By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU)— More than one thousand Kaiser Permanente Hawaii physicians, staff and their families participated in community projects statewide in an annual day of service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Established a decade ago as a company-wide community service tradition, Kaiser Permanente employees spent their holiday not with a “day off,” but a “day on,” volunteering their time and efforts at eight different sites on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.
“We are proud to continue our annual tradition of honoring the spirit of service on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Geoffrey Sewell, MD, president and executive medical director of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. “We feel privileged to be supporting efforts that preserve and benefit the cultural health and wellness of our own communities here in Hawaii.”
Jeanette Mawae doesn’t mind getting muddy to help weed the lo’i at Papahana Kualoa during the Kaiser Permanente Annual Day of Service, honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For the third year, Kaiser Permanente partnered with three nonprofit organizations located within He‘eia Ahupua‘a, a historic land division in Kaneohe, to restore mountain, wetland and fishpond sites. The nonprofits Papahana Kuaola, Kako‘o ‘Oiwi and Paepae O He‘eia promote educational initiatives and work to preserve Hawaiian culture, healthy communities and environmental sustainability. Volunteers assisted with removing overgrown plants and foliage on hiking trails, clearing debris from wetland planting areas, reconstructing the rock wall of an ancient fishpond, and tending to and restoring lo‘i (taro patches).
Leeward nonprofit Ka‘ala Cultural Learning Center, part of Ka‘ala Farm, welcomed Kaiser Permanente volunteers for the first time to assist in replanting a unique Native Hawaiian dryland forest, planting dry taro, building a traditional thatched hale, and weeding and removing overgrown lo‘i.
Dr. Amanda Ho spreads mulch to help with weed control at Kako’o ‘Oiwi during the Kaiser Permanente Annual Day of Service, honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Maui, physicians and staff participated in gardening, landscaping and renovations to animal facilities at The Maui Farm in Makawao. This is Kaiser Permanente’s second year volunteering at the 8.3-acre farm, which serves as a sustainability model, supporting and encouraging family-centered educational programs to promote self-sufficiency.
Volunteers from the Kaiser Permanente ‘ohana took part in three projects on the Big Island. Innovations Public Charter School in Kona welcomed volunteers to assist with landscaping activities around campus. Another group of employees cleared overgrown foliage and debris from Ke Ala Kahawai O Waimea (The Streamside Trail of Waimea), a popular neighborhood walking trail maintained by the Waimea Trails and Greenways (WTG) Committee. In Hilo, volunteers painted structures, worked with marine life and performed landscaping duties at UH-Hilo Pacific Aquaculture & Coastal Resources Center (PACRC), a facility that promotes the conservation of coastal resources.
“We applaud the many nonprofits dedicated to the cause of perpetuating Hawaii’s deep culture, caring for our island resources, and providing educational opportunities to residents and visitors alike,” said Mary Ann Barnes, president of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. “It is our honor to support them on this day of service in memory of Dr. King.”
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information. Become a fan of good health with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii: Like our page at Facebook.com/KPHawaii and follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.