Press Releases: Hawaii
January 16, 2012
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Big Island physicians and staff members volunteer at Kahakai Elementary, Waimea Middle School and Waiakea High School
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Kaiser Permanente Hawaii physicians and staff members volunteered their time working in sustainable gardens and on campus maintenance and beautification at Kahakai Elementary, Waimea Middle School and Waiakea High School in commemoration of today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
We are honored to volunteer side-by-side with our local ‘ohana to help serve and sustain the communities we are so fortunate to live in,” said Rick Fong, MD, Kaiser Permanente’s physician in charge for the Big Island. “Through this day of service, it is a privilege for Kaiser Permanente to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by giving back to the people of Hawaii.”
Eight years ago, in honor and recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his advancement of civil and human rights, Kaiser Permanente established an annual day of service that takes place on Martin Luther King Day. Rather than taking a holiday on that day, Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians take part in a “day on” of volunteering dedicated to the memory of Dr. King.
The volunteer projects at Kahakai Elementary, Waimea Middle School and Waiakea High School were in partnership with Hawaii Island School Garden Network.
“The Hawaii Island School Garden Network partners with local schools and their students and families to help build gardening and agricultural programs that will significantly contribute to the increased consumption of locally produced food, student health, wellness and academic achievement,” said HISGN Program Director Nancy Redfeather. “We are so grateful to Kaiser Permanente and its physicians and staff members for continuing to partner with us through this annual day of service, and help to address the health of our community.”
MLK DAY PROJECTS
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii physicians and staff members volunteered today at Kahakai Elementary and Waimea Middle schools from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weeding, pruning and planting crops in the schools’ sustainable gardens, and at Waiakea High School weeding, clearing brush and cleaning the campus.
Today’s volunteer effort is part of several community-service activities by over 500 Kaiser Permanente physicians and staff members taking place on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu, and led by the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, which was formed in 1960 to provide care to all Kaiser Permanente members in Hawaii.
About Hawaii Island School Garden Network
The goal of the Hawaii Island School Garden Network (HISGN) is to help island schools build gardening and agricultural programs will significantly contribute to the increased consumption of locally produced food by involving students, their school communities, and their family networks in food production. HISGN is one of The Kohala Center’s self-reliance initiatives. Visit www.kohalacenter.org/HISGN/about.html for more information.
About Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years. Care for members is focused on their total health being guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Expert care and medical teams are supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Its physicians are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information.
