President's Message
By Tori Abe Carapelho
Have you ever had an “aha” moment, when all of a sudden you realize a deeper meaning in something you live by every day? That happened to me recently. I was reflecting on Navian Hawaii’s guiding principles and our mission and all of a sudden, it hit me. Our mission to “bring hope, reduce fears and impact lives” has a whole new meaning now and is being embraced by people all over the world in the face of COVID-19.
Think about it. There are so many instances of undeniable hope rising from the pandemic. Countries that were suffering the most at the start of the pandemic are now recovering and slowly returning to normal. In Hawaii, we have the lowest infection rate in the United States. Doctors are experimenting with new treatments with some success. There is a spirit of global connectedness that gives all of us hope.
Do a quick Google search of the keywords “fear” and “COVID-19,” and hundreds of resources pop up featuring different ways people can manage their fears and cope with anxiety around the coronavirus. Many organizations have also launched virtual experiences, guided meditations, online workouts and other activities to help reduce fear—including our own.
And then there are all of the stories of people impacting lives, from sewing masks for frontline workers, to using technology to connect with family members, to running errands for seniors in the community so they can stay safe at home.
Bringing hope, reducing fears and impacting lives is a philosophy we have always held near and dear to our hearts at Navian Hawaii. I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank our amazing staff, volunteers, donors and friends for continuing to live and breathe this as we have cared for our patients and their families during these challenging times.
Here’s another “aha” moment: I truly believe that we, as a community, are stronger than we’ve ever been before. One day, we will look back on this time in history and remember how we all came together and emerged resiliently.