of Macklin Valenciano prepares more than 600 meals a day for its population at the Wilcox Hospital, utilizing special equipment that allows the facility to meet its certification requirements.
