north hawaii hospice · supportive care services. two of the health insurance ... supportive care...

Letter from the Executive Director

As we enter our 28th year of caring we are turning our efforts towards two important projects intended to expand and improve the scope of the services that we offer patients and families facing serious illness in our North

Hawaii community. The first project is the addition of a program called NHH

Supportive Care Services. Two of the health insurance organizations in the state of Hawaii have envisioned the need for seriously ill patients to be able to benefit from the same type of care and services that a hospice organization can provide. Supportive Care Services will allow patients to continue their curative treatments and at the same time get help from our highly-skilled team. HMSA is leading this effort in our state and we applaud them for their vision and the efforts they are making to provide improved support for patients and families.

The second project is the construction of a new meeting facility for our clinical team. In late 2011 we were able to purchase the lot that sits directly in front of our current hospice meeting residence on Kawaihae Road in Waimea. Our Capital Campaign Committee, chaired by James “Toby” King, has been quietly raising funds for the past two years. We are now half-way to our goal and plan to break ground this year. With this issue of the newsletter we are announcing the public phase of our Capital Campaign.

As long time friends and supporters of hospice we hope you will join our efforts to spread the word about our exciting projects. Thank you for believing in us and thank you for all the ways you have generously supported the vision that has sustained our organization for 28 years.

Mahalo Nui,

NEWSLETTER

Coming Up:

Tommy Bahama Classic Charity golf Tournament to benefit North Hawaii Hospice Mauna Kea Golf Course Monday, June 17, 2013 SOLD OUT!

SAvE THE DATE!Floating Lantern Ceremony Honor and Remember Sunday, August 25, 2013 Fairmont Orchid Hotel 5:00pm-7:30pm

For information call North Hawaii Hospice at 885-7547 or e-mail [email protected]

NORTH HAWAII HOSPICESUMMER 2013

Plein Aire by Greg Schultz

Katherine Werner CianoExecutive Director

NORTH HAWAII HOSpICE ~ SUMMER 2013 pAGE 2

NORTH HAWAII HOSPICEis a nonprofit organization

committed to helping patients, families and friends

dealing with life-limiting illnesses.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS

Lynn Higashipresident

James T. (Toby) King Second vice-president

Linda West Secretary

Margarita ScheffelTreasurer

BOARD MEMBERS

Nancy Bouvet - FounderSheila Cadwallader - Founder

Wendy CravenBev Dawson, R.N.Howard Edelman Ken Fischer, O.D.

Marty HindHarold Hughes

Jaisy Jardine Claren Kealoha-Beaudet, Ph.D.

Stewart Lawrence, M.D.Diana Mahaney

Julie MattsonJohn Roth

Joanne SameshimaAli Woods

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

John Dawson, M.D.

27 years of caring

HospiCE HappEnings

The Circle of gratitude ‡

picture walking into the Garden of Eden. First you receive a sachet of lavender and thank you card simply for showing up. As you move through this peaceful environment, you hear the lovely folk music of Rob Decker, as if he is serenading you personally. Then you might find yourself lying on a massage table or receiving an essential oil sampling swept across your back. If you are so inclined, you could have an array of temporary tattoos applied to the body location of your choice. The best application might have been a butterfly to a volunteer’s forehead. With a mimosa in hand, you would saunter over to a tent where an omelette made to order or eggs benedict are on the menu. Just beyond this tent are even more scrumptious sides, baked goodies and flowing coffee. Where could you be? Well, of course, you’re at a volunteer Gratitude & Recognition Brunch hosted at the charming home of Barb and Charlie Campbell.

No one tells you about the cornucopia of kindness that will come full circle when you go through the volunteer training. It is a North Hawaii Hospice secret, until now, that you are treated with the utmost gratitude for giving your time, skill and energy to this organization and to a community of people who need the support. By simply filling in monthly time sheets, you have the opportunity to be acknowledged for your efforts in the shape of potted plants, local business gift certificates, handmade jewelry, beautiful blown glass, or even a coveted gym membership.

