Damien’s caring inspires gift

KAHULUI - The ARC of Maui County is building Molokai's first licensed care home for adults with developmental disabilities, and when it opens next year, it will be graced by a painting of Father Damien that was donated by artist Philip Sabado.

The painting was unveiled and presented last week at The Dunes at Maui Lani during a meeting of the board, of which Sabado is a new member.

Now living on Maui, Sabado hails from Maunaloa, Molokai, where the five-bedroom group home will be built. He painted it in honor of the upcoming canonization of Joseph de Veuster, the Belgian priest who ministered at the Hansen's disease settlement in Kalaupapa.

The ceremony at which Damien will become a saint will be in Rome next month, and images of Sabado's painting will be a part of the celebration.

The care home will "carry on the legacy of Father Damien," Sabado said, noting the "service and commitment that Father Damien gave to the disabled people of Kalaupala."

ARC has received $350,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds through the County of Maui. It was among about a half dozen organizations to receive a block grant for program year 2009.

ARC also is seeking other assistance from county and federal sources, said Chief Executive Officer Audrey McGauley.

ARC was established in Maui County in 1954 and is part of a national network formerly known as the Association for Retarded Citizens. It offers services to people with developmental disabilities, including four group homes on Maui that have varying degrees of care. On Molokai since 2003, it has an office in Kaunakakai.

The Maunaloa care home will allow semi-independent living for its residents, with constant staffing for their health and safety needs.

It also will provide relief for elders who cannot care for their disabled adult children, McGauley noted, adding that many clients who live in a care home want to be as independent as possible.

Plans are being drawn and site preparation is under way.

The effort has received major support from Thomas Cook, president of the Maui Contractors Association and owner of KSD Hawaii.

He has volunteered to be the project manager, seeing the home from design through construction, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Four kupuna from Molokai have visited the group homes on Maui to ensure that the Friendly Island facility will appropriately meet the needs there, McGauley said.

Another benefit of the care home is that it will provide construction jobs and employment for the 10 or so people who will be trained to be its caregivers, she said.

On the Net: www.sabadostudios.com/www.arcofmauicounty.org/