We were greeted warmly by many members and Kim Golis, Clubhouse Director, who introduced us to Sharon, a member who had made us leis, and our member tour guide, Cindy.  From the beginning of our tour, Cindy communicated her deep pride in her clubhouse as she took us through the program.  The Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse is located in a repurposed government building, consisting of two large rooms, with office space off to the right and rear of the main room, and a kitchen off the left large Dining Room. Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse has utilized this space very adroitly. Coming in the front door, the Reception Desk is “front and center,” and yes, the member greeted us enthusiastically and asked us to sign in!  To the right, the Clerical Unit occupies both the right wall and front corner, with members’ pictures cleverly hung on a wire with clothespins, showing off their membership — who was in or out, on TE placement, or in need of reach-out contact.

Further to the right through an open door is the Clerical Unit, where computers are set up for members to work on daily statistical reports, the newsletter and watching online news (or catching up on missed programs during breaks!).

Each corner of this main room is devoted to member units and their displays.  The back right corner leads to an exercise area, with a donation of equipment which we think is in keeping with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” health advocacy programs.

A small office with a window overlooking the exercise area along the hall has been designated for a Thrift Shop, which would open later in the day.  The Thrift Shop, operated by the members, provides more meaningful activity – sorting, washing, ironing, pricing and selling donated items.

In the left rear section of this main room, was O Grinds, a Snack Bar that is also operated by members, where everyone could get a cup of coffee or snack before lunch and heading out to TE (or coming in from TE after lunch).  More meaningful activities for and by the membership.

In the left corner next to the Snack Bar, the Education Unit members’ pictures were on display.  Cindy took great pride in pointing out that some of her peers were studying at the community college, as well as others who were working on their high school GED’s.  This strategic placement of the Education Unit members’ display next to Ono Grinds would subliminally remind other members of future goals whenever stopping by to grab a cup of coffee or healthy snack.

In the left front corner of the main room, pictures of members on TE were exhibited, and large banner proclaiming “CAREER DEVELOPMENT UNIT” caught our attention, very astutely placed where members would see their peers out at work in the community each day, while passing through the doorway to the Dining Room.

The Dining Room and Kitchen Unit are located in the other large room, on the left side of the main room.  On the day of our visit, in the airy, clean kitchen a staff member was assisted competently by the Kitchen Unit members in preparing lunch for 70+ members, staff and visitors, utilizing a 4-burner stove with one oven.  The L-shaped space has large refrigerators, stocked and rotated by members, and the stainless steel sinks and dishwasher for clean-up (not included in this photograph, unfortunately).  But three cheers were roundly sounded out for the Kitchen Unit crew on our tour!

At the end of our tour, we joined the Community Meeting that starts Waipahu’s mornings, and each unit reported out their goals and news of the day.  This day, in addition to our visit, Dr. James Westphal, Chief of Psychiatry at AMHD, Yara Sutton, AMHD Housing Service Coordinator, Steve Balcom, AMHD Crises Service Coordinator, as well as Dr. Carol E. Minn, Medical Director at Central Oahu CMHC — all would be joining the luncheon meeting at Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse.  Dr. Westphal made the outstanding announcement that budgetary approval had just come from the Governor’s office to fill AMHD staff vacancies, which was met with a great deal of applause by all members, staff and visitors.

We were then introduced by Kathleen Rhoads Merriam, who is warmly regarded by the membership.  We spoke briefly about the purpose of our visit – Presenting the Clubhouse (Past, Present and Future – at a forum to be held on Thursday, September 12th at the University of Hawai’i auditorium.  All were invited. (More about this presentation later.)

For lunch, Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse members and staff served Kailua pork (a traditional pulled pork and sautéed cabbage entrée) with Loma salmon (spicy salsa!), steamed rice, salad and a berry pie dessert, all of which had been prepared with Kim’s pitching in as Dining Room Hostess, Server and Moderator of the Meeting.  At Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse on this day, for example, Kim and one other staff were in the clubhouse, with two other staff out on placement or other business in the community.  The entire luncheon activity – shopping, food prep, setting up the Dining Room, setting the tables, serving, and clean-up that contributed to the smooth running of this special lunch meeting – could not have been done without every member’s participation.  True to the clubhouse model:  Members make the difference! And Kim demonstrated the “Generalist” role of clubhouse staff, especially the Director.

By this time, the Facilities Unit was beginning to clean up the Dining Room, and we went outdoors for a tour of the Horticulture Unit. Off the Dining Room, is a patio with a beautifully landscaped back yard maintained by the Horticulture Unit that happens to overlook Pearl Harbor.

It would be like having a clubhouse right down on Battery Park in New York City!  The blooming tree, many flowering shrubs and green ground cover show signs of the attention the Horticulture Unit members devote to their plant care.  One Horticulture Unit member spontaneously introduced himself.  He spoke feelingfully not only of the clubhouse and the meaning it has given his life, but also of how his work with the plants gives him a sense of purpose and calm. So apt!

The Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse is the happening place to be!!  As we prepared to leave, a group shot of the visitors, staff and members was taken on our way out the front door.

Mahalo, Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse community — Well done, you!!

With such a fulsome site visit at Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse, you might think it was enough to take in for one day… but wait, there’s more! Afterwards we had a very productive meeting with Mark Fridovich, Ph.D, MPA, Administrator of Adult Mental Health Division for the State of Hawai’i.  Be on the lookout for the next excerpt from TCA’s “Diary of Consultation in Hawai’i.”

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Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th

Met by our hosts, Kathleen and Mark Merriam, and driven through Honolulu to the Eastern side of Oahu, to their home, where we spent the weekend getting caught up and reviewing Kathleen’s very intense schedule for the coming week.  Time for photographing their view of the mountain and the side of their property abutting the Ho’Omaluhia Botanical Gardens

View of Mountains on Eastern Side of Oahu

as well as driving around the island and stopping at four of the loveliest beaches imaginable, except for Diamond Head (to be seen later, we were promised).  We are trying not to sound like travel guides here, but the water was clear as aquamarine, with deep azure blue shades where the shelf dropped off steeply under the ocean. Sand was such a clean white, soft texture. The lack of air pollution made the sunshine radiate strongly against the sand and the blue sky, which could be cloudless one minute and full of puffy cumulous clouds the next. Not even the passing tropical showers dimmed the sky or lush flowers and vegetation for long.

(To be continued)