Arcadia Family of Companies
Arcadia is guided by a vision to provide optimum effort in support of its residents and seniors in the greater community.
Arcadia is Hawaii’s premier retirement community, and is the only nationally accredited Continuing Care Retirement Community in the State. Arcadia offers a lifetime residency with a continuum of care that begins with independent living in one’s apartment with access to health care services, food, convenience services, personal assistance, if requested, security, maintenance, maid and linen service, numerous programs, activities and entertainment and, along the continuum, if needed, assisted living, skilled long term care and special care for those who develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Arcadia stands on the former site of the family home of Mary Dillingham Frear, wife of Hawaii’s third territorial Governor. In 1951, Mrs. Frear died, leaving her home to Punahou School.
Punahou was unable to make use of the property for educational purposes, but was interested in establishing a residence for the elderly.
In 1964, Punahou, Central Union and Dillingham Corporation agreed that the site would make an ideal location for a distinguished retirement residence. Dillingham agreed to provide professional developer assistance and to make second mortgage financing available for the project; Punahou agreed to lease the site to Central Union, and, Central Union agreed to sponsor, own and manage the project.
In January 1965, Punahou leased the property to Central Union for a 75-year term. Under the lease, Central Union was obligated to construct a retirement residence on the site.
The first residents moved into Arcadia in January 1967.
In 1987 Arcadia Retirement Residence became a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose sole member (like a shareholder) is Central Union Church. The new corporation’s first major capital improvement challenge arose almost immediately when 20 year old galvanized water pipes began to leak extensively. Without borrowing any funds, Arcadia embarked on a $6 million two-year project which saw the removal of all asbestos and the installation of all new copper piping and a fire sprinkler system throughout the entire building.
During this period, Arcadia also explored the possibility of purchasing the fee simple interest in Arcadia’s property from Punahou School. In 1992, the Board determined, based on updated financial planning models, that Arcadia could purchase the fee interest from Punahou for $12.5 million and also contemplate expansion plans costing an additional $10 million. In October 1992, Arcadia purchased the fee interest from Punahou School for $12.5 million.
After several years of planning and analysis, in May 1997, Arcadia commenced construction on a $10 million renovation project, which involved:
• Reconfiguring its first floor to accommodate administrative offices, a chapel, a 4,000+ volume library, and a refurbished kitchen operation;
• Building seven new one-bedroom, one and one-half bath apartments on its solarium level, as well as redoing its solarium lounge space and private dining area;
• Building a 23-bed skilled nursing facility on the ewa end of the third floor and two boarder rooms, re-designating the Diamond Head end of the third floor for 13 assisted living apartments;
• Reconfiguring and renovating the second floor for 61 skilled nursing beds, capable also of serving residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia;
• Building in the basement area a new wellness center with pool and exercise room as well as a gift shop, beauty salon, resident’s work shop and an arts and crafts room; and,
• Expanding parking by an additional 20 stalls to better accommodate visitor parking, and providing landscaping and an outside lawn bowling area.
After completing the renovation in 1999, Arcadia was recognized in Hawaii and nationally for the quality, beauty and excellence of its renovation.
Further, Arcadia continues upgrading its 212 independent living units by renovating the bathrooms and kitchenettes for each apartment as they become available to new occupants, including the addition of a ? bath to our large one bedroom units, and the addition of a small bedroom to one half of our large studio apartments.
In 2004, Arcadia was nationally selected as a “Champion of Industry” for its outstanding achievements and contributions as a Continuing Care Retirement Community.
The Arcadia family of companies provides valuable services to Arcadia and the greater community:
The Arcadia Foundation established in 1998 has received the costs of subsidization for Arcadia residents and to provide monies to assist with the needs of seniors in the community at large. As the Foundation grows, its ability to provide greater assistance for seniors in need at Arcadia and in the larger community also grows.
Since 2003, Arcadia Elder Services (AES) has managed the operations for Central Union’s Adult Day Care and Day Health Center and in 2006, AES will manage adult day care operations for Kilohana United Methodist Church in Niu Valley. These Centers provide a caring, safe, nurturing and secure environment for seniors who need the services offered by these programs.
In 2004, Arcadia Home Health Services began providing a program of services for seniors who need some help, but want to continue being at home.
In May 2006, The Hawaii Conference Foundation of the United Church of Christ entered an agreement in which The Arcadia Foundation and a new corporation, Craigside Retirement Residence, will develop, construct, own and operate a continuing care retirement community for moderate income seniors on The Hawaii Conference Foundation's 1.5 acre property at Craigside Place in Nuuanu.
Arcadia continues to be guided by a vision that calls it to provide optimum effort in support of its residents and to provide benefits and service to seniors in the greater community.
