KMC OHANA
Friends and Family Taking Care of Friends and Family
Employee Highlights
September 2025 WOWS
Christian has been recognized for embodying Kahuku Medical Center’s values: Kuleana – Responsibility, Hilina‘i – Build Relationships of Trust, Uhoho‘i – Our Patients Will Leave and Return, and Maika‘i Loa – Strive for Excellence. When a patient arrived at the Emergency Department with a wound vac and no remaining supplies, Christian immediately stepped in to help — even though this was outside of his department and not his assigned patient. Approaching the situation with a positive attitude, he assessed the patient and, upon determining that the necessary supplies were not available in the ED, skillfully removed the existing dressing, applied a clean new dressing, and provided the patient with additional supplies to take home. He also took the time to instruct the patient on how to properly change the dressing at home. Through his willingness to help without hesitation, his kindness, and his calm, reassuring manner, Christian provided comfort and support to the patient during a stressful moment. His actions exemplify excellence, responsibility, and genuine care, reflecting Kahuku Medical Center’s values in a meaningful way.
Sena has been recognized for embodying Kahuku Medical Center’s values: Ola – Life, Health, Well-being & Support, Kuleana – Responsibility, and Uhoho‘i – Our Patients Will Leave and Return. When a patient and CNA were dropped off at the wrong location, Sena immediately stepped in to help. Without hesitation, he drove to town to pick them up, ensured the patient arrived at his appointment, and then safely brought both the patient and CNA back. His quick action and willingness to go above and beyond demonstrated genuine care, responsibility, and support for both patients and staff. Sena’s efforts reflect the spirit of teamwork and compassion that strengthen the KMC ‘ohana, ensuring that patients receive the best care and support every step of the way. His WOW recognition truly reflects the appreciation of his KMC ‘ohana for his everyday efforts to enhance the work environment and service to all customers — exemplifying his commitment to Kahuku Medical Center’s core values.
Jimboy has been recognized for embodying Kahuku Medical Center’s values: Kuleana – Responsibility, and Hilina‘i – Build Relationships of Trust. When a patient in distress expressed suicidal thoughts, Jimboy took immediate and compassionate action. He called the patient to check in, contacted emergency services, and ensured that the patient received the urgent care and support they needed. His swift response, strong sense of responsibility, and genuine concern for the patient’s well-being reflect the deep trust and commitment at the heart of Kahuku Medical Center’s mission. Jimboy’s actions exemplify how living our core values can make a life-saving difference.
October Birthdays
Alana Barrera- October 1
Aidan Clifford- October 1
Jovelyn Bagasol- October 2
Marites Badua- October 3
Cheryl Ragragola- October 4
Eric Jensen- October 6
Ryan Burciaga- October 7
Tulafono Mata'u- October 7
Oakley Davis- October 8
Vanessa Roberts- October 8
Mac Tyra-October 9
Jacily Basque-Flores- October 10
Melanie Lauaki- October 10
Anocha Saensupha- October 11
Ernest Blodak- October 12
Savannah Nelson- October 15
Daniel James- October 17
Philip Ballesteros- October 21
Max Gordon Smith- October 21
Nicole Touli- October 22
Nik Hoskins- October 27
Melvie Pascual- October 27
Jovan Malufau- October 28
Dylan Rieben- October 30
New Employees (October)
Cindy Uluave- ED Health Unit Coordinator
Andrea Uyehara- Patient Access Representative
Harley Hurlbut- Patient Access Representative
Shilpa Sabbani- Occupational Therapist
Company News/Updates
CEO Message
October 2025 Department Updates
Chief Nursing Officer, Quality Assurance
Andrea Moralez
The team continues working with OCHIN Epic to ensure smooth workflow integration. Andrea encouraged ongoing participation in meetings and expressed gratitude for everyone’s involvement and patience.
Chief of Strategic Growth and Development
Kori Napa’a
🩸 Blood Bank Appreciation
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated their time and blood during our recent drive. While we fell just short of our target, the impact is undeniable — lives were saved, and our community showed up with generosity and heart.
🎉 Raffle winners will be announced by Friday — stay tuned!
📣 Marketing Momentum
Our team has been active in the community, participating in several events that spotlight the incredible services and people of KMC. More opportunities are on the horizon, and we’re excited to continue sharing our story with the broader community.
🛏️ Admissions Update
Our inpatient census remains low, but our team is working diligently to connect with referring acute facilities and fill beds. Yesterday’s outreach included a sweet touch — delivery of KMC’s famous banana cream pies. They’re always a hit and a reminder of the care and connection we bring to every partnership.
