Since our founding in 1986, Pacific Health Ministry has remained dedicated to supporting the local community in good times and bad. Today, as we navigate a new world overwhelmed by the implications of COVID-19, we take comfort in the ways community holds us together.
One example is the recent generosity of Central Pacific Bank (CPB) and Café Julia. Through CPB’s #KeepHawaiiCooking campaign, Pacific Health Ministry received 30 delicious, vegetarian meals from the exceptional Café Julia. The donation was made after a community member named Rachel nominated PHM Chaplain Estela Reza, who currently serves at The Queen’s Medical Center Punchbowl, as a frontline hero. In her nomination, Rachel noted Chaplain Estela’s commitment to caring for all amidst the COVID-19 crisis: “She is a staff chaplain at Queen’s [via Pacific Health Ministry]. Not only does she bring love, comfort and wisdom to patients in their time of need (especially during this season with heightened loneliness and anxiety), but she cares for doctors, nurses and her chaplain coworkers. She gives, gives, gives all day every day. Her work is never done. Her heart is generous and kind. She would never ask or expect, but she definitely deserves to have a little bit of the kindness and aloha she shows, given back to her.”
Another Pacific Health Ministry Chaplain who was recently recognized by the local community is Lena Keanu-Reichel, who currently serves at Pali Momi Medical Center. Chaplain Lena was selected as one of Hawaii National Bank’s Hometown Heroes, a program that sheds light on individuals who go above and beyond every day to help their communities. She was nominated by a community member named Brenda, who had this to say about her work: “Lena has been serving with Pacific Health Ministry as an ordained Board Certified Chaplain at Pali Momi Medical Center throughout COVID-19 and long before. She is on-call to respond to the needs of patients and their families. She has been there when no one else [was] able from families. She is a bridge for the families unable to be with their loved one. She needs a shout out. Her husband James is also a military chaplain.”
Pacific Health Ministry is immensely proud of our kind, thoughtful, and hardworking chaplains who consistently go above and beyond to serve the people of Hawaii. As COVID-19 continues to play a predominant role in our daily lives, our chaplains will remain steadfast in supporting and caring for our local community.