Posted on: Friday, June 3, 2005
Shriners will rebuild hospital
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Shriners Hospital for Children wants to replace its 38-year-old buildings on Punahou Street with an estimated $80 million hospital complex.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser The hospital fills a unique niche in Hawai'i's medical landscape, offering free treatment — and hope — for families who can't afford care for children who suffer from some of the most severe orthopedic problems or who need specialized treatment. Shriners has helped more than 23,000 kids in Hawai'i and the Pacific Basin in its 80-plus years in Honolulu.
But the hospital has outgrown its facility and is now so crowded that "we literally have surgeons, physicians working out of storage closets," said Don Orton, chairman of the hospital's board of governors.
"It is time for us to rebuild to meet the challenges of technology and advanced procedures into the 21st century," he said.
The hospital is expected to remain remain open during construction.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser An application for what's called a "plan review use permit" will be submitted to the city Department of Planning and Permitting next month.
The neighborhood board voted unanimously to support the project, and the hospital intends to make presentations before other area boards.
The hospital provides pediatric orthopedic services, focusing on children with bone, joint or muscle problems. It offers medical care free of charge to children with orthopedic deformities, diseases or injuries such as clubfoot or scoliosis, as well as orthopedic problems caused by disorders such as cerebral palsy.
Marianne Hodapp's son Martin, 13, had spinal surgery on May 26 for scoliosis. Martin, an outgoing and talkative teen, has muscular dystrophy and must use a wheelchair, but his scoliosis made sitting in the chair painful. Without the surgery, he would have been confined to his bed.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser Linda Kaneta's daughter Kelli had surgery on her right ankle on May 31.
Kelli, 13, who plays soccer and runs cross-country for Iolani School, was injured during a scrimmage earlier this year.
Kaneta said they tried putting a cast on the ankle and then a brace, but nothing eased her daughter's pain. Surgery was the final option.
"If she had her way, she would have had surgery back in February," Kaneta said. "She was not afraid."
Kelli, who hopes to become a doctor, wants to get back to sports as quickly as possible, and her mother is thankful for the quality care provided at Shriners.
"When she woke up after surgery, there were three nurses helping her," Kaneta said. "Our hearts go out to them."
Having a Shriners hospital in Hawai'i means an awful lot, said Rich Meiers, president of the Healthcare Association of Hawai'i, a trade group for hospitals.
"They not only take care of our own children but (those) throughout the Pacific Basin who can't afford healthcare," he said. "The entire Shriner system is a very worthy and noble endeavor. They do a magnificent job."
The Shriners established its Honolulu hospital in 1923. In 1930, the Dowsett family donated the use of the Punahou Street site. The Dowsett mansion was then converted to a 30-bed hospital. The current hospital was built in 1967.
Anne Kelly, director of patient care services, said the 86,000-square-foot hospital has only one shower for each 20-bed ward and four patients must share one toilet.
"Since 1967 we've added a lot of programs," Kelly said. "We don't have the right facilities. It met the needs in 1967 but now it doesn't."
The proposed 143,649-square-foot hospital building will remain at a 40-bed capacity while expanding support and outpatient facilities, Orton said.
Gene Yong, a planner with Belt Collins Hawai'i, said the plan review use permit will require City Council approval and a public hearing. If approved, planning and design will continue through the end of 2006, with construction being done in phases from 2007 to 2011.
Troy Miyasato, an architect with Ferraro Choi and Associates, described the design as 1940s Territorial style that will fit in well with the Punahou area. He said it will have an open feel, using windows to bring in sunlight and expanding the amount of green space fronting the hospital.
Parking will be increased from 116 stalls to 170 stalls, he said.
"It will satisfy the hospital's needs while maintaining the character of area," Miyasato said.
Reach James Gonser at 535-2431 or jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.
When completed in 2011, a new four-story, 40-bed hospital would take the place of all five buildings on the 6.6-acre property and provide the latest in pediatric orthopedic hospital standards for patient care, research and education, Shriners officials said. The project is now in the early stages of design and permitting.
Kelli Kaneta, 13, tried her new crutches during a visit yesterday by sister Kristi and mom, Linda Kaneta. Shriners surgeons repaired Kelli's ankle after a sports injury. She hopes to be back on the field soon.
Orton, along with other hospital staff members and members of the design team, made a presentation on the project at Wednesday's Manoa Neighborhood Board meeting, seeking support for a needed permit.
Marianne Hodapp of Hilo sees to the comfort of her son, Martin, 13, who had spinal surgery at Shriners last month for scoliosis. Without the surgery in Honolulu, Martin would have been confined to his bed.
"Before surgery my son couldn't sit straight," said Hodapp, a Hilo resident. "With the surgery life is going to be much more normal for him."
Shriners Hospital for Children has helped more than 23,000 youngsters in Hawai'i and the Pacific Basin free of charge.
• • •
| Shriners Hospitals for Children
• The Shriners provide free pediatric, orthopedic care to children under 18 as well as specialized care for burn victims and children with spinal injuries. • The philanthropic group has 20 hospitals in the United States and one each in Canada and Mexico. • The group covers all medical expenses, including the screening, treatment and rehabilitation, paid for with an endowment fund. • In 2005, the hospitals operated with a $625 million budget, with Honolulu spending $16.3 million. • About 27,000 children are admitted every year, including more than 500 in Honolulu. Old vs. New Hospital: one floor — four floors Square footage: 86,000 —143,649 square feet Height: 31 feet — 85 feet Parking stalls: 116 — 170 Beds: 40 — 40 Building's footprint as percent of property: 28.7 — 21.4 Public meetings Presentations on the expansion project are set for: • The Makiki/ Lower Punchbowl/ Tantalus Neighborhood Board, 7 p.m. June 16 at the Makiki District Park arts and crafts building, 1527 Ke'eaumoku St.; • The McCully/ Mo'ili'ili Neighborhood Board at 7 p.m. July 7 at Lunalilo Elementary School, 810 Pumehana St. For more information, call Gene Yong at Belt Collins Hawai'i at 521-5361. |
