Tom JacobsHappy Birthday, Kahuku Medical Center. And, how old are you? What? Next year you will be … 90 years old?
Yep. In 1929 the medical center opened its doors to service the Kahuku sugar plantation workers and the North Shore community as “Kahuku Hospital.” It was the first and now is the oldest medical facility on the North Shore, still providing first-rate emergency and follow-on medical service to its community.
But the medical center celebrates another milestone. A November 15, 2008 Honolulu Advertiser article, ten years ago, was entitled, “Kahuku Hospital closing Dec. 31.” After six years of operating in the red and $3 million in debt, the hospital’s board had reluctantly decided to close up shop. Dr. Richard Price, head of the hospital’s ER, was quoted in the article as saying, “A lot of people are going to die needlessly.” He pointed out that the hospital’s closing would leave the 22,000 residents between Kualoa and Waimea Bay with one ambulance and no on-site medical service, saying that the area’s biggest loss would be lack of an mergency room. The ospital intended to file for bankruptcy, the article said.
So … what happened? Well, the hospital didn’t close. It changed its name. Kahuku Hospital became Kahuku Medical Center, moved to a new, modern building (see photo) and continued a somewhat limited but still
caring, professional array of medical services to the community. Now, ten years after the name change,
the medical center will celebrate its ten year, and 90- year, anniversaries on October 27th with a civic
birthday party celebration at the center, with entertainment, food booths, and exhibits,
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Which is why I found myself hiyako-ing down Kam Highway to Kahuku to call upon Alan MacPhee, the new (well, in the saddle since January) Chief Executive Officer of the center. He was friendly, informal, and clearly a happy Kahuku resident. A longtime medical services professional, he left as CEO of a modern hospital in Mariposa, northern California (near Yosemite Park) to take this new job. Why? A new challenge, a change of scenery, a sense of adventure … in spite of leaving three children, a stepdaughter, and four grandkids on the mainland and the vicissitudes of leaving a 2,400 square foot home and squeezing into 800 square feet. Still, MacPhee loves the new job, the challenge, the rural community, and he and his wife love their new ocean-oriented, outdoor lifestyle.
He is clearly enthusiastic about the changes already made to the Medical Center and the ones to come. After an 18-year absence, a new, modern mammography machine will show up next month, joining modern X-ray and CAT-scan, ultrasound, and EKG equipment. The Center offers a modern, six bed emergency room in addition to 21 standard hospital beds, and has added occupational therapy to an increasing list of services.
What are the plans for a celebration of the Center’s twin anniversaries? MacPhee introduced me to Wesley Johnson, his public relations, IT, and public relations guy, who turned out to have a very personal
relationship to the Center: he was born there, in the days when the “hospital” offered maternity services. Wesley was just beginning the organization of local talent and events for the anniversary celebration, which looks promising.
So I left Kahuku with a new appreciation for a dedicated staff of doctors, nurses, and admin/support staff and, after almost 90 years, an October 27th birthday celebration.