Kuulei Perreira Keawekane couldn’t breathe when she visited a Hawaii emergency department. Her body was in constant pain and she couldn’t stand due to nausea.
She was not vaccinated against COVID-19, as were many Native Hawaiians.
Perreira-Keawekane’s situation highlights the COVID-19 crises that are sweeping Hawaii. Hospitals are overflowing with record numbers of patients, vaccines are slowing down and Hawaiians are suffering adisproportionate amount of the suffering.
Because of its strict quarantine and travel restrictions, and the overall acceptance of vaccines, Hawaii was once viewed as a beacon for safety during the pandemic. The highly contagious delta variant made use of these weaknesses, as people relaxed and went to family gatherings after months and months of vaccine hesitancy and restrictions.
Friday’s state report had a record 1,035 new confirmed cases. Although the state reported a higher number earlier in the month, it also included cases that were not yet confirmed by labs due to delays in reporting.
Governor Tomaso is now urging residents and tourists to avoid the state and urging them to limit their travel. Leaders are also reimposing limits on social gathering sizes. A group of nonprofits and businesses launched a public service campaign on Thursday to help address the issue of vaccine hesitancy. It was targeted at Native Hawaiians who have a history of distrust in the government, dating back to the U.S.-supported overthrow in 1893 of the monarchy.
The campaign reminds Hawaiians of the fact that they nearly died from smallpox in 1800s Hawaii and that their rulers at that time encouraged them to get vaccinated.
A total of 20 Hawaiian leaders gathered in rows of 6 feet (1.8m) each at Queen Liliuokalani’s statue, the last monarch of the kingdom. They pleaded with people to wear masks to get vaccinated to protect the lives of the Hawaiian Indigenous people.
Perreira Keawekane said, “Not only was it afraid of needles and just putting off, putting off, but it was also because I didn’t know enough about the vaccine, and that distrust was very real.”
She plans to get vaccinated. She doesn’t believe she is pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine.
She said that native people are traumatized by having to choose between the two. “Data can be shouted at the tops of your lungs but it doesn’t have to do with people you know.
In Hawaii, overall, 62.1% are fully vaccinated. However, Hawaiians are among the least vaccinated; some estimates suggest that it is at around 40%.
About 21% of the state’s residents are Native Hawaiians. They also accounted for 21% in cases between the outbreak of the pandemic and July 10, 2021. According to state data, this figure rose to 28% between July 11th, 2021 and Aug. 16th, 2021.
Honolulu Emergency Services Department director Jim Ireland stated that there were four COVID-19 patient 911 call for Nanakuli on a recent morning. This is a community home to many Native Hawaiians. He pointed out that the vaccination rates are lower in Oahu’s west side.
Campaign to increase Hawaiian vaccination rates was created because messages to the public have not been sufficient, according Naalehu Anthony (director of COVID Pau), a collaboration of nonprofit and business organizations that delivered public health messages during the pandemic.
Anthony stated, “We are telling people to get vaccine ’til they’re blue in their face.” “But that’s only part of the story about why it’s so important to get vaccinated. Part of the equation is who you are asking to do it.
Governor. David Ige, who isn’t Hawaiian, admitted that he wasn’t the ideal messenger. “We know that sometimes my statements are not the most motivating for many others.”
Native Hawaiians were among the first to be affected by the pandemic. They also had the lowest rates for infection.
This changed in May, when people celebrate weddings and graduations.
Ironically, many people don’t realize that Hawaii family parties originated in a time when Hawaiians held big celebrations for the baby’s first birthday. This was before measles vaccines were available.
“I think it’s sad, and kind of ironic, that luau have become places where people can get sick,” stated state senator Jarrett Keohokalole.
Andria Tupola is a Hawaiian city councilwoman representing west Oahu. She said that one of the ways government leaders are out-of-touch with their constituents was not respecting those who want to make their own decision.
Recently, she revealed that she was not vaccinated as she had been positive for the disease while in Utah. However, she felt well enough to run every day. She is also a key organizer of vaccination clinics.
She said that the backlash she received over her vaccination status didn’t help her convince others in her community to get vaccinated.
She said, “If you have me to crucify and make an example of me in front my community… it’s like that it’s going to make people do it. People trust others and respect each other in our community.”
Keaweaimoku Kalookula, the chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii’s medical college, stated that he didn’t expect Hawaiians to avoid the vaccine. He said, “It’s very American — which is ironic — to behave that way.”
He said, “I believe our people should remember that part of our culture involves protecting each other over ourselves.”
Keoni Payton is a Big Island clothing designer. However, she does not recommend that anyone get vaccinated. He said, “I am pro-choice about what you put into your body and body autonomy.”
He doesn’t like the messages about the 1850s smallpox vaccination being mandated by kingdom rulers.
He said, “As Hawaiians we have not been treated fairly with U.S. government.” “They took our land, and now they are stealing our bodies.”