Any hospice volunteer would share that they need nothing in exchange for this rewarding work. The best part of the event is to walk among the amazing people who make NHH what it is. It is a reunion of friends, staff, board members and the opportunity to make new friends. A return of gratitude goes to all of the people who made this such a special afternoon of sweet serenity back in April:

aKa sushi, all about Chocolate, Diana Balmudes, Beeing aloha Honey, Beth Waldrep Jewelry, Big island glass, Big island grown, Café il mondo, 5 Cent store, Cathy’s angelite Crystals, Costco, ann Daugherty, Dave anderson, Denise at gregoré salon, Domino’s pizza, Don’s Chinese Kitchen, Downes grounds, Fashion Consignment studio, F.i.T. Food Club, gina’s at gregoré salon, grace Flowers, gregoré salon, Healthways ii, Honoka’a marketplace, Honomu Jams, Hpa for making their pasture available for parking, Liliko’i Café, Linda Hussy, momi isaacs, island girl Eats, island Thyme gourmet, Joyce Walters massage, Kamuela Liquor store, Kekela Farms, Kim overpeck, KTa, Kyrsten Kaha, Le‘ale‘a Fitness, Lehua Jeweler, Little paradise, malama market, merriman’s, nina Disbro, paula nurse Designs, pilates of Hawaii, pomaikai plant Company, poppa’s orchids, Rob Decker, Rose Riedesel, sandwich island Bakers, sandy Coffee, sassafrass, sol Kitchen island style grindz, solimene’s, starbucks, steve soros, supercuts, Taro patch, Tex Drive in, The nail Lady, Valli Energy Healing, Voice of Beauty skin Care, Waimea Coffee Company, Waimea general store, Zett amora massage.

‡ Written by Stephanie Rutgers


NORTH HAWAII HOSPICE

STAFF

Katherine Werner Ciano, MHAExecutive Director

Colleen Norris, MBADirector of Finance

Gayle HubbardFund Development Manager

Denise ReyesClinical Services Assistant

Reinhard Fritsch, RN, PhDKimberlee Hester, RN

Debbie Washburn, RN, CHPNpatient Case Managers

Jobi Frorath, MSW Megan McCaffrey, MSW

Mark Therrien, LSWSocial Workers

Catrinka Hollandvolunteer Coordinator

Sindona Cassteel, MSBereavement Counselor

Nina Millar, RNChristine Richardson, RNKristin Wohlschlagel, RN

After Hours Nurses

Sandee Kama, CNAFelicia Murray, CNA

Sandie Rossi, HA Hospice Aides


If you are a parent or work with children, you know it can be a challenge to teach them the act of giving. The HpA Lower School Student Council is learning it on their own—with a bit of guidance from Mariah Dodd, their school counselor.

The student council is made up of 10 members from grades one through five and this group changes quarterly. The members have conversations with classmates and adults to come up with a list of local organizations that they think are important in our community and can benefit from the support. During their Tuesday lunch period, they sell the delicious elixir of ice cream to classmates. On Thursdays, they meet to tally up their profits and discuss whether the money should go to local causes or national disasters. Finally, this amount is graciously matched by the Kokua Fund of HpA’s ‘Ohana Association. North Hawaii Hospice was listed from their experiences in having lost a grandparent or other loved ones.

The group of young givers presented and delivered their donation of $100 to Katherine Werner Ciano at the hospice office. They toured the office, met the staff and also watched a video about the Camp Erin* program in Kona where children receive support while grieving the loss of a loved one. The following day, these little leaders spoke to their classmates at school assembly about what they learned. One of them shared, “I learned that hospice doesn’t charge the patients money for their services because of donations from people like us that support hospice.” Another said, “Our money will help support the camp that kids can go to and maybe buy some books for the hospice library that would be helpful for kids.”

It is a heart-warming feeling to watch our youth participate in supporting the organizations around them and become more aware of what actually happens there on a daily basis. They got to make a personal connection to the building that is just a

short distance from their campus. North Hawaii Hospice sends tremendous gratitude to the big hearts of these generous neighbors.

