Volume 22, Issue No. 1 - December 31, 2012

P r i n t
A Weekly Publication of the People of Queen’s
December 31, 2012
Volume 22 – Number 1
Team Player Eileen Cacal Named EOM
“You raised a good one; you should be
very proud, she’s fantastic to work with,”
Cherylee Chang, MD, told the parents of
Eileen Cacal, RN, of the QET 4 Neuro
ICU. Everyone had gathered to surprise
Eileen on her day off with a party naming her QMC’s November Employee of
the Month. “I thought I was on my way
to church,” Eileen laughed, “I couldn’t
figure out why he [boyfriend Jarrell Mahusay] was coming to Queen’s.”
QMC/QHS President Art Ushijima
quickly grabbed a lei from COO Mark
Yamakawa and joked, “didn’t you notice that big white tent outside? It’s really to acknowledge you.” He was referencing the tent set up in the plaza for
the QHS holiday party, which was to
begin an hour after Eileen’s event. “But
seriously,” Art continued, “We really do
want to acknowledge your compassion
and your commitment.”
Eileen brought the room to tears with
her emotional acceptance speech. “What
I do is just a reflection of you all. We can’t
do it without everybody; I mean everybody from the leadership to the doctors and nurses, to CTS, Housekeeping…
every single person contributes to the
healing process. Queen’s is blessed and I
feel so blessed. Everyone here is part of
Christ’s healing ministry and it is an honor to work at this organization, to work
with other people who aren’t here just for
the paycheck. We do it because it’s our
calling to give people a second chance.”
Her boyfriend Jarrell then offered
a blessing, thanking God not just for
the food, but for help and guidance in
healing patients. Not surprisingly, Jarrell and Eileen met at church, at St. Joseph’s and at New Hope Sand Island,
and that it is the major focus of her life.
Eileen’s father recently revealed to her
that he had given her to God when she
was three months old and asked Him to
make use of her. “I know that I am exactly where I am meant to be,” Eileen said.
“When you accept that, believe wholly in
that, the rest is easy.” As a student nurse
she did her last rotation on 4D and felt
extremely lucky when they had an opening and hired her upon graduation. “I try
to be the light not just for patients, but
for families and coworkers, too. It is difficult work that we do on 4D; but when
patients come out of it OK, it is so joyful.”
Eileen’s nurse manager, Kawehi
(Continued on page 3.)
Karen Quon Retires After 23 Years of “Heaven”
Above: (Front, l to r) Grandsons Tytan Yamanaka and Blayde Omura. (Back) Grandson Hunter
Yamanaka, Karen Quon, and daughters Priscilla Omura and Debborah Quon.
QHS/QMC President Art Ushijima
often jokes that Karen Quon thought
she died and went to heaven when
she started working for him 23 years
ago. At Karen’s recent retirement tea,
throngs of well-wishers crowded the
Kamehameha Auditorium to wish her
well, including, of course, her boss Art.
In way, working for Art was like going to heaven, or at least a slice of it,
for more than one reason. After spending the first 10 years of her career at St.
Francis Medical Center as an administrative secretary, Karen worked her first
two years at Queen’s as admin secretary
for “tough” boss Rosalie Kasaba. For
those of you who have been around long
enough to remember, the former Vice
President of Facilities was in charge of
building the Queen Emma Tower, which
was completed in 1985. Another reason
is that Art would become QMC President, and eventually QHS President &
CEO—and Karen’s career goal was to
serve as an executive assistant to a president. For sure, there were a lot of challenges—even under Art—but most of it
has been enjoyable. “It’s been an honor
and a privilege working with Art,” said
Karen. “We worked as a team to fulfill
the mission of our founders.”
Karen always wanted to work in a
secretarial position. She graduated from
Hawai‘i Business College back in the day
when shorthand ruled. She liked the duties of a secretary, such as writing cor2
respondence, and dreamed of being an
executive assistant to a president because
it was the highest caliber position one
could reach in her profession. Karen did
reach her career goal and enjoyed the position for many years, but the people she
interacted with were the most memorable. Some of the most rewarding times
for Karen came out of being asked by Art
to visit patients and pray with them and
their families. These patients included
those who were well known in the community, former trustees, and Queen’s
employees. “The best thing about Queen’s
was interacting with employees, patients,
physicians, and trustees,” she shared.
