Health program director fired
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
WAIMANALO — The Waimanalo Health Center has fired the head of the Women, Infant and Children's program two weeks after area residents demonstrated against the center's decision to end the program.
Christina Shoemaker Simmons confirmed that she was fired Monday but said she didn't want to comment on the issue until she had consulted an attorney.
In a March 18 story about the demonstration, Simmons said she would prefer to keep WIC at the center because it is more convenient for her clients, who also use other services provided at the center.
Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), said he has learned that another employee was fired Friday and he believes both actions were retaliation for efforts he spearheaded that resulted in the firing of the health center's former executive director, Kawahine Kamakea-Ohelo.
The health center said the two employees were fired for cause and because of privacy rights would not disclose the reason.
"He (Hemmings) keeps saying this is politically motivated," said Greig Gaspar, health center spokesman. "Kawahine is gone and we're trying to move on. We're trying to create programs that will keep us fiscally sound."
The firings are the latest in a number of changes that have hit the health center, starting late last year with allegations of misappropriation of money by Kamakea-Ohelo, her termination in January and the announcement of the intention to discontinue the federally financed WIC program when its contract expires in October.
Hemmings called for an investigation of Kamakea-Ohelo after he received copies of her health center credit card bills that showed tens of thousands of dollars in what he said were personal charges.
Hemmings said he never revealed the identity of the people who gave him the information used against Kamakea-Ohelo, but believes that employees loyal to her engineered the recent firings, believing that the two women were the whistleblowers.
He called for the health center's board to reinstate the two employees and to get rid of the people responsible for the firing.
"I'm stunned by the cruelty of this," Hemmings said, adding that one of the employees is a widow with five children.
Gaspar said the health center doesn't have time for retribution and doesn't know who gave Hemmings the information.
The center's employees and management are saddened that Hemmings airs his concerns in the media, Gaspar said.
On several occasions the center has invited Hemmings to meet with the interim executive director, Dr. Charman Akina, to discuss the issues, Gaspar said.
"I find it sad and pathetic that Mr. Hemmings chose not to do so and rather takes it upon himself to air health center issues in the media only," he said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