*Camp Erin is an annual weekend camp in Kona for youth ages 5-17 who would benefit from grieving support. There is also Pōhai Maluhia in Hilo, a family bereavement camp for all ages. More information is available by contacting the hospice offices in Kona (324-7700)

and Hilo (969-1733). Both programs are offered free of charge in the month of July. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Who’s on Board ‡

If you live in Waimea, you most likely drive by Moon’s Commercial Center every day. This happens to be a family-owned building managed by Joanne sameshima, a third generation Waimea resident. She holds immense appreciation for this town and its history, especially with her family stories originating from 1916. Nestled in the back of this property is a quaint cottage where she runs her private practice of adult, individual and couples counseling. By day, she is a behavioral health specialist with the Department of Education. And to add to her already full plate, she was recently

Hpa student Council Donation ‡

Front row, l to r: Riley Sohriakoff, Katherine Ciano, Tiffany Golden, Sam Puana, Sydney Chin, and Eliana DeRego. Back row, l to r: Katie Kuyper, Jona Patig, Isaiah Clarry-Sohriakoff, and Forrest Franklin. The adult behind the kids is Mariah Dodd.


approached by Lynn Higashi, current NHH Board president, to become a board member. She felt that it was the perfect timing in her life to be active in her community.

Joanne’s path to hospice was written in the stars as she found her first paid job after graduating from William Woods University in the medical social work field. She worked with an entire floor of terminally ill patients. At the age of 21, it was an emotional learning experience to face the issue of mortality. Many years later, she returned to the Big Island to help her mother care for her father who was dying of lung cancer. His passing in February 2001 turned her sorrow into a journey of understanding life, death and healing. Although Joanne and her mother managed through this difficult time without the assistance of hospice, she was very much aware of how their services had made a difference to aunts and uncles in her family.

The non-working side of Joanne boasts a love of gardening alongside her 89 year old mother who holds the green thumb. She adheres to her three

mile walks, four mornings out of the week. One of these days, she will travel to her family origins of Japan, where neither she nor her parents have ever visited.

Joanne has already had the opportunity to contribute her time to hospice by volunteering at last year’s Floating Lantern Ceremony at the Fairmont Orchid. She generously offered the use of her Mind, Body, and Tea Conference Room, located on the top level of the Moon Building, where Sindona Cassteel provided bereavement support to a group meeting weekly. Together with her life and professional experiences and commitment to

the Waimea community, Joanne is eager to support and share in the tasks of the North Hawaii Hospice endeavors.

North Hawaii Hospice would like to recognize the service of departing board member Tom Blackburn, ph.D. Tom served on our Board of Trustees for the past four years. He has been secretary, first vice-president and chair of our community outreach committee. Tom was instrumental in bringing several community education programs in partnership with Kahilu Theatre.

Mahalo, Tom, for being such a big part of our hospice program and for all of the other wonderful contributions you make to the North Hawaii Community.


When a person passes on, there is just no way of knowing how the grief will affect those left behind. There are many scenarios. For some, it can be life shattering to the point of paralysis. For others, they hold the scar of a broken heart but a force is ignited to continue on with a new purpose in life. Nohea Nakaahiki is the latter.

You might have read the story about her husband, Bully, and his fight with ALS in the Spring 2009 NHH newsletter. ALS is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Bully was diagnosed with this disease in July 2006, while living in Aptos, California.

This is a continuation of that story, but the true focus in what follows is how Nohea funneled her grief into an extremely productive and meaningful experience. In her article, she shared the progression of Bully’s disease, the struggles of living in a small town with limited medical resources and how hospice pulled the family

through the biggest challenge of their lives. She had written that she didn’t know what the family would have done without the hospice team or how they even managed before hospice.

Nohea and her two children, Mahealani and Max, decided to leave California and bring Bully home to the islands in July 2007. Bully was leaving behind an amazing team of seven specialists and coming to Waimea where there was no ALS support, not even an ALS Association in the state of Hawaii. This is where hospice was crucial. Nohea was the bridge connecting overseas communication between Bully’s doctors in California with the NHH staff to maintain a quality of life for Bully as best they could.

Little did Nohea know that her experience of 24 years as a litigation paralegal would be a tremendous tool in the care of her husband. Her ability to do extensive and detailed research allowed her to be proactive rather than reactive in managing Bully’s symptoms. In understanding the progression of the disease, Nohea

could predict what equipment and supplies she would need to add to the ALS arsenal at home. She shared, “My job has also helped me in my advocacy work as the research aspect, letter writing, and continuing education continues.” The work is never done.

