Students Receive No Cost Dental Services

University of Hawaii News Release
For the first time, the Hawaii Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Program offered free dental services to Molokai students.
On April 8, a team of nine Oahu and Maui-based dentists, dental hygienists, assistants and nurses traveled to Maunaloa Elementary, Kilohana Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary and Kualapuʻu School to host dental sealant events. Three Molokai-based Hawaii Keiki health technicians provided additional on-the-ground support.
About 110 Molokai students were seen, receiving dental screenings, oral health education, hygiene kits and, where needed, dental sealants—a protective treatment that helps prevent cavities.
“This is the first time Hawaii Keiki has come to do dental sealants and we’re looking forward to next year,” said Kualapu’u School Principal Lydia Trinidad.
Students were likewise impressed with the services.
“It was good, but it tastes kind of weird,” said Jayden Bumatay, a Kualapu’u third grader following his dental service.
Hawaii faces significant oral health challenges. The 2015 Hawaii Smiles report found that Hawaii’s children had the highest rate of dental decay in the country, and more than 60 percent lacked sealants on their permanent molars—increasing their risk for cavities, missed school, and other health and self-esteem issues.
To combat these disparities, the Hawaii Keiki–Hawaii Dental Service (HDS) Dental Sealant Program was launched in 2019 through a partnership between Hawaii Keiki and the HDS Foundation. Since launching on Oahu in 2020, the program has expanded to Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island—and now to Molokai. Maui and Molokai school-based dental services are provided in partnership with Hui No Ke Ola Pono, a Maui Native Hawaiian Health Care System.
So far, more than 5,500 keiki across Hawaii have received screenings through the program. More than 60 percent received sealants, protecting more than 12,000 teeth. In addition, more than 220 keiki with urgent dental needs were referred for further care.
The Molokai team was composed of licensed providers and Hawaii Keiki staff, many of whom are UH alumni or current students from UH Manoa, UH Maui College and the Maui-Molokai CNA programs.
This latest effort was made possible by continued support from the HDS Foundation, along with in-kind donations from Kamaka Air Cargo, which transported dental equipment, and Maverick Helicopters, which offered discounted staff flights. The Hawaii Department of Health’s Family Health Division also helped fund dental supplies.