West Hawaii Community Health Center

10/06/2022

09/17/2022

Come see us Kona Pride today from 1-5!

09/08/2022

Happy Kosrae Liberation Day!

In honor of our Kosrae communities our Outreach team is partnering with the Kosrae Kona Fellowship to provide free wellness checks and enrollment services at Hawaii Island Community Health Centers Kealakehe location on Saturday 9/11/2022.

Stop by our Kealakehe Pavilion for a free blood pressure or glucose check, it only takes a couple minutes to do but can make a huge difference in your health. All are welcome!

09/06/2022

Our community partners Vibrant Hawaii have some exciting events coming to the Big Island! Their Youth Summit is an amazing opportunity for your keiki to connect to community resources and other youth. This program is jam packed with fun activities that will help them develop their leadership, networking and professional skills; and a chance to win swag and goodies along the way!

Keiki ages 15-22 are welcome to register! Make sure to RSVP before Thursday 9/8 at 4:30pm.

ʻOAKA is a youth designed and led personal and professional development series aimed at building capacity and agency of our youth (ages 15-22) to activate community and be positive change makers. Our Kona ʻOAKA YOUTH Summit will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 9am-2:30pm at the Kona International Market - in partnership with the Liliʻuokalani Trust!

Sign up now at vibranthawaii.org/get-involved OR click the link in our bio!

Feel free to send an email to kuuhiapo@vibranthawaii.org or cole@vibranthawaii.org if you have any questions.

09/02/2022

Narcan, or Naloxone, is a life saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids such as fentanyl, he**in, or other prescription opioids. Narcan can be taken through a nasal inhaler or injection into the arm or leg. It works by pulling opioids from your brain receptors and blocking them to prevent drug poisoning. Narcan is completely safe to use and it won't cause harm to someone who hasn't been using opioids.

Narcan is legal to carry in the state of Hawai'i and can be picked up from pharmacies like CVS and Longs Drugs with a prescription from a medical provider or by requesting a kit from Hawai'i harm reduction partners like Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center

If you have questions about accessing Narcan or getting more information about it, give us a call
West Side (808) 326-5629
East Side (808) 333-3600

09/01/2022

Did you know unintentional drug overdose is a leading cause of preventable death in our country?

We are currently seeing a rise in Fentanyl, a powerful opioid that can cause unintentional overdose when it is mixed into other substances. Users are often unaware of its presence. Fentanyl may be cut into pain killers, co***ne, street xanax, he**in or even ma*****na. Exposure to a tiny amount of fentanyl can be fatal.

Because of the stigma around substance use, most people are not prepared to assist in a situation where someone is experiencing an overdose.

Narcan is a easy way to safely and immediately halt an overdose, and anyone can be trained to utilize it. If you would like to learn more see the comment below for access to free Narcan training from our community partner Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center

We can prevent overdoses, by helping to spread awareness and reduce harm to those in our communities. For more information about substance use treatment, counseling, or Narcan access & training, give us a call:
West Side (808) 326-5629
East Side (808) 333-3600

09/01/2022

Today is International Overdose Day, and we're raising awareness about the fentanyl crisis that is currently causing overdose deaths here on Hawai'i Island.

This year our substance use task force launched our "Be Kind to Your Mind" campaign, spreading awareness about substance use to our youth and local communities. We hope to share information so that our community can make safe and informed decisions when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

Despite the stigma surrounding substance use, our brains are wired to respond to substance use, and addiction can be very hard to overcome. There is no shame in asking for help. We are here.

Our behavioral health team can provide counseling, substance use treatment and medication assisted support.

For more information about our Be Kind To Your Mind campaign or about our substance use resources or treatments, call us
West Side (808) 326-5629
East Side (808) 333-3600

08/30/2022

Throughout our lives, it's likely that each of us will experience grief at one time or another, and it isn't often easy to manage our pain while juggling our other responsibilities like school, work, or our families.

Grief can be a result of loss, relationship changes, or life changes, and the intensity of this emotion can be different for everyone.. You may feel intense emotional pain and sadness, struggle adjusting to your new circumstances, or have difficulty overcoming a deep loss.

Fortunately, there is help, and there is no shame in asking for support and guidance. You don't have to struggle on your own.

At Hawaii Island Community Health Center, we have a talented behavioral health team who can help.

Give us a call to make an appointment:
West Side: (808) 326-5629
East Side: (808) 333-3600

08/27/2022

Today we celebrate Women's equality day to honor the generations of women who have fought for their rights to equal education, job opportunities, and even health care!

As a community health center we know a major part of health equity is being able to provide comprehensive, safe, and nonjudgmental care regardless of someone's gender, s*x, or s*xual identity.

We can help with:
• Screenings for breast and cervical cancer
• Treatment and testing for s*xual wellness
• Birth control education and access
• Hormonal Concerns
• Prenatal support and postnatal care
• Confidential teen visits
• Education for family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, and breast feeding
• And so much more!

To get in touch with our care team or learn more about our resources, give us a call
West Side: (808) 326-5629
East Side: (808) 333-3600

08/26/2022

Yesterday was National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, and you’d think that wouldn’t be something a health center would focus on but we know that good health takes a whole lot more than access to health care.

That’s why our Outreach team hosts their annual traveling boutique, where we provide FREE clothing for our community. A “new” used pair of running shoes, or yoga pants, or an outfit for a job interview can make a real difference for our neighbors in need and help them to meet their health goals.

So today, we send a huge mahalo to the community members who GAVE and donated to this year’s boutique, and to the community members who took advantage of our fun boutique to stock up their own secondhand wardrobes. Thank you for participating!

Hundreds of families in need left with new and lightly used items provided by members of our community. If you missed it, don't worry! Next year’s traveling boutique is in the works and we have big plans to take it island wide!

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to donate! Follow us at Hawaii Island Community Health Center