In 2008, Nohea reached out to the mainland ALS Association asking for help in Hawaii. This call for assistance fell on deaf ears for some reason. There was never a response until Nohea met the CEO and president of the ALS Golden West Chapter in September 2010. Simultaneously, she wrote to Senators Inouye and Akaka and Governor Lingle for assistance. They all responded with contacts to local, state, and federal agencies. Senator Inouye was especially sympathetic to Nohea’s pleas and shared a personal story of a war buddy diagnosed with ALS. His compassion was evident as Nohea received calls from people he had directly contacted.

As Bully’s disease progressed, he needed equipment that was not covered by insurance. Nohea

Nohea, Mahealani, and Max at the Monterey Walk to Defeat ALS in September 2010 – this is the Walk that set their ALS advocacy and awareness campaign in full motion.

Bully’s famous first Walk to Defeat ALS that they did in Napa, California in or around May 2007. He was 1-year into his diag-nosis and walked the entire route in his slippers.

nohea Walks on ‡


Nohea and Senator Daniel Inouye in his President Pro Tempore office (May 2012) – this visit was a turning point in their family’s advocacy efforts.

Nohea and fellow Hawaii ALS advocacy delegate, Elroy Chun (hus-band of late Peggy Chun who lived with familial ALS from 2002 to 2008), with then Representative Mazie Hirono (May 2012).

organized a fundraiser on Oahu to raise this money. At that time, she met another ALS patient. Bully communicated to Nohea that he wanted her to share all they had learned along the way with these patients.

At last in June 2010, the inevitable came to be — Bully passed but left his family with the mission to continue on and help others with the debilitating disease. The groundwork had already been laid with Nohea’s connections to doctors and politicians. The third and final memorial service held in California, which also coincided with an ALS Walk and Bully’s birthday, would be a time of immense grieving for the family but also when the stars aligned. Nohea was approached by the CEO of the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association to lead the effort of adding the state of Hawaii to the Association. The family agreed to take on this task in Bully’s honor.

There was no time to fall apart and allow sadness and depression to paralyze forward movement. While continuing her demanding paralegal work, Nohea and her children

coordinated with the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association to organize the Ask the Experts panel in April 2011 in Honolulu. It featured neurologists, medical scientific researchers and related medical professionals from around the world. The goal was to provide Hawaii with ALS awareness and let ALS patients know they are not alone.

The momentum was building for progress. Nohea was invited to the National ALS Advocacy/public policy Conference in Washington D.C. in May 2011 as a Hawaii delegate for ALS advocacy. There she met in person for the first time: Representatives Hanabusa and Hirono, Senators Inouye and Akaka. This was a push for federal funding and key legislation affecting ALS research. She would return to D.C. in May 2012 where her meeting with Senator Inouye was pivotal. The time spent there resulted in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s approval for an additional $6 million to continue the National ALS Registry. Simultaneously, conversations with Senator Akaka and other

collective efforts would lead to changes in the veterans Affairs disability rating system where veterans diagnosed with ALS would be rated 100% disabled upon the diagnosis. As of January 2012, these veterans would receive the benefits they deserved and needed much sooner than had been the case.

Next was an ALS registry seminar in September 2012. This would allow people in Hawaii with ALS to have their case identified in a national database and provide critical information to help find the cause of the disease and how it can be treated and hopefully cured one day.

In April of this year, Nohea has reached a milestone in her efforts by sending out the kick-off email for the first ALS Walk in Honolulu. It is scheduled for Saturday, September 21 at Kapiolani park. Years of dedication to the care of her husband, as well as raising awareness of ALS in Hawaii, have paid off. She has learned of four patients on Kauai from the kick-off email. Her hope is to fly to Kauai to visit them and share her knowledge, just as Bully would have wanted.


Between now and September 21, there is still a large check-off list in preparation for the walk—recruiting walk teams, corporate sponsorships, volunteers, donations for raffles, and spreading the word. The goal in place for this ALS Walk is to raise $150,000 for creating a clinical team with equipment and services who will reach patients on all islands.

