The Case for Justice for Micronesians in Hawaii

On August 14th, 2009, the Lingle Administration announced that the health care low-income Micronesians had received for the past 50 years in Hawaii would be dramatically reduced and critical life-sustaining services, including dialysis and chemotherapy, would be eliminated.

This was the first time that the general public, along with the Micronesian community, had heard about these dramatic reductions, even though the administration had been preparing for the cuts for the preceding six months. The notice was sent out a mere two weeks before the September 1st implementation date and was written only in English. In addition, the notice just listed those services still to be provided, not those such as dialysis that were no longer going to be covered.

Misinformation and terror ran rampant throughout the Micronesian community as the impact of the cuts on the lives of so many became evident. At that point, about 110 Micronesians were receiving life-sustaining dialysis treatment for kidney failure on an average of 3 times a week. Without the treatment, patients suffer an excruciating death within 10 days. Another 150 Micronesians were receiving chemotherapy and without it, most would die a slow death from cancer.

A few days after the announcement, I met my first-ever Micronesian client when Manny Sounds, a former Lieutenant Governor of Chuuk, asked for our help at the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Hawaii Appleseed is a nonprofit law firm created to advocate on behalf of low income individuals and families in Hawai`i on civil legal issues of statewide importance. Our core mission is to help our clients gain access to the resources, services, and fair treatment that they need to realize their opportunities for self-achievement and economic security.

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