Earlier this month, seniors at Sacred Hearts Academy continued a recently established tradition by volunteering at Leahi Hospital.

Instead of visiting the facility in February to host the usual Valentine’s Day Carnival, students decided to share their Lancer hospitality a bit earlier. They brought ghosts and ghouls to the hospital in celebration of a Halloween Carnival.

Students donated stuffed toys to be used as prizes, monitored game booths, pushed residents in wheelchairs and gave “spooktacular” manicures. Upon arrival, the students received training on how to properly push a wheelchair to ensure the safety of residents.

The senior class was divided into two groups and switched between transporting residents to and from the event and facilitating the games.

Senior Elane Namoca said she is grateful for her experience.

“I loved seeing the smiles on their faces when we were with them,” Namoca said. “When you’re sitting in a facility for most of the day, there isn’t much excitement. When we were there, I think they were happy to see us.”

Senior division advisor Kimberlee Brown said that the seniors were able to take away something more than just a feeling of happiness.

“I hope that the seniors left with a sense of humility and desire to do more,” Brown said.  “There are few age groups in life, where you can truly make an impact on someone’s day, just by being there (or saying) a simple hello. The residents’ whole demeanor improved just by being around the seniors.”

Leahi Hospital, located near Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu, is a hospital, nursing home and adult day care facility. Originally known as the “Honolulu Home for Incurables,” the hospital was founded to aid patients with the bubonic plague, tuberculosis and other diseases.

This service day is the last off-campus community service project for the seniors this year.