What Nohea has accomplished thus far would be a feat for any person. But her ability to place her grief in the passenger seat as she surges ahead is especially impressive to anyone who has lost a loved one. She admits that

she cries on a daily basis, missing her husband of 26 years. It has been such a rollercoaster ride of emotions, feeling at times that it was not possible to continue on with the work at hand. Yet there is the constant reminder that the Nakaahiki Family suffered and persevered through Bully’s ordeal for a reason — to help other families in the same situation and make it possible for Hawaii’s ALS patients to go out of this life with dignity. Nohea has also had to stay strong for her two kids. She leads the family effort as they stick together in reaching this goal. Looking forward to the ALS Walk has

been therapeutic in their healing process. Nohea’s mantra is to “Lose yourself in serving others.”

Hawaii lost Bully, a warrior in his own right. But Hawaii gained a female warrior in Nohea. She is an inspiration to those who know her or her story and certainly to those patients who will benefit from her dedication and drive to provide more accessible care in our island home.

For more information about the upcoming ALS Walk in Honolulu on September 21, 2013, please visit this website: http://tinyurl.com/alshonolulu

Floating Lantern Ceremonyto honor and remember loved ones that have

passed. There will be a sharing of music, hula, Taiko drummers, chanting and prayers followed by a lantern release into pauoa Bay at sunset.

Admission is free. Floating lanterns for inscribing messages and decorating will be provided for a suggested donation. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Complimentary self-parking will be provided by The Fairmont Orchid.

sunday, august 25, 20135:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Coconut groveTHE FaiRmonT oRCHiD, Hawaii

1 North Kaniku Drive, Kohala Coast, 96743

For more information or to reserve a lantern, call North Hawaii Hospice at 885-7547 or visit www.northhawaiihospice.org

Everyone is welcome!


Off to the Races

Across the globe in Louisville, the 139th Kentucky Derby was already done when lovely ladies

and charming gents arrived at pukalani Stables in their finest attire for the first North Hawaii Hospice Derby Day. Both events were on the damp side but raindrops will not stop a southern celebration. “Off to the Races” proved that you do not have to be at Churchill Downs in Kentucky to have a good derby time.

Before being seated, there were mint juleps to be had. If that is not your poison, there were also Jack Daniels and Bourbon pours, beer and wine to wet the whistle. With cocktail in hand, the silent auction lured in the audience to hover over tantalizing items: local artist paintings, feather lei, Nicaraguan cigars, nights at a beach side cottage, massages, and quilts to name a few. A special treat, or rather retreat, for some attendees was the cozy cigar stall offering a variety of 12 different cigars from mother’s antiques & Fine Cigars of Kohala.

It actually takes only two minutes for the horses to race one and a quarter miles at the Kentucky Derby.

Fortunately the Waimea guests had more than two hours to enjoy the transformed setting of the pukalani Stables, with the sweet sounds of the gary Washburn Jazz Trio filling the air. John Richards successfully guided the guests from the auction room/bar to the “infield” and then it was “Off to the Races.” Sweet tea and prosecco flowed, while trays of savory authentic southern fried chicken, ham biscuits, quiche and an array of finger sandwiches were served by a flurry of volunteers. Under the supervision of Jaisy Jardine and Chef Hubert Des marais, a stable room-turned-kitchen housed the assembly line of people, plates and food catered by The Fairmont Orchid at a generous fundraising rate. The triple crown of desserts featured Chef Des Marais’ bourbon pecan diamonds and red velvet cupcakes, plus a special derby day cake from the artistic hands of Kelly Wakayama.

Twenty-one tables were adorned in a display of unbridled beauty including items such as saddles, weather vanes, golden derby balloons and the reddest of roses. Without the many charitable

‡


enthusiasts sitting at the tables in their best digs, this event could not have been the success it was. Tremendous gratitude goes to the hosts and hostesses: pat and Tiffany Bergin/margaret Woodard; graciela Borisoff; muffett Callender/Joan moynahan; Lai Chong/Julie Hendricks; Katherine Werner Ciano; Wendy Craven; marquita Denison/Cynda Unger; marie Fellenstein Hale/gena mcFarland; Kadie Harris; marty Hind; Emily Hoover/sharon potter; Tai King/amber Richards; Lynn Lally; Kathleen mcCann; Denise Ray; anne Rediske; Joanne sameshima; John stover/Bayardo aviles; and ali Woods. Just as stunning as the tables were the hats on the guests’ heads. Some were purchased in paris while others were created with supplies from the local hardware store. All were a feast for the eyes. The top winners were: Best Ladies Hat - Cece ashton; Best Ladies Ensemble - Denise Ray; most Dapper man - Dr. Randy Cislo; most men at Table - Dr. John stover and Bayardo aviles.