After 25 years of dedicated service to
Queen’s, the first thing Karen wants is
to have no set schedule for the day. “I
(Continued on page 3.)
Karen with husband Randy.
EOM Eileen Cacal
(Continued from page 1.)
Kauhola, RN, lauds Eileen as the motivation behind 4D’s 50th percentile certification rate. “She encourages and inspires
everyone,” Kawehi said. Eileen also organized an Appreciation Week for support
departments, providing snacks or meals
for an entire week just to show how
much QET 4D values their contribution
to the team effort. Departments recognized over the past year include Respiratory Therapy, CTS, and Imaging. She
rallies staff to participate in community
volunteer events such as Children’s Day
at the Capitol, helps teach Neuro classes,
and precepts Co-op student nurses. She
is also on 4D’s Nursing Excellence Committee, which maintains TJC preparedness and Magnet Recognition readiness.
“Eileen strives to make a difference
and has an incredible impact on both
staff and patients,” Kawehi explained.
“She is always looking for the ‘next
thing.’ I know she is already secretly
planning the next ancillary department’s Appreciation Week.”
Karen Quon Retires
(Continued from page 2.)
just want to get out of bed when I want
and not at 4:00 am!” she said. “I want to
have my coffee and watch Good Morning
America and get my day started when
I want to.” But don’t get the impression
that there is no schedule. There are a
lot of home projects she and soon-tobe-retired husband Randy have on the
agenda, like painting the house, finishing the tiling on the patio, replacing
kitchen and bathroom cabinets, building
the brick barbecue that never got built,
and the like. Gifted with a green thumb,
Karen likes to work in the yard too, and
one of her hobbies is raising orchids.
That means that Randy will have to resurrect their hothouse from disuse. And
Another coworker called her a blessing, a great motivator, and said that she
is full of “wonderful, exciting energy
that is awesome and fun to work with.”
One of her other nominations stated,
3.
“She places great importance on promoting respect, trust, and empathy in the
work environment which is essential in
improving morale and work satisfaction.
We on 4D are so proud to work along side
this incredibly selfless nurse and more
importantly, great human being.”
Eileen herself deflects all praise to
God and to her parents. “My parents
really valued education and they made
great sacrifices for my sister and myself. My sister [Jaclyn Gervacio] is an
then there’s travel—an educational trip
to China, and then another one just to
shop in Hong Kong and Shanghai. She’ll
also spend time with her three grandsons Slayde, Cayde, and Blayde on Maui,
and the two on O‘ahu, Hunter and Tytan.
“I thank each and everyone for coming
to my [retirement] celebration,” said Karen gratefully. She also thanked her generous boss Art, who gave her (and Randy)
another slice of heaven as parting gifts: a
special guest luncheon at Morimoto’s and
a fully paid trip to Las Vegas, including a
stay at the posh Vdara Hotel & Spa and
tickets to the Celine Dion show. (Tammie Kotani gave limo services in Vegas
Above: Eileen Cacal, RN, is flanked by her
parents, John and Evelyn Cacal. Boyfriend
Jarrell Mahusay stands behind.
incredible role model as well. I followed
in her footsteps and it led me here,” Eileen said passionately. Jaclyn is a kindergarten teacher and could not attend
the EOM celebration because it was the
last day of school, “She has to be there
with the kids!” Eileen exclaimed.
Eileen feels that Queen’s is a very special place, even a blessed place. “It is rare
to find a place that both looks to the
future the way Queen’s does and that
also has a strong history of stewardship
and connection with God’s work. Just
do your best. You never know which
moment may be the miracle work; but
I hope and pray that it is all of them.”
as her gift.) Although Karen doesn’t plan
to don a yellow volunteer smock, we’re
sure to see her around from time to time
for friends’ retirements and celebrations.
