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Health

Former Molokai Resident Receives Nursing Award

Monday, May 30th, 2011

Former Molokai Resident Receives Nursing Award

Brigid Mulloy, a certified nurse midwife (CNM),  has been named the 2011 Distinguished Alumna for the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming.  Mulloy was the featured speaker at the School of Nursing Convocation Ceremony on May 7, where she spoke to an audience of 500 people about her experiences as a midwife on Molokai. She was also honored at that ceremony for her excellence in clinical practice as a CNM and for her outstanding community contributions.

Brigid is well known on Molokai where she lived from 1994 to 2010, and practiced for 13 years as a nurse midwife and was the director of the Molokai Women’s Health Center. She delivered over 250 babies during her time on Molokai, the oldest of which have now graduated from high school. Brigid and her husband Claud Sutcliffe are now living in Waimea on the Big Island.

In 2007, she was recruited to work at the North Hawaii Community Hospital’s Family Birthing Unit, where she joined a practice with JoAnn Johansen, another CNM who worked many years on Molokai. This opportunity gave Brigid the chance to grow professionally as a midwife, and to pursue other interests, such as taking Elderhostel groups to experience Easter Island. She continues to be involved in the work her father, the late University of Wyoming anthropology professor, Dr. William Mulloy, began with the support of the University of Wyoming in the 1950s. She was instrumental in the creation of the William Mulloy Library, a research facility for archeologists and the people of Easter Island. Brigid was also invited by the University of Wyoming in 2007 to represent her father at the opening of the new anthropology building on the Laramie campus.

For more information, visit uwyo.edu/NURSING/alumni/alumni-distinguished/2011-mulloy.html

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Health Providers Talk Collaboration

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

In a historic move, the island’s health care providers gathered last week to discuss how to co-exist peacefully.

The meeting – the first of many – was called by the Department of Health (DOH), stemming from concerns over duplication of services between Molokai General Hospital (MGH) and the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC).

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Medicaid Drops Thousands

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Recently proposed Medicaid qualification standards would leave around 4,500 without health insurance around Hawaii. The state Department of Human Services (DHS) proposal decreases the number of residents qualified to use Medicaid, while increasing spending on the benefits of those who remain. Molokai health care providers are concerned about how the changes will affect residents.

DHS announced last week they are decreasing the eligibility based on the federal poverty level (FPL), to help curb spending woes. Currently, applicants that have an income within 200 percent of FPL are qualified – for example, a family of four would be Medicaid-covered if they have a maximum yearly income of $51,420, according to the Foundation for Health Coverage Education.

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Health Center Moves Ahead

Monday, May 16th, 2011

After delays in the transformation of the old Pau Hana Inn into the new Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC), the organization received the second installment of state funds last week that will allow them to complete phase one of renovations. The MCHC also received a Special Area Management (SMA) permit from the Molokai Planning Commission (MoPC) last Wednesday – a green light for the second phase of construction.

Renovation work was halted in the first phase of its construction after delays in the release of $1 million in state funds allocated for the project. Desiree Puhi, executive director of MCHC, said it will take about a year to complete the second phase.

Total cost of the project is about $6.5 million.

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Mikami Wins Health Award

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Mikami Wins Health Award

Community contributed by Billy Akutagawa

Judy Mikami, who is working as the associate director and resource developer for Na Pu`uwai on Molokai, was recently presented with the 2011 Dr. Alexander F. Ka`onohi award. The award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the health, healing and well-being of Native Hawaiians and their families. Her work was especially noted for the Native Hawaiian communities of Molokai and Lanai.



Mikami, a registered nurse and with a master’s in public health, was cited for her many years of active memberships on different boards, and as advisor to health institutions and organizations, thus helping to bring needed health resources to the island. These include the National Kidney Foundation, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, the American Heart Association, Hawaii Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Maui County Office on Aging Mayor’s Council. She has also established, with assistance from Arcadia Senior Services and other partners, the Senior Enrichment Adult Day Care Center.  Adult Day Health services for Molokai will also soon become a reality through her efforts. Through her grant writing skills, she has brought into Molokai and Lanai $11 million in health care resources over the past seven years. Both she and her husband David have contributed immensely to the establishment of the Molokai Dialysis facility.

Judy’s father, Richard Sakata, was Molokai’s first pharmacist, and mother, Betty Maeda, was the first secretary at Molokai High School. Molokai Drugs was founded by Richard in 1935 and continues to be staffed by David, his brother Jon, and David and Judy’s daughter Kelly. Daughter Kim manages Molokai Drugs, and their third Daughter Kathy is a registered dietitian on Oahu.  

Dr. Kaonohi was a noted naturopath, pharmacist and botanist, who employed both Hawaiian and western healing traditions in his practice.  Dr. Kaonohi used a combination of Native Hawaiian herbal as well as western medicine to treat his patients at his Oahu practice, often taking native food products in lieu of payment for those who could not afford his fee.

