BECAUSE OF
YOU...
Families have a special place
for reflection
An important part of providing care at Pali Momi
Medical Center is meeting the spiritual needs of
patients and their families. Located on the second
floor next to guest registration, the hospital’s
newly renovated chapel offers a peaceful reprieve
for those coping with the illness of a loved one.
The makeover was a collaborative effort between
Pali Momi leadership, staff and the community.
Staff pitched in to help with the planning and
construction. Donations to the hospital provided
new paint, flooring and a custom-designed,
stained-glass centerpiece enclosed in a light box.
Island families receive the
comfort they need
The Mitch Kouchi Surgery Center Waiting Area
in Wilcox Memorial Hospital, a 341-square-foot
lounge and consultation room, is named in
recognition of Mitch Kouchi, a member of a
long-time Kaua‘i family that has made generous
contributions to the hospital. “It is especially
fitting that this gift is named in recognition of
a family that has done, and continues to do, so
much for our Garden Island community,” said
Kathy Clark, president and CEO of Wilcox and
CEO of Kaua‘i Medical Clinic. “We are honored
to work alongside them and the anonymous
donor who made the contribution on his behalf,
to help the residents of Kaua‘i.”
Pictured (L to R) Egan Kouchi, Mitch Kouchi, Ron Kouchi, Scott Kouchi.
“The chapel is a work of many people,” says
Pali Momi Chaplain Nathan Kohashi. “It’s a sacred
space used on a daily basis where people come
to find a sense of peace in the midst of pain.”
Honoring a legacy helps others
Gerald Yoshito Sakaguchi was born in a Japanese-American
internment camp during World War II. His family’s experiences
in the camp would influence Sakaguchi throughout his career
as an attorney, where he gave his time and expertise to help
those who faced injustice.
Chaplain Nathan Kohashi in Pali Momi’s newly
renovated chapel. The chapel is dedicated to the
memory of Pali Momi board member, volunteer and
supporter Maude Nishimoto. Local artist Annalee
Jones created the chapel’s centerpiece—a stunning
stained-glass design featuring an image of the
hospital’s iconic sculpture, the ‘āina lani. She also
generously built and donated the light box.
Sakaguchi instilled these values in his children, and when he
passed away in 2012, his son Dr. Bradley Sakaguchi, an OB-GYN
at Straub Clinic & Hospital, decided to honor his father’s memory
by establishing the Gerald Yoshito Sakaguchi Fund. The fund
serves as a legacy to Sakaguchi and his children, who have all
contributed to the fund, which supports high-quality medical
care for patients who are not able to afford
it—a simple, direct support to those in need.
Gerald Yoshito Sakaguchi
Dr. Bradley Sakaguchi,
Straub Physician
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