For several doctors at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center, the holiday season means picking up a violin, viola or cello to serenade patients where they work. Medical Notes, a string ensemble comprised entirely of doctors, offered free performances at the hospital Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, with one more scheduled for noon on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Dr. Diana Kim, the ensemble's violist, has been playing with the group since 2018. Dr. Matthew Lau, who plays violin, started the group in 2010, with his daughter, who plays cello. Eventually, they added one of Lau’s colleagues. When Hawaiʻi Permanente Medical Group celebrated its 50th anniversary, the group was asked to perform and Dr. Rebecca Sawai, another violinist, joined to create a quartet.
“And then, they gave themselves a name, and the Medical Notes were born,” Kim said.
The upcoming performance includes some holiday favorites.
“This year, we are trying to take people on a journey, so we start off at the ballet with some classics from ʻThe Nutcracker,’ and then we move on to some theatrical character development pieces, so we play something from ʻThe Grinch,’ and we play ‘Let It Go’ because who doesn't need a little bit of ice princess in winter time?” Kim said. “We move on from there to some of the real classics — the ones where you think about a fireplace and chestnuts roasting on hot coals. And then, we finish off with some island favorites like ʻMele Kalikimaka.’ ”
The group gets together to practice about once a month. Sometimes they rent spaces in Moanalua, so that those who are off duty can practice with an ensemble member who is on call and needs to be near the hospital, she said.
Following the devastating wildfires that destroyed much of Lahaina in August of 2023, the string ensemble also performed on Maui.
“We were in the hotel playing by this Christmas tree and all these families having lost everything — they were listening to us,” she said. “And you could see some of them, they were crying. We were just so touched, just being able to be there and support them, in that small way.”
Kim adds that sharing a love of patient care and a passion for medicine with other musicians in the ensemble is a plus.
“Finding a group of people that love music that see in the music what you see, which is a way to fill your cup, a way to feed your soul, so that when you show up to work the next day, you can give and you can have that ability to have the empathy and the passion and the kindness and everything that you need to provide care, not just medicine, but real care, a holistic approach,” she said. “Just having that solidarity, having that support, having that refuge, and finding time to practice and share this love, is really meaningful. And then secondly, music is a universal language, right? … You hear a Christmas song, for example, and you just feel it straight in your heart. And being able to communicate in that way, to reach out and have connection with people, patients, families, our coworkers, and share that moment of peace, that moment of feeling joy, that's really so meaningful for us.”
The violist wants people to pursue their passions, she said.
“I think that finding whatever feeds your soul is so important,” Kim said. “I would just ask people out there — no matter what your job is — always find time to pursue what feeds your soul, what makes you happy, what you know gives you the ability to go forth in the next day and be the best version of yourself.”
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