The award was presented at the Marriott Resort and Spa in Waikiki. Other awardees included physicians, dentists, traditional Hawaiian healers, educators and researchers.

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Hospice Cares for You

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Community Contributed by Barbara Helm, bereavement coordinator

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Boys Battle

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Boys Battle

Community contributed

By Clare Mawae

Race four and not a breath of wind in sight. The seas were calm on Saturday, April 16, and many of the competitors had other commitments with family, work, baseball, and fractured wrists. Eha Kamala and Alex Mawae were the two lone stand up paddlers that chose to take on the calm elements and the test of endurance. Both Slater Oswald and Josie Mawae fractured their wrists at the skate park, and Kekai Adachi was batting the ball with his baseball game at the park.

 
No matter how many showed up the event continued as this race series is just the beginning for many more to come. World SUP champion Ekolu Kalama graced us with his presence, encouraging both the boys as they took to the start at Rice Patch. Eha was wanting to race despite the bursting blister on his hand and a sore rib. Eventually Eha’s blister took its toll and Alex Mawae took the lead with a much needed confidence booster.
 
Alex Mawae, age 8, paddled the nearly four mile stretch with a light headwind in a very respectful time of one hour, 37 minutes.  Alex earned every point of his victory as his determination and steady strokes took him to the finish line at Hotel Molokai. Thanks must also go to Ekolu Kalama who shadowed Alex to the finish line giving him words of encouragement and helpful stroking techniques.
 
Another excellent day in the race series despite the low turnout. The next race is April 30, which is also the grand finale of the short course. The final event of the season will be on Saturday May 28 with a double duo of points with the Molokai Ohana Surf club’s event; the Molokai Holokai.
 
For more information or to register, please go to www.supmolokai.org or contact Clare Seeger Mawae at 808-336-0946 or email clare@youthinmotion.org.

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Wrestling Club Ready to Roll

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Not only are the youth of Molokai learning the latest “takedown” techniques and gaining endurance in the Molokai Wrestling Club, but they are also having fun and staying out of trouble.

“Wrestling to us is a learning experience to help us for the future,” said Mikayla Pico, Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) D-II all-star wrestler for Molokai High School (MHS), who wrestles in the club during the off season. “It teaches us life skills, being goal oriented and makes us a stronger person.”

These days, the group is gearing up for their first tournament of the season, held at Maui’s War Memorial Gym this Saturday, April 30 where they will compete against nine other teams.

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Ohana Metal Health Conference Tomorrow

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Molokai Adult Mental Health Center News Release

On Thursday, April 21, Molokai’s Adult Mental Health Center will host the 2011 Consumer, Family and Youth (CFY) Alliance Mental Health Conference. The theme of the conference is “It’s About Wellness” with special guest speaker will be Dr. Kimo Alameda. The conference will be held at the Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center, from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The conference will also include two workshops, WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) and Trauma Informed Care.  Lunch will also be provided.

Contact Melveena Starkey at (808) 553-3691.

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Lions Roar

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Lions Roar

Community Contributed by Jackie Cushman

On March 22, Maui eye doctors and technicians came to Molokai to work with the Molokai Lions and provided free vision screening of elementary students.

The Maui doctors and technicians have been working with the Molokai Lions Club for four years. This effort has greatly improved the screening process of the students of Molokai since there is limited eye care for the community. The entire team from Maui Optics consists of three doctors, Drs. Carlys Higuchi, Michael Leong, and Karsten Lee as well as technicians Lei Fujishiro and John Ito. This terrific young team closed their two private practices, Maui Optics in Pukalani and optical services at the Kahului Walmart, to travel to Molokai, at their own expense, to work closely with eight Molokai Lion members in screening students from kindergarten through third grade.

Over 300 students with parental permission were screened. It is the practice of these Maui doctors that any student that needs further testing can be seen at either location on Maui at no charge.

The Molokai Lions Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Contest will be held on the Kaunakakai Soccer field on Saturday April 23. Registration for contest begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends promptly at 8:45 a.m. The contest will be divided into age groups and will include Decorated Eggs, Bonnets and Baskets. The egg hunt, also divided into age groups, will begin at 9 a.m. If you are only participating in the egg hunt be sure you are there on time because the hunt doesn't last long! Prizes will be awarded immediately after the hunt ends! A Golden Egg will be hidden in each age group.
 
The Lions Club will also host a Mother’s Day breakfast at Paddlers Inn, on May 8. All proceeds from this breakfast help the Molokai Lions bring you their yearly events, including the Easter egg hunt, Halloween contest, MOC luncheon and vison testing, as well as the Service Award for MHS seniors. Tickets are available from all Lions and MHS Leos for $12.   

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