Enriching The Lives Of Patients
By Estelle Kaya, vice president, Kuakini Auxiliary
Kuakini Auxiliary is a volunteer organization that provides social benefit services in accordance with the mission of Kuakini Health System. Through its volunteers and fundraising activities, the auxiliary provides a vital link to the community, as well as invaluable services to all Kuakini Health System subsidiaries.
Kuakini Auxiliary originally was founded in 1899 as the Women’s Benevolent Society. It was formally organized in the 1970s to help serve the needs of Kuakini. Today, the auxiliary continues to be an important component in supporting Kuakini initiatives. To date, it has contributed more than $1.6 million to Kuakini Foundation.
The auxiliary has more than 400 members, many of whom also unselfishly contribute their time and efforts to Kuakini – more than 37,000 hours of volunteer service annually.
Whenever you see adults wearing a yellow smock or vest at Kuakini, they are Kuakini Auxiliary members who voluntarily assist various departments and services, as well as patients, long-term care residents and visitors to help ensure that they have a positive experience while they are at Kuakini. Kuakini’s motto of “Caring is Our Tradition” continues to this day, thanks in part to the dedicated and compassionate auxiliary members. They enrich the lives of patients, long-term care residents, day care participants and the entire health care team at KHS through their daily services at Kuakini.
One of the auxiliary’s biggest events is its annual Kuakini Bazaar. This year, the auxiliary’s 19th annual bazaar will be held Sept. 6 (9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and Sept. 7 (9 a.m. to noon) in Kuakini’s Hale Pulama Mau Auditorium. This open market extravaganza is entirely orchestrated by the auxiliary and will feature food items, pottery and lacquer ware, white elephant items, plants and produce, jewelry, handcrafted items, baked goods, waffle dogs, andagi, shave ice and more! There will be terrific bargains for everyone and, most importantly, all proceeds will benefit Kuakini Foundation.
For more information about this event and Kuakini Auxiliary, call volunteer services at 547-9184 or visit kuakini.org.
See you at the bazaar!
