500+ People Treated in First Day of Tropic Care Maui

Dental Exam on Lanai. Photo courtesy, County of Maui/Ryan Piros.

By Wendy Osher

More than 500 people received free health services in the first day of the Tropic Care Maui clinic that is being offered to individuals across the county through June 12, county officials said.

Participants are seen on a first come, first serve basis. No identification is required, and no fees will be assessed to patients participating in the program.  The program is also available free of charge to non-citizens, individuals with no local address, and those with no health insurance.

Services offered include dental care, basic health screening, eye care, and basic lab tests.

“Everything is going well,” said Lt. Commander Rodrigo Salvador in a press release.  Salvador, who oversaw operations at the ʻĪao Intermediate School clinic continued saying, “Patients are very appreciative of what we are doing here, I’ve only received positive feedback.”

Clinics are available at specified times at ʻĪao Intermediate School in Wailuku, St. Theresa Church in Kīhei, the Lahaina Civic Center in West Maui, Helene Hall in Hāna; and Lānaʻi High and Kaunakakai Elementary on the outer islands. The full updated schedule is as follows:

• Central Maui: ʻĪao Intermediate School, June 4-12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• South Maui: St. Theresa Catholic Church, June 4-12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Lānaʻi: Lānaʻi High and Elementary School, June 4-12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Hāna: Helene Hall, June 4-6, including the following: June 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and June 6, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Molokaʻi: Kaunakakai Elementary School, June 7-10, including the following: June 7, 12 to 5 p.m.; June 8 and 9, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 9, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and June 10, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• West Maui: Lahaina Civic Center, June 11 to 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The services are made possible with the help of an estimated 400 military personnel who are using the clinics as a rapid response training ground.

The clinic is being offered in collaboration with the Maui County mayor’s office, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, and the US Military Innovative Readiness Training Program of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa released a statement yesterday saying personnel from his office have been assigned to coordinate services with the military.  “It’s very important for us to make sure that people in our community have good medical care.  We need to take advantage of it,” he said.

Mayor Arakawa credited county employee Joelle Aoki with bringing the program to his attention three years ago.  Aoki was recognized during the opening of the Tropic Care clinic on Lānaʻi yesterday.

***Supporting information courtesy County of Maui.

Tropic Care on Lanai. Photo courtesy, County of Maui/Ryan Piros.