Aloha ‘Ohana - you may have heard about the Mu variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the news recently. #COVID19 vaccines used by Ko'olauloa Health Center help protect against all known variants, including Mu and Delta.
If you’re not vaccinated yet, please call (808) 293-9231 to schedule your appointment today.
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Aloha ‘Ohana - pop quiz: what are the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
1. Getting vaccinated protects yourself and the people around you.
2. Getting vaccinated boosts your immune system.
3. Getting vaccinated helps prevent serious illness.
Please get vaccinated. Call us at (808) 293-9231 to schedule your COVID-19 vaccination today.
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
Aloha ‘Ohana - its Fit Tip Friday here at Ko’olauloa Health Center
Of course, the weekend should be all fun and games. But don’t let that derail the hard work you’ve been putting into your fitness routine all week long. Whether you’re embarking on a weight loss or fitness journey, here are a few tips from our staff on how to enjoy the weekend without ruining your progress.
- Use Exercise To Support Your Mood
- Realize Diet And Exercise Are Intertwined
- Eat Healthy 80 Percent Of The Time
- Keep Healthy Snacks On Hand
- Limit Your Alcohol Intake
- Disconnect
Remember to mask up and stay safe out there this weekend. Cheers!
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Aloha 'Ohana - we wanted to share this infographic which was posted by our close friends and colleagues at Queen's Health Systems. Friends and family, the numbers don't lie. If you haven't gotten your vaccination, please call (808) 293-9231 to make an appointment with our friendly staff.
Mahalo!
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Aloha ‘Ohana…
With everything happening in our community we wanted to ask: …so - how are you? Really? When was the last time you asked a friend that simple question?
Sometimes a friend, colleague, or family who may have the appearance of having it all together on the outside is actually suffering on the inside. This is called Smiling Depression.
What is Smiling Depression?
Smiling depression involves appearing happy to others and smiling through the pain, keeping the inner turmoil hidden. It’s a major depressive disorder with atypical symptoms, and as a result, many don’t know they’re depressed or don’t seek help. People with smiling depression are often partnered or married, employed, and are quite accomplished and educated. Their public, professional and social lives are not struggling. Their façade is put together and accomplished.
But behind the mask and behind closed doors, their minds are filled with thoughts of worthlessness, inadequacy, and despair. They’ve usually struggled with depression and/or debilitating anxiety for years and have had some experience with therapy or medication. Many don’t disclose their depression due to fear of discrimination from loved ones or employers.
How can we help?
Many people struggling with smiling depression are perfectionists, or they don’t want to appear weak or out of control. The more we can shift the conversation to show positive role models living with depression—those who advocate for the mix of therapy, exercise, medication, sleep, diet—the less shame and stigma will be associated with it.
Pay more attention to your loved ones (especially the warning signs)
If you have a friend who suddenly stops responding to phone calls or texts or cancels plans, don’t hesitate to ask them what’s going on and if they’re feeling okay. Let them know that they are heard and are not alone.
If you think you might be depressed
On the days when your brain seems to be fighting you for your life, remember that you are enough, you are worthy, you are loved and you are not alone.
Reach out to someone you trust and consider contacting a therapist. Let these influential roles in your life help you to create a more positive state of mind. Rather than becoming submerged in a vortex of negative, self-defeating thoughts. Above all, please don’t give up. Please don’t let depression win. You are not alone.
Please call our Behavioral Health Services team if you feel the need to talk to someone. We are there for you (808) 293-9231. We see you…
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Aloha ‘Ohana!
Starting today, Friday, September 10, 2021, Hawaii will launch a SMART Health Card app that will allow residents to store verification of their vaccination status on their phones.
The SMART Health Card is voluntary.
Residents will still be able to show their physical vaccination cards at businesses that require them.
In a news conference, the governor said the SMART Health Card is being built into the state’s Safe Travels website, which is being used for travelers to upload a photo of their vaccination cards.
Starting today, the SMART Health Card will be an option at travel.hawaii.gov.
“Everyone who has a smartphone would be able to pre-verify their status and then anytime they need to prove their vaccination status, they can use their phone instead of using the vaccination card itself,” said Gov. David Ige.
“The vaccine information provided by individuals will automatically be verified against the state vaccination database. This will help prevent the use of fake vaccination cards,” said Ige.
The state’s Information Technology head says businesses will not have access to the person’s private health information and verification should be quick.
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If you haven’t gotten your vaccination yet, please call (808) 293-9231 to make an appointment with our friendly staff. Mahalo!
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
Aloha ‘Ohana!
With everything happening in our daily lives, you may have missed this: last month (August 26, 2021) the OIA announced a new tentative fall sports schedule with football beginning Oct. 15, 2021. This includes Kahuku High School football.
All public school sports leagues were forced to push back the start of the fall sports schedule to early October when the Department of Education announced, “all student-athletes, athletic staff, and volunteers will need to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 24 to participate in school-sanctioned athletic activities for the 2021-22 school year. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.”
The newest OIA football schedule has the season beginning on Oct. 15 with five games and four more on Oct. 16. There are seven teams for a six-game regular season in the Open Division — Kahuku, Mililani, Campbell, Farrington, Kapolei, Leilehua, Waianae.
The top four seeds in the Open Division will advance to the playoffs beginning on Dec. 3 with the final played on Dec. 10. The top two seeds in Division I will play a championship game on Dec. 11.
The new schedule also notes the first state tournament semifinal in the Open Division will be the weekend of Dec. 17.
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This all means that to participate, coach, or volunteer within our beloved Kahuku Football program, you must be fully vaccinated. Please call (808) 293-9231 to schedule your vaccination appointment with our friendly staff today.
