Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 10, 1 October 2021 — OHA Delivers “Meals & Mahalo” to Frontline Health Care Workers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Delivers “Meals & Mahalo” to Frontline Health Care Workers

By Ed Kalama In an efFort to show aloha and appreciation to some of our dedicated heahh care workers who are working on the frontlines of Hawai'i's battle against the COVID 19 pandemic, the Oflice of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has been making 'ai pono luneh deliveries to loeal hospitals. It started in late August when 226 Hawaiian food plates were delivered to staff at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center's Emergency Room and three COVID-19 units. Deliveries continued in September with 100 'ai pono lunches delivered to frontline heahh care workers at Straub Medical Center. OHA is also coordinating "Meals & Mahalo" deliveries with Queen's Medical Center West O'ahu, Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Heahh Center and Waimānalo Heahh Center, all of whom serve eommunities with a high concentration of Native Hawaiians, to express gratitude. A total of 1,000 meals are expected to be distributed to O'ahu hospitals in this first phase of the program, with plans underway to distribute another 1,000 meals to neighbor island hospitals. "We hear that frontline workers are exhausted and that morale is low, so we wanted to show some mueh deserved aloha to our healthcare heroes for the work they are doing to serve our community," said OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey. "The sharing of food is one of the most 'mana-ful' ways for us to express gratitude in the Hawaiian culture." OHA teamed up with Lunalilo Home, a Native Hawaiian trust, to deliver the "Meals & Mahalo" boxes that went to hospital aides, nurses and physicians who have confronted the ravages of COVID for more than a year and are experiencing a shortage of staff

and capacity with the latest surge of the pandemic. "We are thankful for OHA and its recognition of our dedicated employees at Straub Medical Center," said Dawn M. Dunbar, senior vice president of Philanthropy at Hawai'i Pacific Heahh. "These thoughtful acts of kindness encourage our staff and make them feel supported by the community. Straub's medical teams continue to work to help and heal as many people as they ean through the pandemic." "Our nurses are working many shifts in a row, sometimes sleeping in their cars so they ean get needed rest in between shifts. They display so mueh heart and a passion to keep giving and caring for our patients," said Rayne Soriano, regional director for Nursing Professional Practice and Operations who received the Hawaiian food plates at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center. "When we get these signs of connection with the community we are blessed to serve, it honors us and keeps us coming back every day. Hopefully these meals will fill not only their stomachs with sustenance, but touch their hearts as well, uplifting their spirits so they ean continue to care for the community." As of Aug. 30, 2021, the top three zip codes in the state with the highest case counts for the previous 14 days were 96792 (Nānākuli/Wai' anae) with 861 cases, and 96706 (Kapolei/'Ewa) and 96797 (Waipahū) with 774 and 574 cases, respectively. Over the course of the pandemic, the total number of cases for these areas was 11,821. The west side of O'ahu has one of the highest eoncentrations of Native Hawaiians in the state. Overall, roughly 62% of Hawai'i is fully vaccinated, but Native Hawaiians have among the lowest rates with some estimates showing the rate at about 40%. "We need a kākou mindset to beat COVID - that

means thinking of protecting not just ourselves, but our entire community, our unvaccinated keiki, our kūpuna, our vulnerable populations with pre-existing conditions, and our overworked healthcare workers," Lindsey said. "Perhaps the most critical way eommunity members ean share their aloha for frontline medieal workers is to stay safe by staying home, washing hands, social distancing, and - of course - getting vaccinated." ■ To find a vaccination site near you, go to https://hawaiicovidl9.com/vaccine/. Other community organizations interested in supporting this effort should contact Solutions Pacific at team@sphawaii.com.

Tammy Smith left) of Lili'uokalani Trust has taken the lead in preparing and distributing lunches to frontline health care workers through 0HA's Meals & Mahalo program. In August 226 Hawaiian plates were delivered to the staff in Kaiser Moanalua's emergency room and three C0VID-19 units. - Photo: Jason tees

Luneh distribution at Kaiser Moanalua after the Meals & Mahalo deliverv. In Hawaiian culture, sharing food is one of the most meaninaful ways to show aloha. - Photo: Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Meaieal Center

Health care workers at Straub Medical Center on the frontlines of providing care for patients sick with C0VID-19 were treated to luneh by OHA to mahalo them for tneir service to the community. - Photo: Jason tees