President's Message
By Tori Abe Carapelho
The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Dr. King’s words ring true now more than ever. Over the last couple of months, we’ve faced unprecedented challenges as a result of the global spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). This worldwide crisis has devastated communities around the globe, forcing people to adapt to a new normal and work hard to practice social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
But what’s extremely gratifying during these times are the positive stories of people stepping up to care for and support one another. It’s all of the incredible gestures of kindness and humanity that are making a difference in people’s lives. It’s the silver linings that people are finding in the situation, whether it’s parents being able to spend more quality time with their kids, individuals picking up new hobbies, or others finding time for self-reflection. It gives me hope.
I also see it in our team and volunteers, who are focused on caring for our patients and their families as well as each other. We’re definitely facing continued challenges ahead but I’m confident we’ll get through this together.
More than ever before, we’re reminded of our roots as a community organization founded on the simple goal of ensuring the end of every journey would be just as beautiful as the beginning. The people of Hawaii are at the heart of our organization, and during this time of “challenge and controversy,” we remain committed to doing everything in our power to care for the local community.