KRHCAI Accomplishments  1998-2013

Over the past 10 years KRHCAI has made significant contributions to its local community and the State of Hawaii and continues to further its mission. The following are examples of  significant contributions and achievements;

1998 – Organized and mobilized “grassroots” community to keep Ka’u Hospital Emergency Room from closure resulting in State Legislature mandate to establish Ka’u / Puna rural health plan;

1999 – Established support from Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to conduct a feasibility study of Medicare Flexibility Critical Access Hospital Program, that resulted in Hawaii Health Systems establishing 9 Critical Access Hospital designations (including Ka’u Hospital), generating millions of dollars in Medicare revenues;

2001 – Facilitated the first Hawaii Community College Rural Development Project’s Emergency Response Academy Program in Ka’u,  resulting in 8 high school students receiving training and certificates in CPR, First Aid, Water Safety and Wild Land Junior Firefighting;

2002 – Facilitated community input and submitted compelling testimony by families from Ka’u, who had been affected by the use of crystal methamphetamine.  Resulting in successful passage of State Representative Bob Herkes  Drug Nuisance and Abatement Act (HRS);

2003 / 2004- Coordinated with UHM/John A. Burns School of Medicine, Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center, Ke Anuenue Area Health Education Center (Science Education Partnership Award)  and the Bishop Museum’s Holo Holo Science: Medical Mystery Family Night to Pahala Elementary / Ka’u Intermediate & High School with over 500 students, parents and faculty attending;

Established partnership with National Kidney Foundation, Hawaii        “Kidney Early Education Program” & Free Diabetes Screening Clinics in Pahala,     resulting in over 150 residents in the Ka’u District  participating;

2004 –  Established infrastructure for the Ka’u Resource and Distance Learning Center (Quida & Doc Hill Foundation $11,050 / Atherton Family Foundation $10,000)  and started Wellness Program (Quida & Doc Hill Foundation $28,950).

2004 /05 – Established  “Nana I ke Kumu O Ka’u” drug prevention and health awareness youth education program (Hawaii Community Foundation through the Dept. of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services Program $50K). There were 36 students 6 staff that participated in this two week summer program. “ Nana I Ke Kumu” then evolved into becoming a year round drug free youth program.

2005 – Established Diabetes Care Management Demonstration Project (Quida & Doc Hill Foundation $ 21,850) and established  a drug free After school Program (Quida & Doc Hill Foundation $18,500), for 21 students 4^th – 9^th grade;

Established partnership with Hawaii Community College Title 1 Program  “I Ola Haloa” Hawaiian Lifestyles distance learning;

2006 – Facilitated  the second Ka’u Emergency Response Academy Program resulting in 6 students in grades  8^th -9^th,receiving training and certificates in CPR, First Responder, Water Safety and Firefighting;  these students attended and participated in the Hawaii State Rural Health Association Annual Conference;

2007 – Established a partnership with Jean Michel Cousteau Ocean Futures Society and Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island to facilitate “Ambassadors of the Environment” Summer Youth Program for 40 students, from 4^th – 9^th grade.

Facilitated the third Ka’u Emergency Response Academy Program resulting in 7 students age 13-21yrs. receiving training and certificates in CPR, First Responder, Water Safety and Firefighting.  This year’s students were the first to take the National Firefighters Exam open book test and passed with 71% – 82% average; these students also, raised funds to travel to Washington D.C. and participate in the National Rural Health Policy Institute,  and received scholarships from the State Office of Rural Health and private donations.  This was the first mainland trip for all students, Senator Akaka arranged a VIP tour of the White House,  and met with other Hawaii congressional representatives, then  toured the Smithsonian Institutes and National Library of Medicine;

Established the first Dept. of Education / Dept. of Labor & Industrial Relations Huiana Internship worksite and program in Ka’u.  This program provides students with .5 high school credits for 60 hours of work.  Students work experience is based on Dept. of Education Career Pathways.

Established Dept. of Education Hilo Community School for Adults satellite classroom in Pahala providing English Literacy / Citizenship, Adult Basic Education, Adult secondary Education, GED, Workplace Literacy, Family Literacy, and Competency based High School Diploma Program;

In 2008,  KRHCAI would like to expand our program activities at the Resource & Distance Learning Center, to include  Ka’u Hospital’s Upward Mobility Nursing Pilot Project. Preliminary discussion between Ka’u Hospital, KRHCAI, HMSA Foundation, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, USDA Rural Development, State Office of Rural Health, Hawaii County Research & Development and Metro Care.

In 2012, Established KRHCAI website

Established the Annual Floating Lantern Celebration at Punalu’u Beach

Coordinated the Ka’u Rural Health Community Association’s annual Rural Health Conference

Received State Office of Rural Health Community Initiative Grant

Established partnership with Dept. of Health/Dept. of Defense Tropic Care:  Ka’u 2013

Established Stanford University Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP) site and workshops

Established Ka’u Rural Health Academy

Established Nana I Ke Kumu O Ka’u Internship Program

Established University of Hawaii Manoa:  Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

Partnership with University of Hawaii Manoa/John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Vog Study

Established Ka’u Marketplace Assister Organization Hi’iola Program (2013)

Established Hawaii Island Food Basket Pahala site (2013)

Partnership with Hawaii Community College / DLIR Workforce Development: iCAN, Individualized Career Achievement Network student support self-paced program (2014)

Partnership with HawCC Nursing and Allied Health Division to offer hands-on tutorial for the Compass Test (2014) leading toward LPN requisites

Established 2-year CPR/AED Certification training for KRHCAI Academy students with David Roque, Instructor

Established Ka’u Rural Health Association Inc. (KRHCAI) Facebook and Twitter pages (2014)

(to be continued)