Hawai'i will join countries across the globe today to celebrate the 5th Annual World Kidney Day at the state Capitol. The festivities will focus on kidney disease awareness, educating those at risk about the importance of early detection and the critical role kidneys play in maintaining good health.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to noon and will include entertainment, cooking demonstrations and testimonials about kidney disease, which claims about 400 lives in Hawai'i each year. Free kidney screenings will also be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Most people with kidney disease are not diagnosed until late in the course of illness when there are few opportunities for prevention," said Glen Hayashida, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, in a statement. "We need to alert the public and health policymakers to this real threat to populations here and around the world and to the fact that early detection makes a significant difference."

For more information about risk factors, World Kidney Day activities and screening events visit www.kidneyhi.org.