Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 1, 1 January 2005 — Dialysis for kūpuna [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dialysis for kūpuna

So many unanswered questions and concerns have led to poor results with little or no action taken seriously. Our kūpuna - living in dire need of dialysis service in Hāna, the last Hawaiian plaee - are paying the high price of not being able to live the lifestyle and culture in their community. A critical issue to their well-being and health has been taken over by money and greed. This when they too are taxpayers, just like any one of us. A contributing factor to the tiredness and burden of our kūpuna is that they have to travel such a long distance (104 miles roundtrip along the dangerous Hāna Highway) three times a week for the rest of their lives in order to receive treatment. This does not solve the problem. Our kūpuna deserve better. Time spent traveling ean be better spent in their community, with 'ohana and friends doing what they love to do. This is a human right. Therefore, effort continues today to bring dialysis service to this last Hawaiian plaee. A proposal to OHA is in the process for a project in plaee, and we ask you to please consider our efforts. Time is too precious: we are losing too many kūpuna. We gotta take care of our people now! Me ke aloha pumehana ! Lehua Cosma Hāna, Maui

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