Chief Financial Officer
Ariane Haiola-Castillo
August was another strong month for the hospital, marked by continued growth and positive results. Our inpatient census reached an impressive 93.4% occupancy, while volumes in our outpatient areas continued to rise. Notably, Dental surpassed their monthly goal by 22% and Rehab exceeded theirs by 11%, reflecting the dedication and hard work of our teams.
Overall, it was a great month for the hospital as we achieved a positive bottom line.
In addition, projects to automate finance processes are progressing well. A key milestone was reached with the automation for Materials Management going live on September 15th, streamlining operations and improving efficiency.
Chief Operations Officer
Matt Mamizuka
For Operations, we submitted about $4MM worth of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) to the state for our biannual supplemental request.
Projects currently underway include:
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Emergency generator replacement
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Facility interior painting
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PA system replacement,
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Elevator remodel
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Server room renovation.
Information Technology
Jason Ava
The IT Department is pleased to share some exciting updates as we continue to strengthen and expand our services in collaboration with the EHR team to support the growth and structure of our organization.
We’re proud to announce that beginning tomorrow, October 15, the Call Center will officially go LIVE in the KMC Clinic. This marks an important step in improving communication and access for our patients and staff. In addition, LIVE Super User Training for OCHIN Epic will begin on Thursday, October 23, with the first training session kicking off this initiative. We are also actively working on providing additional access points to enhance workflow efficiency across departments.
As always, we encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged: Check out the latest IT Bits & Bytes Bulletin for important updates and resources. Please take a few moments to complete the short survey.
Human Resources
Sarah Niumatalolo
Thank you all for your hard work and continued efforts. We had a successful career fair appearance at BYUH this month, and we appreciate everyone who participated in the blood drive. As the year comes to a close, we have some holiday activities planned. Our first events include pumpkin decorating and Kamehameha Schools Trick or Treating. Time to get your spooky on!
Anniversaries
Dana Ramos- 24 years
Dawn Sullivan- 5 years
Danielle Hodges- 3 years
Luisa Matangi- 2 years
Erlinda Rose- 11 years
Bryce Boon Mapu- 15 years
Aina Togiai- 1 year
Helena Noga- 2 years
Kristen Polenz- 8 years
Charlesey Akina- 3 years
Richard Swaja- 5 years
Daniel Colley- 7 years
Grace Kammerman- 1 year
Kimberly Soileau- 6 years
LeeAnne Bennett-Jeremiah- 21 years
Michelle Guarino- 4 years
Tanya Karnavy- 5 years
Shailaila Yamashita- 5 years
Tarah Henderson Toderic- 3 years
Morgan Bell- 1 year
Melissa Baker- 5 years
Katherine Alam- 12 years
Christian Wortman- 11 years
"Throughout my time at Kahuku Medical Center, my favorite part about working here has been the incredible opportunities to grow both personally and professionally, while making a meaningful difference within our organization. I’m grateful to work alongside some of the most wonderful individuals from our community, serving our community. As our mission beautifully states, ‘Friends and Family taking care of Friends and Family." (5 years at KMC)
Shalaila Yamashita
"When I think about my time here, I have to say that my favorite part of working here is that we all just like one big ohana. I work with an awesome night crew that has solid support and works together for the good of those we serve". (20 years at KMC) -Selina Pinto
Company Events
📣 Community Events – Come Join Us!
Our Marketing team has a few exciting events lined up this month, and we’d love to see you there!
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“Talk Story” & Makeke @ the Marriott Laie
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Marriott Laie
It’s a great chance to connect with our community, share stories, and support local vendors. Bring your friends and family!
🩸 KMC Blood Bank – Give the Gift of Life! 🩸
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Kahuku Medical Center
Join us at Kahuku Medical Center for our community Blood Bank Drive! Your donation can help save lives right here on the North Shore. Whether you're a first-time donor or a regular supporter, every drop counts.
✅ Walk-ins welcome
✅ Bring a valid ID
✅ Light refreshments provided
Let’s come together to support our community’s health and well-being. Be a hero—donate blood!
🎉 Save the Date – KMC Employee Party!
We’re thrilled to announce that our KMC Employee Party is officially confirmed for:
🗓️ Saturday, January 10th, 2026
📍 Location & Details: Coming in October!
Get ready to celebrate all the amazing work we’ve accomplished together. We can’t wait to honor our incredible team!