OUR HISTORY
Hospice of Kona Timeline... Originating in England, hospice care evolved into a popular concept in the United States in the mid 1970’s. Since then, more than 5,800 U.S. Hospice programs of care for the terminally ill have been established. Attending the dying in a palliative (comfort) rather than a curative manner resulted in rapid growth of the hospice movement. Hospice offers terminally ill patients the hope of comfort and death with dignity. U. S. Congress designated November as National Hospice Month, demonstrating again that hospice now receives national recognition. The first West Hawai’i hospice was created in 1985 by Sandol Stoddard, author of the renowned book, “The Hospice Movement”. A champion of the hospice philosophy; Stoddord led a group of dedicated volunteers to establish a hospice care facility in West Hawai’i, after the rector of their church became terminally ill with cancer. By 1987 the organization began seeing patients and in 1992 became a Medicare certified facility, known now as Hospice of Kona; providing hospice care to patients meeting the eligibility requirements of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. In March of 2006, with the hire of Chief Executive Office, Laura Varney - Hospice of Kona would become a leader in end-of-life care; establishing programs and services to meet the need of a growing West Hawai’i. Between 2006-2009 the organization would grow to increase its patient care capacity and charitable services programs, including Camp Erin, a youth grief camp for children and teens experiencing the death of a significant person and developing a volunteer program of over 100 patient care and program volunteers. In 2010 Memory Lane, Hospice of Kona’s thrift boutique was established as a center for giving, sharing, and volunteering. A call-to-action, by an overwhelming request from families and the Kona community to donate their unwanted items, in the hope to support other families in need. Memory Lane met the community need by establishing a center for the donations of lightly used clothing, housewares and furnishings; a place where those who were able could give back and an opportunity for Hospice of Kona to support the larger Kona community. Memory Lane’s success is directly connected to the good work our team of hospice professionals and staff do in our patients homes every day. The success of the Memory Lane thrift boutique would expand to include an additional store, Memory Lane Too in 2019. A furniture thrift store dedicated to selling large donated furniture and home goods. The proceeds from Memory Lane would go on to support Hospice of Kona’s residential care home, Nakamaru Hale. Established in 2012, the hospice residential house, Nakamaru Hale was founded to provide an alternative, comforting and compassionate home-like setting, to patients and families in need of 24-hour hospice care. The Hale accommodates up to five residents in semi-private rooms for respite, transitional or longer-term care within a safe, supportive and nurturing environment during the final months of life. With the support of funds raised through Memory Lane Thrift Stores and annual fundraising; eligible patients may stay at the Hale without being charged for services outside the Hospice Medicare Benefit. From 2015 to present, Hospice of Kona has expanded to include charitable programs and services to meet the growing need of its community. Including: Maluihi Grief Services - offering grief counseling, grief support groups, community events, youth bereavement programs and “We Honor Veterans”, a service to honor all veterans on hospice care. With the support of donors, grant funding and fundraising, Hospice of Kona accepts patients on the basis of medical need and not on the basis of their ability to pay. As a dedicated community partner, we will continue to work toward providing the best in professional and compassionate care for those at end-of-life.
75-5925 Walua Road, Kailua Kona, HI 96740 808-334-7700 Info@HospiceOfKona.org

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OUR HISTORY

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Hospice of Kona Timeline... Originating in England, hospice care evolved into a popular concept in the United States in the mid 1970’s. Since then, more than 5,800 U.S. Hospice programs of care for the terminally ill have been established. Attending the dying in a palliative (comfort) rather than a curative manner resulted in rapid growth of the hospice movement. Hospice offers terminally ill patients the hope of comfort and death with dignity. U. S. Congress designated November as National Hospice Month, demonstrating again that hospice now receives national recognition. The first West Hawai’i hospice was created in 1985 by Sandol Stoddard, author of the renowned book, “The Hospice Movement”. A champion of the hospice philosophy; Stoddord led a group of dedicated volunteers to establish a hospice care facility in West Hawai’i, after the rector of their church became terminally ill with cancer. By 1987 the organization began seeing patients and in 1992 became a Medicare certified facility, known now as Hospice of Kona; providing hospice care to patients meeting the eligibility requirements of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. In March of 2006, with the hire of Chief Executive Office, Laura Varney - Hospice of Kona would become a leader in end-of-life care; establishing programs and services to meet the need of a growing West Hawai’i. Between 2006-2009 the organization would grow to increase its patient care capacity and charitable services programs, including Camp Erin, a youth grief camp for children and teens experiencing the death of a significant person and developing a volunteer program of over 100 patient care and program volunteers. In 2010 Memory Lane, Hospice of Kona’s thrift boutique was established as a center for giving, sharing, and volunteering. A call-to-action, by an overwhelming request from families and the