The Sisters of St. Francis, celebrating 125 years in Hawai'i, continue to leave an indelible mark in the Islands. Their Top 10 Isle contributions:

1. Mother Marianne Cope arrived in 1883 to care for patients with Hansen's disease at the request of King David Kalakaua. She and six sisters first cared for 200 patients in Kaka'ako, then in 1888 went to Kalaupapa, where more than a thousand people were exiled. The sisters opened Bishop Home for homeless women and girls with the disease, restoring dignity and beauty to their lives, and took over the Boys Home at Kalawao after Father Damien's death. The sisters continue to have a presence overseeing the Kalaupapa General Hospital.

2. At Queen Kapi'olani's request, they administered Malulani Hospital, Maui's first general hospital, from 1884 until 1929. It's now known as Maui Memorial Medical Center.

3. In 1884, they took over St. Anthony's School for Girls on Maui to teach English. They went on to serve at Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina for 71 years.

4. Saint Francis Convent School was opened to prepare young women for religious life to continue the work with Hansen's disease patients and then to prepare girls for nursing school. It later became a full-fledged institution from preschool to high school and after 82 years, Saint Francis School opened its doors to boys.

5. Hospice care for the terminally ill was pioneered by Sister Maureen Keleher (the first hospice facility here is named in her honor). St. Francis Hospice's is the largest hospice program here; it has helped to develop programs in Japan and Korea.

6. Organ transplants have given a second lease on life to hundreds of Hawai'i's patients with life-threatening illnesses, thanks to the sisters' spirit of innovation and risk-taking.

7. In 1900, the sisters opened St. Joseph as an all-girls' school in Hilo to complement St. Mary's School for boys, run by Marianists. When the brothers withdrew, the sisters assumed leadership of both schools. Today, it is the only Catholic institution on the Big Island.

8. St. Francis Medical Center-West was opened in 1990 for the West and Leeward O'ahu communities.

9. St. Francis Medical Center brought hemodialysis here in 1965, and its kidney dialysis program became the state's largest hospital-based program. The program was sold to Liberty Dialysis in 2006.

10. The Franciscan Adult Day Center improves the quality of life for elderly participants while providing caregivers respite. It is the only adult day center located on the same campus as a school, providing intergenerational activities.

Cheryl Tamura is public relations manager for St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, which will be celebrating the Sisters of St. Francis' yearlong "Women of Vision, Women of Risk — Celebrating 125 Years of Service in Hawaii." The year culminates with a re-enactment of the sisters' arrival, with a procession at 11 a.m. Nov. 8 from King Street and Fort Street Mall to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. Bishop Larry Silva will preside over a closing liturgy at noon.