Paul Kaleolani Smith - HIV/EIS Primary Care patient

Waikiki Health Center's HIV/Early Intervention Services have provided medical care to people living with HIV/AIDS since 1986.  Paul Kaleolani Smith is an HIV/AIDS advocate and has been an AIDS patient since 2001.  Waikiki Health Center has provided Paul with medical nutrition therapy and food supplements he urgently needs, often with the help of grants from MAC AIDS Fund and others.  "I wouldn't be alive today if I didn't have a dietitian and nutrition supplements.  When I had very little choices with HIV meds and needed to wait for new ones to get approved, I needed food supplements to heal me...I had many digestive problems, and worked closely with the (Waikiki Health Center) dietitian who gave me supplements provided by a MAC grant to stay alive."  Paul is President of Waikiki Health Center's Board of Directors.
 


"Michael" - Youth Outreach (YO) client

"I can see Michael becoming a CEO some day," Aunty Francine says of the homeless teenager who attended her YO ho`oponopono classes.  Aunty Francine Dudoit-Tagupa is Director of Waikiki Health Center's Traditional Hawaiian Healing program.  Her classes addressed issues that are part of a homeless teen's life everyday: anger management, conflict resolution, violence prevention and self-esteem.  Michael ran away from home where he suffered physical and verbal abuse.  He was in quite a few fights when he first began to live on the streets.  Michael impressed Aunty Francine with his intelligence, common sense, and ability to express himself.  Today, Michael has a job and is staying with an aunt.  Because of what he learned in the classes, Michael has stopped getting into fights.  The class also helped him forgive his parents, who occasionally phone him.  Michael's plans include attending Kapi`olani Community College where he will major in graphic art.



"Felicia" - Friendly Neighbors client

Felicia, age 87, lives with her 40-year-old son.  They moved to Hawaii from Brazil and have no other family members living near them.  Felicia's health has gradually gotten worse, and now she is unable to leave the house unless she is in her wheelchair and accompanied by someone.  Her son takes very good care of her, but like any caregiver he needs a break as well.  Friendly Neighbors volunteers take Felicia to the beach where they share a picnic lunch.  Our volunteers also take her to the mall to pick up her prescriptions at Longs Drugs.  Felicia's enjoyable outings with our volunteers, and the hours of respite care we provide to Felicia's son, make a big difference in both their lives.