Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1713, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote improved care for patient residents at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai.

Specifically, this measure declares the Legislature's intent to ensure that the Department of Health treats all patient residents of Kalaupapa with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity. In addition, the measure requires the Department to ensure the patient residents' liberties, autonomy, and dignity.

Your Committee finds that many years ago, residents of this State who contracted Hansen's Disease were taken away from family and friends and forced to live in exile in Kalawao county at the Kalaupapa Settlement on the island of Molokai. Many of the patients who are still alive today were in their teens or early twenties when they were diagnosed with Hansen's Disease. Although these patients are free to come and go as they please, they have chosen to live the remainder of their lives in Kalaupapa.

In April of 2005, one patient will be celebrating his fiftieth anniversary in Kalaupapa. If one statement could summarize his sentiment towards his life in Kalaupapa it is, "I thank God for giving me leprosy ... if I did not have the disease, I would not have had the opportunity to meet all the people I have met." A humble statement from one patient should make us all reflect that we should be thankful for what we have and that in the face of adversity, we will ultimately survive. Your Committee finds that this bill honors those who were forced to make sacrifices to alleviate the fears of others.

Again, it is the intent of your Committee that the remaining patients receive the care and comfort they need and that the focus of the Department of Health is to remember that the patients of Kalaupapa come first.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1713, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.