A grandiose amount of thought and effort among an amazing committee began last August to bring about the event tying in so well with our Waimea/parker Ranch horse racing traditions. It also coincided perfectly with the actual date of the Kentucky Derby. Hats off to this terrific team of nine for their commitment to North Hawaii Hospice’s first and fabulous derby day celebration: muffet Callender, Wendy Craven, marty Hind, Jaisy Jardine, Diana mahaney, Julie mattson, Joan moynahan, Denise Ray and Linda West. To acknowledge the detailed endeavors of each committee member would be ideal and also a short novel. Suffice it to say that the fruits of their labor were very effective in raising $33,000 to support the clinical operations of North Hawaii Hospice. They also succeeded in creating a new opportunity to dress up and be festive in Waimea.

But it does not stop there. It takes a village to run a derby. Gratitude is extended to an amazing line up of volunteers and North Hawaii Hospice staff who covered a whole gamut of activities to keep guests in southern comfort: susan akeo, madi Bartlett, Holly Bell, mike Bennet, Laura Bodell, alicia Brady (bartender), Kathy Brown, Darnee Brighter, Renee Brighter, Eric Case, sindona Cassteel, Eric Chillingworth, Taich Chong, scott Craven, Chris English, Kim giffin pickard, stephen green, Kaiki gunderson, Kay Hansen, Tiny Henriques, Lynn Higashi, Leighton and Robby Hind, Catrinka Holland, gayle Hubbard, Esther and Harold Hughes,


Cathie Jardine, mike Judd, U’i Kahoopii, Claren Kealoha-Beaudet, Toby King, ski Kwiatkowski, Lisa and stewart Lawrence, mark mahaney, anna mcFarland, suzanne mcnaughton, Hilary millar (bartender), Colleen norris, John Ray, Denise Reyes, Jennifer Richardson, stephanie Rutgers, misty salinas, Jason small, michelle smith, ashley stokes, nicole Vedelli, Elaine Warner, and DeeDee Warren. Also appreciated were the parking attendant skills of the Boy scouts of pa’auilo, Troop 1: Dustin amalato, Kekoa amalato, Brandon Ragasa, Ricky Vallente and severin Wold.

There were many benevolent people and businesses who generously provided donated items and services. A warm mahalo goes to: Brookfield Homes Hawaii - underwriting the invitations and publicity; Kathy Clarke (Kathy Clarke Hawaii) - chairs; Jim Higgins - Jack Daniels; Claren

Kealoha-Beaudet - beautiful horse and lei; sharon potter - welcome palaka flags; pukalani stables; suzanne sasaki - sewn aprons for wait staff; scott seymour - floral designs; starbucks - coffee; alvin Wakayama (Kamuela Liquor store) - prosecco; ali Woods - fresh mint for the tasty juleps; and Young’s market Co. (Woodford Reserve Craft Bourbon).

North Hawaii Hospice would like to express its sincerest gratitude, once again, for the big things that happen in our little town. If the work hours of all involved were tallied, it would very likely be much more than the number of roses draped on the winning horse. For those of you pondering that derby fact, it is 554 roses. This community—full of generous, creative, and dedicated people—wins a first place ribbon in the heart of our organization. We look forward to seeing you at the races next year!


new Faces at Hospice ‡

After completing her undergraduate degree in Michigan, there were two possible avenues for megan mcCaffrey: waitressing or going back to school to become a nurse aide. The medical field enticed her and ultimately funneled her toward social work, serving the people of Hawaii. We are relieved that she did not take the route of serving food.

Megan arrived on Oahu in the early 1970s starting her professional career as a counselor in a heroin treatment program. That, right there, should tell you that Megan does not shy away from a challenge. It was her jobs at Straub Clinic as a nurse aide and then office manager, focused on patient counseling and discharge planning, which sparked the desire as well as need to return to school. Within a few years, Megan attained her master’s degree in social work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Ironically, Jobi Frorath, her current counterpart at hospice, was in the same program but they did not know each other.

