LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Dr. Ron Ah Loy, from Keaukaha Homestead, Todd Avenue, to M.D.

Robert K. Lindsey, Jr. Trustee, Hawai'i

We continue our series on Native Hawaiian Health. Our January and February articles focused on the Systems side of Health. Our March article focuses on the Human and Personal side of Health.

This is a special story, the story of Ronald Dean Ah Loy, M.D., one of many acquaintances I made going through the University of Hawai'i, but the only one I knew going through school who became a medical doctor. Dr. Ah Loy owns Big Island Gastroenterology, a state-of-the-art outpatient endoscopy surgery center for gastrointestinal procedures in Kohala Hema. The only facility in Hawai'i that uses capsule endoscopy technology, i.e. a patient ingests a tiny capsule (camera) having the capability to take 60,000 internal images of one's small intestine, which are then analyzed on a TV monitor for cancer-related issues (colorectal cancers primarily). His is a wonderful Hawaiian Success story whose underpinnings are 'Ohana, Ha'aha'a, Aloha, Ahonui, Hard Work, Lifelong Learning, "I Can Do This."

He was born in Honolulu and hānai'd to his grandparents, Augustine and Louise Maunalei, when he was four days old. He grew up on Keaukaha Homestead (Todd Avenue), attended Keaukaha Elementary, Hilo Intermediate, Hilo High, Hilo College.

When we went (late '60s and thru the '70s) to Hilo College (now UH Hilo) there weren't too many Hawaiians in the University system. We were a mere 1 percent of the student body (now it's 8 percent, which is tremendous progress). Pearl Kahili, Judy Hauanio, Perla Pauole, Keoki Perreira, Barbara Lee, Bob Rosehill, Elodie Ho-a (my cousin), Allen Vinta, Elroy Keli'i, Lorna Kamoku, Chris and Harriet Leialoha, are the ones I remember. Ron, though younger, was part of our era. He was majoring in Biology and taking tough courses. Chemistry, Physics, Trigonometry, Calculus and Biology. The courses most of us did our best to avoid. In between classes he surfed Honoli'i Bay. We had to transfer to Mānoa to finish, as Hilo was only a two-year program at the time. And as time went on, the good news came Ron was intending to become a doctor, an M.D. He graduated from the John Burns School of Medicine in 1983. Then it was on to further schooling, training, interning (1983-1992) in Phoenix, Utah-LDS Hospital, UC San Diego, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center-Los Angeles, home to Hawai'i in 1992. In the midst of school, interning and working, he and his wife were raising a family. He has practiced medicine in Hilo, Hāmākua, Kona and Waimea. His specialties are Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology. His has been a Legacy of Serving Others, Hard Work, Saving Lives. Now he works close to home, at his own clinic and outpatient surgery facility in the center of Waimea town.

Many of us "local kids" were fortunate as we had special people in our lives who took a special interest in us. Folks who were our Champions and Guiding Stars to the Future. Who believed we could achieve Impossible Dreams. Who believed in us when we (sometimes) didn't believe in ourselves. Ron's Champion at Home was his Tūtū Louise. "My grandma told me Education is the ticket. Go to school. Do good in school." His Hilo College Champion was Dr. Suyat Sood (Chemistry and Physics Professor from India), who suggested he consider medicine and who set Ron up to career shadow Dr. Murray Walker at the Hilo Medical Center. "Dr. Sood told me, 'Ron, what are you going to do with a degree in Biology. You need to focus on something. You should become a Doctor.' He told me, 'You can be a doctor.' He set it up for me to follow Dr. Walker around at the Hilo Medical Center. ... And I did. I really enjoyed spending time with Dr. Walker. I could tell he enjoyed what he was doing. He enjoyed helping people. And I told myself I CAN DO THIS. I knew it was going to take a lot of time and work. Dr. Walker was a great help to me. I could always go to him for advice and help. Both he and Dr. Sood helped me a lot." He speaks lovingly of his wife, Marva, who is his Champion of Champions. "She has been alongside me 110 percent all along the way. Through school. Having a family (the Ah Loy's have seven children, a son and six girls). Without Marva I couldn't have done it. She takes care of the home front. All along the way she took care of the family. I did not have to worry about that part. I could concentrate on my practice and when I was in school, my focus was school and my internship. She still helps me out at work. For the office here she did all the design, the layout, choosing the colors for the walls, the curtains for the clinic, the layout for the reception area." And he has seven other Champions, his Seven Children. Miexia (eldest and only son), Kawela, Hawea, Heipua, Tehani, Malia and Auli'i. "My Children are a Big part of my life, my success. In fact my business is a family business." Auli'i and Malia work for Dr. Ah Loy in Administration. Malia plans to follow in her dad's footsteps and hopes to start medical school this Fall.

Ron says the best part about doctoring "is being able to help people with their health needs. To see people recover and get back to good health." The big challenge with our local people "is getting them to come in early for help. Too often our people wait too long and by the time they come in a small problem is a big problem." He says technological advancements in medicine have really helped to improve the quality of life for all of us. "But the best part of the diagnosis always comes from the patient. Everyone is different. It takes time to really listen to people, but in listening is where I get to know what I need to do. But as you know time is premium, precious. ... But if I can suggest anything, it's come in early for treatment. The preventive stuff. Take a physical. Get checked up. Looked at. Don't wait too long. Until you have a problem." He says he has fun at what he does. "It's fun because you meet all kinds of people. Everyone is different. And you are always learning something. And you are helping people." He still has his youthful look. He still surfs and swims. He still speaks quietly and with a smile. He still cares for People in a genuine and kind way. He's still very much the same guy I remember from Keaukaha. The big difference is he has M.D. after his name now. And of that, those of us who knew him four decades ago are very proud of how far he has traveled from Todd Avenue. His grandma told him, "Education is the ticket." Professor Sood said, "You should become a doctor." He said, "I CAN DO THIS," and HE HAS.