Wailuku, Maui – January 16, 2011 – Kaiser Permanente Hawaii physicians and staff members volunteered their time sprucing up areas of the Ka Hale A Ke Ola homeless resource center in Wailuku in commemoration of today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
“We wanted to honor the memory of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by volunteering in our community, and lending a hand to Ka Hale A Ke Ola, an important resource on Maui that provides assistance to those in need on a daily basis,” said David Ulin, MD, Kaiser Permanente’s Maui Lani clinic chief.
Eight years ago, in 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. This approach to celebrating Dr. King’s life has enabled thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians to provide valuable services to our communities and to further advance the Kaiser Permanente legacy that parallels Dr. King’s values. 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.
“We would like to extend a big ‘mahalo’ to the physicians and staff members at Kaiser Permanente who helped to create a more pleasant environment here for our tenants of Hale Makana o Waiale affordable rental housing,” said Executive Director Becky Woods. “It is so gratifying to see our community pulling together to help others in need, particularly in these tough economic times.”
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii physicians and staff members volunteered at Ka Hale A Ke Ola homeless resource center from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. today. Today’s volunteer effort is part of several community service activities by more than 500 Kaiser Permanente physicians, staff members and other volunteers taking place on Maui, Oahu and the Big Island, and led by the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, which was formed in 1960 to provide care to all Kaiser Permanente members in Hawaii.
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.
About Ka Hale A Ke Ola
Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers, Inc. began sheltering the homeless in 1986, utilizing an old church building in Puunene as a shelter. Since 1993, the program has been housed on a five-acre site in Wailuku. Ka Hale A Ke Ola – Westside, our newest facility located in Lahaina was built through a partnership of the State of Hawaii, County of Maui, the Weinberg Foundation and other funding sources.
Ka Hale A Ke Ola provides basic services under one roof, linking with over 50 human service agencies to provide for the clients’ needs, such as medical, mental health, vocational rehabilitation, and financial services.