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Click on the link below to view the complete 2021 Kahuku Football Schedule
https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/kahuku-red-raiders-(kahuku,hi)/football/schedule.htm
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
Coping with COVID Stress
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media
Take care of your body
Make time to unwind
Connect with others
Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations
The best way to cope with COVID-related stress is to get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Please call (808) 293-9231 to schedule your appointment today.
Mahalo!
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
Aloha ‘Ohana,
While we prefer to keep our posts light and hopeful, sometimes it’s important to show the other side of what’s happening here in our community.
For those not in medicine or are unvaccinated, please read to spare yourself from preventable heartache. You may think you mean well and are trying to be informed. However, safe and informed looks like the New England Journal of Medicine, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials, and CDC guidelines based on the work of trained epidemiologists who understand the dynamics of population health. While you may mean well, your hesitancy is causing a ripple effect of pain, that’s a riptide for the fragile network of loved ones we are lucky to have at this moment.
The 7 Stages of COVID
Have you ever wondered what happens to those with severe COVID-19 infections in the hospital? Read through the 7 stages of severe COVID-19 infection to learn about the harrowing hospital stays many patients endure.
Having one-on-one conversations is the best way to help your loved ones understand the importance of getting vaccinated and to understand how their decision could impact them and their families.
As of 8/31, 88% of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Hawaii are unvaccinated patients. Help prevent your loved ones from becoming part of this statistic. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent severe COVID-19 infection.
Call our staff at (808) 293-9231 to schedule your appointment today.
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
Aloha ‘Ohana
Did you know that our staff gets asked how we remain positive in the face of our constant challenges? The answer is that we are committed to our patients and remain hopeful for a positive future.
So What Is Hope?
Of all the thoughts and notions a person can have, hope is probably closest to trust. When you have hope, you are placing your trust in the potential for something positive to happen.
You are trusting that taking the right actions will make a positive outcome more likely than taking the wrong actions. When you hope for a better future, you are placing trust in yourself to make good choices in life.
When you trust someone, you hope that they will act in a way that embodies that trust.
Why Is Hope So Important?
Hope is a healer.
Hope helps us to see that there are many positive possibilities ahead of us. Hope whispers, “Things will get better.”
Hope shows us how to act.
Hope is a bit like an unseen compass that points us in the direction of something beneficial to our future.
Hope is a motivator.
Hope is a source of energy. It helps us to see something better up ahead and to put one foot in front of the other to move forward.
Hope encourages self-belief.
Hope not only helps you to believe that something better is coming, but it also gives you the belief that you are the person who can make that something better come true.
Hope combats negative thoughts.
It is difficult to have negative thoughts and be hopeful at the same time. Hope allows us to see light at the end of the tunnel and this light acts as a challenge to any unwanted thoughts.
Hope brings inner peace.
As with negative thoughts, hope can help ease negative feelings too. Hope allows joy, enthusiasm, and quiet contentment to grow.
Hope is contagious.
People want to feel hopeful. The more hope we have, the more hope we will inspire in others.
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Aloha 'Ohana! Hope you're all having a wonderful Labor Day Sunday. Our team loved this graphic. Take what you need (and we would add to that: Leave some Aloha behind).
Stay safe out there ~ you know what to do
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Aloha Ohana! Some advice from our staff ~ remember, If you want to live peacefully, joyfully, and abundantly, you must practice gratitude.
Hope everyone is having a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
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#bewell
#staywell
#graditude
Aloha Ohana! All of us at Ko’olauloa Health center hope everyone has a happy Labor Day weekend. Remember, if possible please:
Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation
Avoid crowded places with many people
Avoid close-contact settings
Artwork: John Kelly
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#bewell
#staywell
#johnkelly
Aloha Ohana!
Labor Day Weekend is coming up and as much as we would love to come together with our family and friends, we all need to do our part to keep our families safe from COVID-19. Protect your keiki and loved ones by postponing parties this weekend. Please wear a mask, stay home if you are sick. If you haven’t already - get vaccinated if you are 12 or older.
Call (808) 293-9231 to schedule your appointment at KHC today.
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#bewell
#staywell
#ourkuleana
#stopthespread
Aloha Ohana!
The key to getting through this pandemic together is for ALL of us to do our part. This means getting vaccinated, masking up, and keeping a safe distance. Our community is heavily affected by the spread of COVID. It’s important for us all to do what we can.
Did you know that one person can spread the delta variant to as many as 8 people? Please do your part to keep Hawaii safe and STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. If you have symptoms, GET TESTED. If you haven’t already, please call our helpful staff at (808) 291-9231 to make an appointment.
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Aloha Ohana!
Happy Monday. Some of you have been asking for tips on how to stay safe against COVID-19. These are the most important recommendations from our staff:
Get vaccinated as soon as it’s your turn.
Wear a mask (even after getting vaccinated).
Keep a safe distance (even after getting vaccinated).
Avoid crowds (even after getting vaccinated).
Clean your hands (even after getting vaccinated).
Cover coughs and sneezes (even after getting vaccinated).
If you, a family member, or a friend haven’t gotten your vaccination yet - call (808) 293-9231 to schedule your appointment today.
Mahalo!
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
Aloha Ohana,
Here is a great re-post from our good friends at the Hawaii Department of Health.
The COVID-19 vaccine offers the best path toward saving lives, safe in-school learning, and getting back to doing what we love. Protect yourself against COVID-19, including the delta variant, by getting a safe, effective, and free vaccine today.
Please call our friendly staff at (808) 293-9231 to make your vaccination appointment today.
Learn more at health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019
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#bewell
#staywell
#stopthespread
