Agency Philosophy
Dignity, self-respect and self determination are among the inalienable rights of every human being.
Every stage of life should bring with it the opportunity to live meaningfully. We should all be given the chance to pursue
our interests, exercise as much personal independence as possible, demonstrating our usefulness to society. We should also
be given the opportunity to take maximum advantage of our physical capabilities to continue treasured relationships with family
and friends.
The Kona Adult Day Center is dedicated to these principals. However, because this center is designed for the care of
the physically frail and/or impaired participants, there are additional needs, which must be addressed in the philosophy of
the agency. All participants enrolled at the Kona Adult Day Center have special needs. With clear understanding of the range
of abilities and limitations of each participant, it is the mandate of this agency to provide the highest and most appropriate
level of skilled care and caring by:
1. Recognizing each participant as first and foremost an individual with his or her own unique life history, talents,
abilities and tolerances.
2. Creating a therapeutic environment in which each deficit and physical impairment is considered and compensated for
in a specifically designed, organized and appropriate care environment.
3. Understanding that the participant’s abilities to carry out functions of daily living have been altered in some
way and those residual functions and abilities must be encouraged and strengthened to ensure optimum independence.
4. Appreciating the needs of the caregiver by providing support and education through individual counseling, facilitation
of the KADC Caregiver’s Support Group and the creation of a caring environment.
5. Educating staff and providing support sessions for the purpose of maintaining personal well-being and enhancing professional
knowledge, skills and abilities.
By creating a therapeutic day program, participants can work toward maintaining the highest level of a functioning, caring
life.
Agency History
The Kona Adult Day Center began as the Kona Adult Day Care Project in 1986. Four individuals from the community gathered
one afternoon to discuss the need for an adult day center: Dr. Kevin Kunz, Kathleen Mishina, Jane Kunitomo and Kaoru Uyeda.
Ms. Mishina later documented the need for services through focus surveys of family care givers in the community.
In 1987, key volunteers began to organize Kona’s first adult care center. Prior to this time, there was no community
center based alternatives for impaired adults.
The options were hospital, nursing home (Hilo), home care, or private-hire care.
A working relationship was established with the Hilo Adult Care Center, aka Hawaii Island Adult Care, Inc. in 1987. Funds
and grants were obtained to finance the renovation of the existing building and to meet numerous start-up and pre-opening
expenses. Among important contributors were the Queen Emma Foundation, Hawaii County Office on Aging, Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association and major Hawaii philanthropic and corporations. A
major capital campaign was conducted in October 1988 that raised over $100,000 to fund the center.
An Advisory Committee was established in January 1988 and many of its members later came to sit on its board of directors
when the Center registered itself as a community, non-profit organization in October 1989.
The Center opened its doors to its first five clients in December 1988. Prior to this time, Ms. Mishina served as the
start-up coordinator and later the Director of the Kona Adult Day Center.
The Center was designated a demonstration site for the Robert Wood Johnson’s Dementia Care and Respite Services
Program between 1988 and 1992. Under this demonstration the Center has proven that dementia care can be a viable fee-for service
health care option. The grant from this foundation provided deficit funding for the first four years with the intent that
by the completion of the grant period, the center will run on its own.
