Kona Community Hospital celebrated the blessing of a new chapel and rehabilitation center last week.
Lead Chaplain Lynn Tomsha spoke of the importance of a chapel within the Kealakekua facility.
“We can meet God at any place but there is something sacred of having a place set aside for prayer and reflection,” she said. “In the hospital setting we take care of physical health, but sometimes we forget about spiritual health.”
She said the new chapel, blessed May 20, honors patients, family and employee needs.
“The staff daily has to deal with difficult situations. This is a place to have the spirit and soul renewed,” she continued.
Kona Hospital Foundation Chair Donna Hiranaka said the chapel has been a long time in the making.
Allen Wilcox, former CEO of Alexander and Baldwin was a founding member of the foundation 37 years ago. His wife, “Steve,” had a dream of having a place for people to pray, meditate, or mourn at the hospital. Their daughter, Anne, was later a member of the board and headed the committee to bring her mother’s wishes to reality. Over the years, the Allen C. Wilcox and Barbara Wilcox Foundation donated money for the cause, culminating in the May 20 blessing.
Father Jarek of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Kailua-Kona blessed the chapel and adjacent rehab center.