The Queen’s ‘ohana wishes her all the best
and many years of retirement bliss.
3
Queen Emma Runs for Office
Left: Queen Emma, circa 1870. Hawai‘i
State Archives photo.
Her constituents responded to the
times by composing over three dozen
mele about her right to the throne, her
abilities, and their personal viewpoints
on the long-term importance of the outcome of the election. Hawaiian historian, musician, and teacher, M. Puakea
Nogelmeier, published He Lei no ‘Emalani,
a book of chants written for and about
Queen Emma in 2001, and devoted a
chapter to her political exploits in both
Hawaiian and translated to English.
This week as we commemorate the
177th anniversary of Emma’s birth,
please enjoy this brief peek at one of
these intriguing mele.
Queen Emma Kaleleonalani Na‘ea Rooke
was an active, savvy, and tenacious politician. Perhaps influenced by her friend
and peer, Britain’s Queen Victoria, Emma continued to lead by word and deed
long after the death of her beloved King.
In 1874, King William Charles Lunalilo
died without naming an heir, and the
crown was thrown into contention. David Kalakaua proclaimed his candidacy
and Emma’s loyal followers all but demanded that she oppose him.
Join the Queen’s Team at the 2013
Great Aloha Run held on Presidents Day,
February 18, 2013. Register for the Presidents 100 Club with Club Code 53 during
online registration at http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/GAR/. Forms and fees
are due by noon on Friday, January 25.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Will J. Henderson college scholarship only for dependants of Queen’s
employees is now accepting online applications at hawaiicommunityfoundation.
org. The organization also administers
over 160 other scholarships; collateral
materials such as transcripts, the FAFSA
and essays may be required. Most deadlines are at the end of February.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The CARE•Link Team has a tradition of
4
A Kulanihako‘i au ‘ike i ka nani
Ka lulu a na lehua i ka wai
E wahi ka mana’o ma muli aku
Lohe ‘olelo mai au i ‘ane‘i
Eia a‘e ‘Emalani a hiki mai
‘O ke kia pa‘a ‘oe o ke aupuni
‘A‘ohe kupu‘eu e naue ai
Aia ka pono ia ha‘i ka pa‘a
Kau mea nanea i ka po la‘i
Ha‘ina ka inoa i lohe
Ke Kuini ‘Emalani he inoa.
Literal translation:
I was at Kulanihako‘i and saw the beauty
The scattering of the lehua upon the water
The thought breaks through ever after
Having heard the news here
Emmalani approaches, soon to arrive
You are the steady mast of the nation
That no rascal could cause to rock
The power is held fast by another
Yours is to repose in the calm night
Tell of the name, that it be heard
Queen Emmalani, a name song.
Queen Emma’s
Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, January 2, 11:00 am
Queen’s Conference Center
Hawaiian mele always have kaona,
hidden meaning, locked within the poetical images. We encourage you to seek
out the book and explore the many
other fascinating stories told within.
As Noglemeier himself wrote, “Each
mele in this section has direct political
significance, and taken together, they
provide more insight into some rather
oblique allusions than could be expected upon viewing the pieces in isolation.”
P r i n t
Weekly
The Queen’s Print Connection is published
by Creative Services. If you have news or
wish to opine, call us at 691-7532 or e-mail
jkimura@queens.org. The news deadline is the Monday prior to publication.
QHS/QMC President . . . . Art Ushijima
donating cash to the Hawai‘i Foodbank
in lieu of Christmas gifts. This year they
collected $1,000! The Foodbank gratefully acknowledged the gift saying, “Special
events and community food drives account for 24% of…donations. One in seven in our community receives emergency food…through the Hawai’i Foodbank
network.” Just $10 provides food for 25
meals. Now that’s food for thought.
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roy Cameron
Editor/Writer . . . . . . . . . . . .Jason Kimura
Assist. Ed./Writer . . . . . . Glee Stormont
www.queens.org
The Queen’s Medical Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Please recycle