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Health

Kalaupapa Aircraft Wreckage to be Recovered, Under Investigation

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Kalaupapa Aircraft Wreckage to be Recovered, Under Investigation

After a Makani Kai aircraft crashed into the ocean off Kalaupapa last Wednesday, Makani Kai owner Richard Schuman said the Cessna Grand Caravan will be recovered this week.

“We know what happened, but not why,” Schuman told the Dispatch Sunday. “One way or another, we’ll get that aircraft out… and get the engine to the manufacturer [for answers.]”

The Makani Kai flight departing Kalaupapa about 3:45 p.m. experienced “catastrophic engine failure” shortly after take-off, according to pilot Clyde Kawasaki. The plane went down about 1/2 mile off the peninsula. Eight on board survived, while Department of Health (DOH) Director Loretta Fuddy died in the water after exiting the sinking plane.…

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Prolotherapy for Pain Relief

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD

In response to widespread interest in an article printed a few weeks ago about prolotherapy on Molokai, I will share more information on various facets of this therapy. Prolotherapy is a permanent cure for painful conditions, and I will be offering appointments on Molokai Dec. 22 through Jan. 4.

There are different kinds of prolotherapy and the procedure is customized to the individual patient and the presenting musculoskeletal conditions.

One type, called simple prolotherapy, uses dextrose to stimulate the healing process combined with dilute lidocaine used as a numbing agent for patient comfort.  Dextrose stimulates the body to bring in fibroblasts and cytokines to injured cartilage, tendons and ligaments to give a spurt of healing. …

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Help for Sexual Assault

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Child and Family Services News Release

Are you dealing with difficulties due to current or former sex assault or abuse? Help is here. The Molokai Sexual Assault Center provides information and referrals, supportive advocacy, clinical therapy, case management, support groups and other services for youth, survivors, kupuna and children.

Call Child and Family Services at 553-5529. Our office is located at 107 Ala Malama, Room A and B in Kaunakakai. Office walk-ins are welcome. Regular business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on holidays. Our Sex Assault hotline is open 24 hours a day.

Our hotline offers confidential advocacy support and referrals.…

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Hospital Celebrates 50 Years

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Hospital Celebrates 50 Years

A lot has changed in medical services on Molokai since the mid-1900s — a time when it wasn’t unusual to go into the hospital to get your tonsils out and your doctor would have just come from delivering a baby. Hours before that, he would have removed your neighbor’s appendix.

“People used to think, ‘He’s a doctor, he’s supposed to do it all,’” Dr. Paul Stevens, the island’s oldest physician, said in a 2010 interview. Stevens first came to Molokai in 1956, and has practiced medicine here ever since.

Last Saturday, Molokai General Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary — as well as remembered all the changes in Molokai healthcare over the years.…

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8 Survivors, 1 Death in Makani Kai Kalaupapa Crash — UPDATED

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013

8 Survivors, 1 Death in Makani Kai Kalaupapa Crash — UPDATED

Updated Thursday, 12/12 at 3 p.m.

A Makani Kai flight departing Kalaupapa this afternoon crashed into the water about 3:45 p.m. shortly after take-off about 1/2 mile off the peninsula last night. Eight on board the Cessna Grand Caravan survived, while Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy died in the water after exiting the sinking plane.

The pilot, Clyde Kawasaki, has been flying for Makani Kai for one year. He previously worked as a pilot for Aloha Airlines and has experience working thousands of hours of flight time, according to a Makani Kai representative.

“He’s a pilot that I’ve flown with frequently — he’s one of the best,” said Department of Health Kalaupapa Administrator Mark Miller.…

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Egg Essentials for Backyard Farmers

Wednesday, December 4th, 2013

Egg Essentials for Backyard Farmers

As more Hawaii residents flock towards raising chickens in their backyards, some may not be aware of the state and federal health regulations for selling their eggs to the public. As part of a statewide tour by the Hawaii Departments of Health and Agriculture and the University of Hawaii, a dozen of Molokai’s backyard egg farmers familiarized themselves with these guidelines during an egg workshop last Tuesday.

“We knew of people [on Maui] who were doing backyard egg producing and were trying to sell…to high-end hotels,” said Lynn Nakamura-Tengan, a food safety educator at the University of Hawaii Manoa, during the workshop.…

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Service of Feeling Good

Friday, November 29th, 2013

Service of Feeling Good

American Cancer Society News Release

Twice yearly, Haunani Kamakana, patient navigator at Molokai General Hospital, organizes the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good…Feel Better” class for Molokai ladies undergoing cancer treatments.  On Nov. 19, Haunani surprised class instructor, Suzette Kahana, with a special coffee hour attended by 15 former and current cancer patients of Molokai.

Anna Mayeda, senior pepresentative of community engagement for the American Cancer Society, presented Suzette with the Look Good…Feel Better four-year Service Award for her dedication to helping women with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments.  Suzette hopes to continue volunteering for this program for many more years as Molokai’s only certified Look Good…Feel Better facilitator.…

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Alternative to Surgery Coming to Molokai

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Lisa Davis

Holistic regenerative medical procedures that cure pain in the spine and joints will soon be coming to Molokai through Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD and Lisa Davis.  The treatments rebuild cartilage, tendons and ligaments to cure the source of the pain and pain goes away naturally and permanently. Dr. Mohammed is skilled in Prolotherapy, Prolozone, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Stem Cell Treatments, Acupuncture, Anti-TNF (post-stroke, Alzheimer’s dementia) and Biophotonic treatments. They will also have a chiropractor service from NE Heights Albuquerque Chiropractic Care. We do musculoskeletal ultra-sound guided procedures. Prolotherapy is the only known curative treatment for arthritis.…

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Caregiver Workshop

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Maui County Office on Aging News Release

Maui Adult Day Care Centers and Maui County Office on Aging invite you to a free caregiver workshop, “Understanding the Older Adult.” The workshop will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Home Pumehana Hall.

Gain awareness and understanding for the emotions an aging loved one goes through as you take over their care. Learn also about factors that contribute to negative/positive behavior changes, caregiver tips to help you provide care with compassion and tips for surviving the holidays.

The event will be taught by Kathleen Couch, Caregiver and Program Coordinator at the Maui Adult Day Care Centers.…

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Na Pu’uwai Fitness Center Challenge Winners

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Na Pu’uwai Fitness Center Challenge Winners

Na Pu`uwai Fitness Center News Release

Na Pu’uwai has brought its latest eight-week challenge to a close on Oct. 31, and results are in!  This challenge produced 83 participants, including both men and women.  We had a grand prize winner as well as first through fifth place winners for men and women, ranging from $25 to $100 in gift certificates,  a month free membership at the fitness center, and cotton fitness center T-shirts.  The grand prize was a custom long board with Na Pu`uwai’s logo made by Bouvey Bradley from Makaha, Oahu.

Harley Tancayo sneaked in from the sidelines and took it home for the win. …

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