Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has completed a documentary that will run on all five of Hawaii's local television stations — something that hasn't happened since 2003 when Edgy Lee's “;ICE: Hawaii's Crystal Meth Epidemic”; dominated the airwaves.

Former KGMB-9 news anchor Kim Gennaula, who is now director of philanthropy at Kapiolani Medical Center, co-produced with Lisa Altieri Sosa a moving one-hour special that incorporates stories from 19 families, including famed navigator Nainoa Thompson and his wife, KHON-2 morning show anchor Kathy Muneno. One of Thompson and Muneno's twins was born with a life-threatening complication in his digestive system that required three surgeries in the first week after his birth. He subsequently spent 91 days in intensive care. Thompson tearfully expresses his gratitude for what he describes as the highest level of care he's ever witnessed. Today their son is healthy.

“;It's a pretty amazing story,”; Gennaula said. And it's not the only one. While watching these families share their experiences, it doesn't take long to make the leap: What if that were my child? Cue a lump in the throat.

The second segment is devoted to the history of the medical center. When Queen Kapiolani envisioned a children's hospital, two out of 10 youngsters in Hawaii never made it to their first birthday.

Kids treated at Kapiolani comprise the third segment. They talk about surviving leukemia or the implantation of a pacemaker before the show returns to parents who share how the doctors and nurses at Kapiolani changed their lives.

The final segment introduces viewers to Kapiolani's reconstruction, slated to begin at the end of 2010 with a new parking structure (which can't come soon enough!). Some services will be moved into the existing parking structure during the rebuild to keep the center running smoothly. The most exciting new addition might be 70 private suites for intensive-care babies, allowing parents to stay in the hospital with their critically ill newborns.

In addition, viewers will learn about the Beads of Courage program, which helps children honor milestones in their battle against cancer, and meet Tucker the Therapy Dog — two very touching programs at the hospital.

The television special does provide the opportunity to donate (http://www.kapiolanigift.org), but Gennaula said “;the main purpose was to get the word out that we are a nonprofit, and we are vital to the community.”;

“;100 years. Over 1 Million Lives: A Century of Care at Hawaii's Children's Hospital”; airs at 7 p.m. Wednesday on KGMB, KITV, KHNL and KFVE. KHON-2 will rebroadcast the special at 9 p.m. ...

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Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has completed a new miniseries about our country's 58 national parks and 333 national monuments and historic sites. “;The National Parks: America's Best Idea”; is slated to air this fall, but the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center is hosting an exclusive (and free!) preview for the public at 6 p.m. tonight.

Viewers will get a glimpse of the 12-hour series in this one-hour special featuring excerpts, deleted bits, behind-the-scenes footage and commentary from Burns. With an overview of 150 years of history, 40 interviews and spectacular visuals, the series is likely to get plenty of national attention before air time.

For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks or call (422) 2771. ...

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Consolidated will start showing 3-D movies at Kapolei and Pearlridge in addition to Ward and Mililani. The fun addition begins tomorrow with a one-week engagement of “;XGAMES.”;

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Contact Katherine Nichols at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).