Hale Malamalama ICF

Pros

• The facility's staff are friendly, caring, attentive, engaging, knowledgeable, and faithful.
• The location is beautiful, located right in front of the beach with an ocean breeze.
• The food is great and satisfying.
• Shared rooms accommodate up to four patients and provide sunlight.
• The caregivers frequently visit patients, ensuring no one is left alone.
• Some private rooms offer ocean views for quiet time with loved ones.
• The family is grateful that their beloved mom could spend the last days of her life there, with much aloha to the team.
• The kitchen staff greet visitors in the morning with smiles.

Cons

• Some staff members are not friendly.
• Some staff members are judgmental.
• Jennifer Sy was rude to the reviewer, saying, "I am not your ate!"
• Shared rooms lack views, with windows only providing sunlight.

Review

The experience at this facility unfolds as a story of care, setting, and a mix of warmth and imperfection. The author felt compelled to share their reflections because the kindness and attention encountered there left a lasting impression. From the outset, the tone is one of respect and gratitude, underscored by a sense that the place strives to do right by its patients and their families.

A central thread running through the review is the people who work there. According to the writer, everyone within the facility is exceptionally friendly, attentive, engaging, knowledgeable, and faithful to their roles. This portrayal paints the staff as more than just professionals - they are a community that someone could trust with the delicate business of caregiving. The description suggests a culture where compassion is not merely optional but embedded in daily interactions, with staff who seem genuinely invested in the well-being of those in their care.

The setting itself is highlighted as a meaningful part of the experience. The location sits beautifully in front of the beach, and the breeze from the sea becomes almost a character in the story, offering a sensory reminder of the outside world while providing a serene backdrop for patients and visitors alike. The reviewer notes that loved ones can be brought to a place where the ocean and the air provide a soothing, almost therapeutic ambience. This coastal environment appears to enhance the sense of comfort and peace that the facility aims to cultivate, a factor that many families value during stressful times.

When it comes to daily life inside, the facility accommodates a range of needs. Dining is described positively - the meals are good, with flavors and portions that stimulate appetite rather than dulling it. In terms of accommodation, most patients are housed in shared rooms with up to four people. The reviewer notes that these rooms lack full views, having only sunlight through a window, yet this limitation is offset by the visible presence of nurses and aides who routinely check on patients. The author emphasizes that no one is left alone; care feels continuous and attentive, which contrasts with a first-day impression that might have suggested a more impersonal atmosphere. For those seeking more privacy or quiet, there are private rooms available with ocean views, and the reviewer's mother was moved to one of these rooms toward the end of life, allowing quiet time with family while still remaining in the care framework of the facility.

A particularly poignant element of the narrative centers on the final days spent with a beloved mother. The reviewer expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to have their mom spend her last days at the facility, extending a heartfelt "Much Aloha to all team members." This sentiment underscores the sense that, regardless of the everyday bustle and occasional missteps, the overall caregiving experience was meaningful and valued. The emphasis on end-of-life care suggests that, for this family, the environment provided dignity, gentleness, and a space where loved ones could gather and reflect in a supportive setting.

However, the account does not shy away from acknowledging imperfections. In a morning visit to the kitchen, the narrator encountered a scene that tempered the otherwise uniformly positive portrayal. After greeting the staff and introducing themselves to a cook by the name of Jennifer Sy, the response was unexpectedly rude: "I am not your ate!" This moment, described in the reviewer's own words, stood in contrast to the broader pattern of kindness and attentiveness elsewhere in the facility. The writer notes that some staff members are not friendly, with a sense that judgments and occasional brusqueness can surface. This juxtaposition - overwhelming warmth and care in many interactions, punctuated by a rare rude encounter - adds depth to the portrait, suggesting that while the facility generally fosters a positive climate, there remains room for improvement in every corner of its operation.

Taken together, the narrative offers a nuanced portrait of a cared-for sanctuary by the sea, where compassionate staff, a scenic and soothing environment, and a focus on family-centered moments converge. The overarching message is one of gratitude: for the dignity afforded to a loved one in their final days, for the supportive presence of nurses and aides who show up consistently, and for the sense that the place houses more than just bodies - it holds a community that strives to treat people with respect and gentleness. Yet the account also serves as a gentle reminder that no setting is perfect, and even in the most benevolent environments, human interactions can falter. The reviewer's hope seems to be for continued growth and harmonization - ensuring that the standard of kindness meets, and perhaps exceeds, the already high level of care described - so that every visitor leaves with trust, comfort, and a clear sense of aloha.

This particular area of Honolulu, Hawaii offers a range of amenities and services that may appeal to seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant community. With several places of worship nearby such as Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Church, residents can easily maintain their spiritual practices. Additionally, there are multiple pharmacies in close proximity, making it easy to access necessary medications. The variety of restaurants in the area, including Kona Brewing Company and Diamond Head Market & Grill, provide options for dining out or grabbing a quick bite to eat. The abundance of parks such as Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Park and Koko Head Regional Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Access to physicians and healthcare facilities like The Queen's Health Care Centers and Kapiolani Medical Center provide peace of mind for medical needs. Furthermore, numerous cafes like The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Hawaiian Aroma Caffe offer social spaces for meeting with friends or enjoying a cup of coffee. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment for seniors seeking an active and engaging lifestyle in Honolulu.

Places of Worship

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church - Cottage Thrift Shop (0.6 miles)
• Sacred Heart Church (7.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Longs Drugs (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Longs Drugs (2.3 miles)
• Longs (2.3 miles)
• Longs Drugs (4.3 miles)
• Times Supermarkets (4.4 miles)
• Times Supermarkets (5.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Kona Brewing Company (1.1 miles)
• Aina Haina Shopping Center (2.2 miles)
• McDonald's (5.5 miles)
• Diamond Head Market & Grill (6 miles)
• Leonard's Bakery (6 miles)
• Ono Seafood (6 miles)
• Rainbow Drive- In (6.1 miles)

Parks

• Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Park (1.2 miles)
• Koko Head Regional Park (1.8 miles)
• Waialae Iki Park (3.2 miles)
• Waimanalo Beach Park (3.6 miles)
• Fort Ruger Park (5.1 miles)
• Manoa Valley District Park (6.1 miles)
• Kapiolani Park (6.3 miles)

Physicians

• Carlson Ronald S DDS (4.3 miles)
• Dr. Kathy Iida (4.3 miles)
• The Queen's Health Care Centers (4.4 miles)
• Cloward Instrument Corporation (5.4 miles)
• Blane Kalani Chong (5.6 miles)
• Kaimuki Center For Dentistry (5.6 miles)
• Aloha Vision Consultants (5.9 miles)

Cafes

• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (5.9 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)
• Knots Coffee Roasters (6.5 miles)
• Barefoot Beach Cafe (6.7 miles)
• Kai Coffee (6.7 miles)
• Kona Coffee Purveyors | b.patisserie (6.8 miles)
• Hawaiian Aroma Caffe (6.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Dr. John Garvie MD (7.1 miles)
• Birth Center At Castle Med Center (7.1 miles)
• Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children (7.3 miles)