It started when Lāhela Blake KSK’96 began working in the emergency room. There, she saw firsthand how patients were struggling not just with illness or injury but with understanding.

“When you go to the doctor’s, they diagnose and write the medication for you,” Blake said. “But it’s really up to the nurses to explain it… so [patients] know what’s going on.”

With decades of working in ERs to running her own private clinic, Blake carries a broad set of skills into her role as health services manager for Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha. Her focus is prevention, education and helping haumāna understand how to care for their bodies now. For Blake, health is more than just getting the right treatment. It’s about giving people the knowledge to advocate for themselves before minor concerns become emergencies.

With the holidays and a new year fast approaching — packed with family gatherings, work parties and school events — her message is simple: hydrate.

“Thirty minutes to an hour before the event, drink about 500 milliliters of water,” Blake said. “Pre-hydrating will help from dehydration later.”

Blake and her team see the signs of dehydration more often than you might expect, especially at events like Founder’s Day or Song Contest. When haumāna are standing for long periods, under bright lights or warm sun, they often skip water to avoid the bathroom. That’s when the dizzy spells start.

“Lightheadedness, dizziness, visual changes… blurry vision… black spots. Those are all signs of dehydration,” Blake said.

If you start feeling woozy, your instinct might be to stay still but Blake says the opposite helps.

“Don’t lock your knees. Move around, shift your weight from foot to foot,” Blake said. “Tensing your muscles can help send blood back up to your brain, so you don’t end up passing out.”

Keeping your blood flowing is one reason hydration matters so much, even outside physical activity. Water supports blood volume, which in turn helps circulation and brain function. It helps you stay clear-headed and focused, whether you’re in the stands or studying for finals, but not all drinks are created equal.

“Caffeine is dehydrating,” Blake said. “And if you drink too much sports drinks, you can actually get dehydrated because of the sugar content.”

That goes for hydration powders and packets too, especially in excess. Blake points out that while those products can be helpful in moderation, they’re no substitute for regular water intake. And for students who hesitate to hydrate out of fear of mid-event bathroom breaks, she says your body will adjust over time. The key is consistency.

“It’s not like [the water] is just going to go straight from your mouth to your bladder,” Blake said. “If you start to regularly drink like two liters a day, you’ll find that you go to the bathroom more normally.”

As the season shifts and schedules fill with celebrations, performances and final projects, one of the best things you can do for your health and safety is the easiest: drink water.

“You can drink all the coffee you want, all the sports drinks you want,” Blake said. “But nothing is going to hydrate your body better than water. So… if you have a choice: water first.”

At Kamehameha Schools, students are supported in building lifelong habits that strengthen their health and ability to mālama themselves. Prehydrating and staying hydrated throughout events will help your body stay balanced, your mind sharp, and your spirit strong — all so you can show up fully for the moments that matter.

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