An internship at the Queen’s Medical Center had Megan doing social work all over the hospital. Specifically, her time in the oncology department and counseling terminally ill patients under a wonderful mentor would prove to be an invaluable experience. The merging of Megan’s two worlds, medicine and social work, filled many years at various institutions with adolescents and their families, elderly clients transitioning to independent living situations and patient coordination of post-hospital needs. North Hawaii Community Hospital beckoned Megan to Waimea in 2001. They benefited from her multiple layers of expertise for 11 years. She was ready for a break from the hospital environment and maybe from working in general.

In theory, Megan is retired. One would not know that, as she has been filling in at North Hawaii Hospice as a social worker since April 2012. The transition from hospital room

to a patient’s home has been a welcome and fulfilling change of environment. She has the time

to sit and focus with her patients in an uninterrupted setting. Additionally, there is a great deal of familiarity with the patients and their families, some she has known through her hospital work in Waimea. This connection allows for a bond of trust when she enters a patient’s home.

Megan is fine-tuning her definition of retirement and what that will really look like. There is undoubtedly travel in her future. From her early undergraduate studies in anthropology, she is drawn to the discipline of archaeology and even participated in a dig in Ireland—this is

especially interesting when your family name is McCaffrey, originating from Northern Ireland. A trip to the Roman ruins of pompeii and a hot air balloon ride above Europe are on her retirement horizon. One day she will make the switch from social worker to just social. You might even see her performing on stage at a theater nearby. Until then, we are a fortunate community to have Megan among us.

Kimberlee Hester is new to the hospice team but not new to the nursing world. Thirty years ago, it was truly a calling when she woke up one morning and knew that nursing would be her career path. She has done long-term, end of life, and endless hours of volunteer care. Coming to hospice is filling her need to do this kind of work on a larger scale. She admits, “It’s certainly hard work, but very rewarding.”

After graduating from nursing school, Kim got to know the meaning of hard work by facing the HIv epidemic. In 1980 she had her first HIv patient and later worked in a public health

clinic involving a great deal of HIv research. Over 30 years later, she continues to help people with HIv but in a country on the other side of the


globe. Kim traveled to Swaziland in Africa as a volunteer to help plant gardens and be of service in orphanages, schools and hospitals directly affected by HIv. She believes that good can be done anywhere. We are fortunate that Kim is here, on the Big Island, to do her good work with so much compassion.

Her personal experience of helping family and friends in their end of life transition has made a tremendous difference in her work. perhaps it was the early exposure to death when Kim was 12—her favorite aunt had passed—which influenced her decision to become a nurse. Even more personal is the fact that she is a cancer survivor of 11 years. This allows for a real connection and understanding to the patients she works with.

Kim is an Oregonian who transplanted to Kohala 25 years ago. This country girl spends her free time in the peace and comfort of nature. She learned long ago that meandering walks through the forests and mountains of the pacific Northwest would provide the solace and answers she sought during times of immense grief. On her island home, she can be found digging her hands in the Kohala dirt to garden and landscape across two acres of land. Otherwise, she is alongside her husband, a merchant mariner, taking advantage of ocean adventures. Together someday, they might find themselves on board a Semester at Sea ship to new global destinations with Kim’s nurse hat still on. Surrounding herself with family and friends is just as important as her need to be immersed in nature. By joining NHH, she has just widened her family and friend circle.

She hails from New Jersey but Jobi Frorath has spent most of her life in the 50th state. At 12 years of age, being a psychologist sounded like a plan. In her teens, her sympathetic heart was drawn to children without parents so she wanted to work in an orphanage. All of those dreams eventually morphed into the world of social work, her life’s passion.

Jobi was and still is a mover and a shaker. She spread her social work talent across Hawaii. Following her master’s completion in social work from University of Hawaii at Manoa, Jobi made her way to Hilo in 1984 entering the field of Child protective Services. “It allowed me to get to know and become sensitive to the thinking, history, love and values within our families and communities

on this island.” In the 1990s the opportunity to teach introductory social work classes at UH Hilo fell into her lap—all the while doing her day job of social work. A director position for a pilot treatment program for high-end behavioral and

emotionally challenged adolescents at Farrington High School took Jobi back to Oahu. It was successful and spurred the same program on Kauai, but Jobi felt a tug to return to the Big Island.

