Photo: Hale O Meleana Facebook page
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
What would Jesus do?
In this summary report for the closing of the State of Hawaii legislative session, there aren’t enough words to convey the impact Hawaii’s faith-based community had over the past year. The church did what it does best — it rose to the challenge of helping those less fortunate.
Catholic Charities Hawaii, HOPE Services Hawaii, St. Francis Healthcare Systems of Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Hawaii’s Catholic schools proved that when your mission is to go outside your self-interests, the world will be changed. Pandemic or not, champions arose to ensure that the voices of those in need were heard.
Catholic Charities Hawaii continued its strong advocacy of affordable housing, testifying in favor of legislation that would allocate more funding for affordable rental housing, produce a wider range of housing (ALOHA Homes) or reduce costs (i.e. exempt family projects from school impact fees). Catholic Charities also strongly supported bills that would impact very vulnerable populations, including an emergency and ongoing appropriation for the general assistance budget shortfall (for disabled persons), and bills helping homeless youth and youth targeted by human traffickers. While not all of these bills passed, CCH’s overall priorities were funded.
On the Big Island, HOPE Services worked diligently to ensure that the community had access to financial management resources, outreach programs including housing and social services, and disaster relief assistance. They expertly managed short-term emergency shelters. The agency also worked hard to decrease the spread of COVID-19 among homeless persons and medically vulnerable populations.
Hawaii Catholic Schools superintendent Llewellyn Young worked with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools in advocating for the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant. It is important to note that all Catholic Schools in Hawaii remained open during the pandemic while most public schools were closed. Chaminade University also provided in-person, on-campus learning in addition to virtual learning to ensure students received the best education they could under the circumstances.
St. Francis Healthcare continued its legacy of compassion. One important new service is Hale O Meleana, a 111-unit residential homecare facility licensed to provide a full spectrum of senior care, from adult residential care, assisted living and memory care, to intermediate and skilled nursing. Over a dozen residents are already on campus and more are in waiting. Memory care is a big interest in the community. CARES Act funding ran out so the program St. Francis was providing had to be cut. Several key leaders in the state want to get the program up and running again. The Hawaii State Department of Health provided a grant for St. Francis to continue to provide box lunches and home supplies to many elderly in the community.
Finally, on the life front, the legislature passed a bill that authorizes advanced practice registered nurses to perform medication or aspiration abortions. Governor Ige signed the bill on April 14. In spite of many other overarching needs, this bill was moved to a place of prominence and the pandemic was cited over and over as justification for this furthering of abortion access.
The 2022 session may again pose risks for social services since Hawaii’s economy is slow to recover and many businesses have closed. Hawaii’s tax revenues are projected to be lower than normal for at least the next two years. And on life issues, there will be an attempt to have advanced practice registered nurses add assisted suicide to their scope of practice.
The next session will be a challenge, but you can rest in the knowledge that the care and services of the Catholic community will continue. You can be sure of that because that is what Jesus would do.
Eva Andrade is the director of the Hawaii Catholic Conference.
