Faculty and students of the University of Hawaii Maui College Nursing Program, the medical staffs of Maui Memorial Medical Center and Rainbow Dialysis, and high school Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) participants volunteer to conduct health checks at “Da Kidney Da Kine” Day.

KAHULUI – This year, the “Da Kidney Da Kine” Day event will be celebrating its 11th anniversary at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center on Saturday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event features a full day of free family fun, great entertainment, a Keiki Corner and special visit by Sidney Kidney. This year’s entertainment includes Ka Pa Hula O Maui under Aunty Doll Aricayos, and the Aloha Production of Ma’a, performing both Polynesian ancient hula and Tahitian dance. Deejay Cindy Paulos of KAOI Radio will serve as emcee.

The event is hosted by the Maui Office of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii in an effort to get Maui County residents ages 18 and older to come out and get their free annual early detection screening, which tests for kidney disease, hypertension and high blood sugar.

Each screening participant is provided with a one-on-one consultation with a medical professional to discuss their personal test results.

In addition to the free health screenings and entertainment, “Da Kidney Da Kine” Day will also feature a Health Fair showcasing several of Maui’s leading health agencies, including HMSA, Maui Adult Day Care, America Red Cross, Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui, Hui Ho’omalu Child Foster Care Program, Rainbow Dialysis, the Maui Chapter of Legacy of Life, Hawaii Organ Transplant, Organ Transplant Maui, Lions Clubs of Maui, MEO, Rainbow Dialysis Center, Senior Medicare Patrol, and Roselani Place.

The mission of the National Kidney Foundation is to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure on Maui by combating the spiraling, silent and deadly CKD epidemic that rages throughout Maui County and the rest of Hawaii.

One in seven Maui residents has kidney disease, and most won’t know it until their kidneys are already failing. The high-risk groups for CKD in Hawaii are Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Japanese, Filipinos and people over 60.

Over the years, NKFH has screened thousands of Maui residents to detect early signs of kidney disease.

NKFH Maui Director Jill Holley stated, “We’re not going to stop as long as one in seven Maui residents have the disease, and one in every two of our residents is at-risk for having CKD in their lifetime!”

Hawaii leads the nation in CKD and kidney failure with a rate 30 percent higher than the national average.

For more information, contact the Maui Office of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii at 986-1900 or e-mail jill@kidneyhi.org.