Kona community to donate their unwanted items, in the hope to support other families in need. Memory Lane met the community need by establishing a center for the donations of lightly used clothing, housewares and furnishings; a place where those who were able could give back and an opportunity for Hospice of Kona to support the larger Kona community. Memory Lane’s success is directly connected to the good work our team of hospice professionals and staff do in our patients homes every day. The success of the Memory Lane thrift boutique would expand to include an additional store, Memory Lane Too in 2019. A furniture thrift store dedicated to selling large donated furniture and home goods. The proceeds from Memory Lane would go on to support Hospice of Kona’s residential care home, Nakamaru Hale. Established in 2012, the hospice residential house, Nakamaru Hale was founded to provide an alternative, comforting and compassionate home-like setting, to patients and families in need of 24-hour hospice care. The Hale accommodates up to five residents in semi-private rooms for respite, transitional or longer-term care within a safe, supportive and nurturing environment during the final months of life. With the support of funds raised through Memory Lane Thrift Stores and annual fundraising; eligible patients may stay at the Hale without being charged for services outside the Hospice Medicare Benefit. From 2015 to present, Hospice of Kona has expanded to include charitable programs and services to meet the growing need of its community. Including: Maluihi Grief Services - offering grief counseling, grief support groups, community events, youth bereavement programs and “We Honor Veterans”, a service to honor all veterans on hospice care. With the support of donors, grant funding and fundraising, Hospice of Kona accepts patients on the basis of medical need and not on the basis of their ability to pay. As a dedicated community partner, we will continue to work toward providing the best in professional and compassionate care for those at end-of-life.
OUR HISTORY
Hospice of Kona Timeline... Originating in England, hospice care evolved into a popular concept in the United States in the mid 1970’s. Since then, more than 5,800 U.S. Hospice programs of care for the terminally ill have been established. Attending the dying in a palliative (comfort) rather than a curative manner resulted in rapid growth of the hospice movement. Hospice offers terminally ill patients the hope of comfort and death with dignity. U. S. Congress designated November as National Hospice Month, demonstrating again that hospice now receives national recognition. The first West Hawai’i hospice was created in 1985 by Sandol Stoddard, author of the renowned book, “The Hospice Movement”. A champion of the hospice philosophy; Stoddord led a group of dedicated volunteers to establish a hospice care facility in West Hawai’i, after the rector of their church became terminally ill with cancer. By 1987 the organization began seeing patients and in 1992 became a Medicare certified facility, known now as Hospice of Kona; providing hospice care to patients meeting the eligibility requirements of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. In March of 2006, with the hire of Chief Executive Office, Laura Varney - Hospice of Kona would become a leader in end-of-life care; establishing programs and services to meet the need of a growing West Hawai’i. Between 2006-2009 the organization would grow to increase its patient care capacity and charitable services programs, including Camp Erin, a youth grief camp for children and teens experiencing the death of a significant person and developing a volunteer program of over 100 patient care and program volunteers. In 2010 Memory Lane, Hospice of Kona’s thrift boutique was established as a center for giving, sharing, and volunteering. A call-to-action, by an overwhelming request from families and the Kona community to donate their unwanted items, in the hope to support other families in need. Memory Lane met the community need by establishing a center for the donations of lightly used clothing, housewares and furnishings; a place where those who were able could give back and an opportunity for Hospice of Kona to support the larger Kona community. Memory Lane’s success is directly connected to the good work our team of hospice professionals and staff do in our patients homes every day. The success of the Memory Lane thrift boutique would expand to include an additional store, Memory Lane Too in 2019. A furniture thrift store dedicated to selling large donated furniture and home goods. The proceeds from Memory Lane would go on to support Hospice of Kona’s residential care home, Nakamaru Hale. Established in 2012, the hospice residential house, Nakamaru Hale was founded to provide an alternative, comforting and compassionate home-like setting, to patients and families in need of 24-hour hospice care. The Hale accommodates up to five residents in semi-private rooms for respite, transitional or longer-term care within a safe, supportive and nurturing environment during the final months of life. With the support of funds raised through Memory Lane Thrift Stores and annual fundraising; eligible patients may stay at the Hale without being charged for services outside the Hospice Medicare Benefit. From 2015 to present, Hospice of Kona has expanded to include charitable programs and services to meet the growing need of its community. Including: Maluihi Grief Services - offering grief counseling, grief support groups, community events, youth bereavement programs and “We Honor Veterans”, a service to honor all veterans on hospice care. With the support of donors, grant funding and fundraising, Hospice of Kona accepts patients on the basis of medical need and not on the basis of their ability to pay. As a dedicated community partner, we will continue to work toward providing the best in professional and compassionate care for those at end-of-life.