Volunteer groups for the Lahaina “Da Kidney Da Kine” include the Maui Lions Clubs, Lahainaluna High School’s Health Occupations Students of America (above), West Maui Soroptimists and Rainbow Dialysis.

LAHAINA – The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii is well-known for hosting the annual “Da Kidney Da Kine Day” over the last nine years in Central Maui.

This year, there will be a second “Da Kidney Da Kine” in Lahaina on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lahaina Cannery Mall.

According to Maui Director Jill Holley, “Many of the health-related nonprofit organizations are based in Central Maui, as are we. The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii loves our free health screening events in Central Maui and will continue to host them, but we see the need to take the show on the road and visit our surrounding townships.

“This year will be our first of hopefully many annual ‘Da Kidney Da Kine’ events in Lahaina. This is an opportunity for the residents of West Maui to find out if they have early signs of kidney disease and have fun, too!”

Holley added that the event is important to create public awareness about the silent and rapidly escalating chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemic in Hawaii.

One in seven Hawaii residents is afflicted with CKD, which is higher than the Mainland average of one in nine.

The event’s intent is to encourage residents to get a free early kidney disease screening in an effort to help them avoid kidney failure.

Legacy of Life will host a unique booth to educate the community about organ donation and transplantation, which includes talking story with organ donor families and organ transplant recipients.

Dr. Steven King will provide free diabetic foot checks, and Lions Club members will provide vision screening. There will also be free kidney, diabetes, blood pressure and urine screenings for attendees over 18. Each participant going through the screening will receive personalized results and have a one-on-one consultation with a medical professional.

Several groups will be positioned near center stage to provide additional health-related information.

KAOI Radio’s Cindy Paulos will serve as emcee for the event, which will feature entertainment by Lahaina’s own Maui Jam band, Jack Gist and Friends and two dance groups showcasing Hawaiian and Mexican dance, as well as a keiki corner.

Chronic kidney disease is called a “silent killer,” because most people that have it don’t know until it’s too late and their kidneys are already failing.

Hawaii leads the country in CKD with a rate 30 percent higher than the national average.

Holley said that on Maui and throughout Hawaii, CKD is widely undetected and underdiagnosed.

The leading causes of kidney disease are high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and a family history of kidney disease. Groups most at-risk in Hawaii include Native Hawaiians, Filipinos and Hispanic and Japanese residents.

With early detection, education, medication and lifestyle changes, CKD is treatable. Early intervention patients have a chance to control CKD in the early stages, and to avoid or delay the progression of kidney disease to end-stage kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant to survive.

Genentech is the presenting sponsor for “Da Kidney Da Kine Day,” “but the event would not be possible without the support of the medical community who, year after year, donate their time to help our community with this crucially important screening effort,” Holley noted.

For more information, contact Stephanie Brown or Holley at 986-1900, or visit www.kidneyhi.org.