National Hospital Week (May 10-16) is an annual tradition dedicated to recognizing hospital workers for their unwavering care for patients and communities. First championed by the American Hospital Association in 1921, this year’s national theme was “Healing Happens Here.”
To show its gratitude, the West Hawaii Region treated the staff at Kona Community Hospital (KCH) and Kohala Hospital to a week-long celebration packed with activities and plenty of food.
Together, the two facilities employ roughly 1,000 permanent staff, providers, and contracted personnel across dozens of health care specialties.
Anne Padilla, community relations and program manager of West Hawaii Region shared, “It’s important that we maintain this annual tradition of celebrating Hospital Week at each facility. The work our staff does can get incredibly stressful, and this week allows us to truly malama (care for) those who go to great lengths to care for our communities.”
Each year, the festivities are organized by the hospital leadership and Marketing Department alongside dedicated volunteers from the Employee Engagement Committee.
“Our goal was to bring joy into the workday,” shared Ben Drees, KCH Employee Engagement Committee Chair. “Seeing everyone smile and having fun made the planning entirely worth it.”
Capitalizing on the growing regional momentum and collaboration between the two hospitals, organizers introduced a new highlight this year: a friendly LEGO competition.
Departments at both facilities were challenged to “Build Your Role” using donated LEGO bricks. Internal winners were selected from each hospital, advancing to a regional showdown on social media where the community voted for their favorite creation.
At KCH, the Ultrasound/Echo Department took the top prize with a meticulously detailed model of an ultrasound room complete with a machine, probes, sink, sharps container, and a mini-sonographer.
At Kohala Hospital, the Emergency Room Department claimed both the facility title and the ultimate Regional Champion crown. Their winning entry featured a cardinal (a frequent local visitor) watching over a dumpster fire, a humorous nod to the unpredictable chaos that emergency teams manage every day. As Regional Champions, the Kohala Hospital ER team took home the grand prize of a $300 catering credit donated by the West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation.
Thanks to a vital partnership and the generous support of local donors, the marketing team and committee were able to greatly enhance this year’s events. Their contributions made the week especially meaningful and helped ensure our region’s health care heroes felt truly valued, appreciated, and celebrated.
To learn more about West Hawaii Region and its hospitals Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital, visit kch.hhsc.org or kohala.hhsc.org.
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