Inspire 2023

CMN: Radiothon Returns In Person

“The outpouring of support from the community is just amazing.”
Kathryn Yamauchi, D. Suehiro Electric, Inc. business manager

Two days of adorable kids and inspirational stories ended with an amazing gift for Kapiolani CMN.

For the first time since 2019, smiling faces, laughter and cheers happened in person as the Kapiolani Radiothon for Kids hit the airwaves in 2022. The beloved event was held in Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children’s new dining room in September. The two-day event, which was broadcast live on KSSK, raised $516,250 for Hawaii’s keiki, thanks to donors and community partners.

“We've been doing this for 16 years,” said Sweetie Pacarro, KSSK radio personality who is also a mother and grandmother with personal ties to Kapiolani. “Everybody gets involved and we’re really grateful for all the sponsors, the volunteers and the staff. We can't thank them enough because it's a lot of work to put something like this together.”

Donors, big and small, also stopped by the Kapiolani dining room to make their gifts in person.

Donors, big and small, also stopped by the Kapiolani dining room to make their gifts in person.

Nearly 20 local community groups, companies and sponsors supported the 16th annual Kapiolani Radiothon, including D. Suehiro Electric, Inc., UHA Health Insurance, American Savings Bank, Hawaiian Electric, HMSA, Aloha Petroleum, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Enterprise Holdings, AlohaCare, Windward Auto Group, Clinical Labs, Elite Mechanical, GEICO, Islands Hospice, Motiv8 Foundation, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Swinerton, Raising Cane’s and Rx4Miracles.

In addition to their generous donations, many Radiothon partners volunteered as phone bank teams to answer calls from KSSK listeners.

“The outpouring of support from the community is just amazing,” said Kathryn Yamauchi, business manager with D. Suehiro Electric, Inc. “When donations stay in Hawaii and we're able to help our own keiki or people whose kids go through some health issue and are being taken care of at Kapiolani, it's a really proud connection.”

Donations from the community helped the only full-service children’s hospital in Hawaii purchase car seats for the Injury Prevention Program and Beads of Courage, which motivate pediatric oncology patients by celebrating milestones in their treatment. Money also went toward state-of-the-art butterfly ultrasound machines, vein-finder equipment to help locate tiny newborn and infant veins, and much more.

“Every dollar counts,” said Shawnalynn Lavatai, director of patient services at Kapiolani. “Little things make a huge difference and those are the things that really make the patient experience better.”