Bereavement Services

Annual Celebration of Life

Each Memorial Day, Hospice Maui conducts a Celebration of Life to honor our loved ones who have died.  The annual celebration is held at Keawalai Church in Makena.  The quaint church's peaceful grounds and beautiful ocean surroundings provide a splendid setting for this occasion.

There is quiet chamber music, as well as poetry readings and reflections.  The names of those who have died are read slowly and a chime is sounded after the reading of each name.  Attendees are welcome to submit names of people not already on our list.  Doves are released at the end of the service.  Refreshments and talk story time conclude the morning's celebration.

H.E.A.L. (Help Ease A Loss)

Weekly grief support meetings are held at Hospice Maui to help people deal with the loss of loved ones.  These meetings are open to the public—they are not restricted to the families of patients who have been on hospice service.  The meetings are led by Hospice Maui's Spiritual Care & Bereavement Coordinators & Counselors.  Following are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the meetings:

Is there a charge to attend a H.E.A.L. meeting?
There is no charge for attending our weekly H.E.A.L. meetings.

When are meetings held?
Meetings are held every week but on alternating days and times.

Where do you meet?
We're in Meeting Room #1 at Hospice Maui, 400 Mahalani Street, Wailuku (just up the hill from the hospital).

What happens at the meetings?
People who feel comfortable enough introduce themselves and share their stories and their feelings.  Participants talk about the deaths of loved ones, the effects the deaths have had on their lives, how they are working through their grief, what processes help them, what challenges they are facing, anything on their minds.

Will I have to talk? I don't know if I'm ready yet.
No one is required to talk at any of our meetings.  We understand how difficult it can be, especially when grief is so fresh.  We do ask, though, that you listen with an open mind.

I'm not religious. Will people be able to accept that?
You will find that H.E.A.L. members are very tolerant of others' views.  After the death of a loved one, many priorities, as well as values, may change.

So, I don't have to belong to a church?
No, Hospice Maui has no religious affiliation.

My loved one died three years ago and my grief is just now catching up to me.  Is it too late to come to H.E.A.L. meetings?
We all grieve differently.  Many people don't feel the need of a support group until years after the death of a loved one.  It's all right to come whenever you are ready, whether it's soon after your loved one's death, or even years later.

Do I need to reserve a spot before coming to a meeting?
No reservations are needed—come whenever you feel up to it.  We do suggest, however, that you determine if a H.E.A.L. meeting is on a Tuesday or a Wednesday for a particular week.  The schedule is below.

Other Helpful Bereavement Resources

The Child Bereavement Trust

Cruse Bereavement

Grief, Loss, and Mourning

Growth House

Kokua Mau

Hospice Maui | 400 Mahalani Street | Wailuku HI 96793

Phone:  (808) 244-5555 | Fax:  (808) 244-5557