Kahuku Hospital celebrates 50th year
Honolulu HI Star-Bulletin 30Jul99 L4
By Helen Altonn: Star-Bulletin

Kahuku Hospital, a community hospital on the north shore of Oahu, is here to stay. The Hospital, owned by Hawaii Reserves, Inc., a unit of the LDS Church, is celebrating 50 sometimes rocky years of providing health care in Hawaii. Hawaii Reserves President Daniel T. Ditto says, "I believe the hospital is here to stay now."

The 25-bed hospital, the only hospital serving Koolauloa and the North Shore, wouldn't have made it except for the financial aid provided by the state of Hawaii and four charitable foundations, including the LDS Church foundation. As recently as 1997 the hospital was suffering under a $1.5 million deficit and was on the verge of closing. "And I don't think a lot of people realize how much sacrifice the employees did to keep this place open," said Wayne Fairchild, hospital administrator. "I can't say enough for the staff out here."

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Hospital gave away 300 "Kahuku Born and Proud" T-shirts on Saturday, to the first 300 people who could prove they were born in the Hospital. Other events held on Saturday included a 5K Run/Walk around the hospital, a health fair, placing a commemorative time capsule and visits by the cast members of "Baywatch Hawaii."