It was 1996—the opening year of the North Hawaii Community Hospital—when Jobi joined its staff as the first social worker/discharge planner upon opening. This shifted her social work to a medical setting, bringing all of her previous experiences into play for patients and their families. A few years later, an invitation from Nancy Bouvet and Fran Woollard to work at North Hawaii Hospice planted her here.

She shared that this was where she was meant to be, connected to her strong sense of spirituality in a genuine setting. Being a part of the hospice team is her favorite of all jobs.

After 2005, Jobi ventured from hospice for a few years. Just as important as her social worker title is the title of grandmother. Jobi has six adored grandchildren and she does not hesitate to cross the pacific Ocean to care for them when her children call upon her. She took a social work position with the Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled under the Department of Health in Waimea and then consequently enjoyed temporary retirement in 2010. Her desire to return to the fulfillment of hospice work again brought her back in 2012. The flame for this work cannot be put out, luckily for NHH.

What you may not know about Jobi is that her interest in profound communication with human beings also includes an artistic outlet of sculpting them. Watch out Rodin. In the future, she might take more time to sit with a mound of clay or for the real estate license exam. Jobi exudes a zeal for her work, family, helping, learning - all for a better world. NHH appreciates her passion and especially her postponement of retirement.


Why a new annex building? For 27 years North Hawaii Hospice has provided hospice care in the homes of patients and their families. In the last four years, our patient care staff (nurses, aides, social workers, and counselors) has grown from 5 to 16 persons. Due to the dramatic increase in demand for the services of North Hawaii Hospice, the time has come to add space for our patient care staff. The annex building is designed in context with the surrounding residential neighborhood. By reflecting the scale and proportions of a typical Waimea residence,

the annex building has a long future of flexibility and adaptability. Our patient care staff will operate from the annex building, which will provide a private environment conforming to HIPPA regulations, separate from the public domain. The annex building will also provide a storage area for medical supplies used by the clinical staff in the homes of our patients.

What will happen to the existing facility? Our well-known building will continue to serve the needs of North Hawaii Hospice and the community at large, including public entry to our operations and office space for the administrative staff. The existing meeting room will continue to provide flexible space, ideally suited for volunteer training, educational programs, and conference area for our Board and other community non-profit organizations.

Leave a Legacy Donors of $2,500 or more will have the opportunity to recognize a loved-one.

Hospice Services In addition to providing hospice services in patients’ homes, North Hawaii Hospice provides hospice and supportive care services to patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and foster care homes.

Capital Campaign: A New Meeting Place for Hospice Patient Care Staff

27 years of caring

North Hawaii Hospice 65-1328 Kawaihae Road Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 (808) 885-7547 www.northhawaiihospice.org North Hawaii Hospice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your most appreciated donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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CommUniTY BEREaVEmEnT pRogRams with sindona Cassteel, mFT

CiRCLEs oF sUppoRT The Journey of grief and Reconciliation

1st Tuesday of every month in WaimeaMoon’s Center, upstairs

5:00pm - 6:30pmKohala Meetings:

Call for dates and times, 885-7547

RETURning To CEnTERExplore using art in healing grief

(no art experience necessary) September 2013

Date and time TBA

“Grieving is a process, taking as long as it takes— It may never truly end, but it will always change.”

for the Circle of Support

Join N

orth Hawaii Hospice

for the Circle of Support

Join N

orth Hawaii Hospice

CIRCLE OF SUPPORT— THE JOURNEY OF GRIEF AND RECONCILIATION

How do we ever find our way out of the wilderness of grief? Join us in exploring the actions we can take to

regain our sense of well being.

6 Mondays, Oct 11-Nov 15, 4:30-6:00

RSVP by calling Tutu’s house 885-6777 or North Hawaii Hospice at 885-7547

CIRCLE OF SUPPORT— THE JOURNEY OF GRIEF AND RECONCILIATION

How do we ever find our way out of the wilderness of grief? Join us in exploring the actions we can take to

regain our sense of well being.

6 Mondays, Oct 11-Nov 15, 4:30-6:00

RSVP by calling Tutu’s house 885-6777 or North Hawaii Hospice at 885-7547

north hawaii hospice · supportive care services. two of the health insurance ... supportive care...

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