Health Department
is no show at briefing

Residents hoping to find out why three top state mental health officials have quit are still wondering.

No one from the Health Department showed up at a packed conference room at the state Capitol to explain what is going on in its Adult Mental Health Division.

The resignations of division chief Dr. Thomas Hester, medical director Dr. Alan Radke and Hawaii State Hospital Administrator Paul Guggenheim prompted House Health Chairman Dennis Arakaki (D, Alewa Heights-Kalihi Valley-Fort Shafter) to hold an informational briefing.

Hester resigned last week, saying, "Things are being structured so I would not have sufficient authority or involvement in completing implementation of the final remaining action (of a community plan)."

Radke quit a few weeks ago and went to a new job in Minnesota. Guggenheim resigned to go to a new position in Ohio and be closer to his daughter.

Dr. Chiyome Fukino, state health director, sent Arakaki a letter saying she couldn't attend "due to a conflicting obligation." As department director, she said she would feel more comfortable being the spokesperson for issues "of such paramount importance" rather than send a staff member.

Arakaki said he couldn't reschedule the meeting because he's leaving today for the Philippines and he thought it was important to have a public airing of the situation.

He said he heard health officials were instructed not to appear at the briefing. Department spokeswoman Darcie Yukimura said employees were told they could take personal leave to attend the meeting and speak as individuals.

Hester, Radke and Guggenheim have been leaders in planning and implementation of improvements in the mental health system to free the state from a consent decree stemming from a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit in 1991.

Fukino said the division is waiting for final written reports from the federal court's evaluation team after a tour completed June 9. She told Arakaki she'd be happy to meet with him after federal Magistrate Kevin Chang, special master in the case, files a report in court with recommendations.

Yukimura said Fukino feels Hester "has done a tremendous job and created a good system, while not perfect, that will stand the test of time."

The Hawaii State Hospital was released from court oversight in December and a plan for community mental health services must be completed by June, next year.

Mental health consumers and service providers yesterday had high praise for the three mental health officials and said they're concerned about who will replace them. They asked the legislators to try and reinstate and "re-empower" Hester to do his job.

"It is a sad and painful time for the mental health community in Hawaii with the departures of the champions of Hawaii's consumers," Rita Gorospe, consumer advocate, said.

Psychologist Bill Zwik of Argosy University, a former mental health substance abuse counselor at Hawaii State Hospital, described significant progress under Hester.

But he pointed to "consistent undermining of people trying to improve the system."

The Hawaii Behavioral Health Coalition, Mental Health Association in Hawaii, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association and NAMI O'AHU were among organizations expressing concern about leadership changes.