KKV’s March ʻĀina Warrior
Lalo Ishiki-Kalāhele
by Ka’ohua Lucas
Lalo Ishiki-Kalāhele straddles the picnic bench with a cup of coffee and sets it on the weathered table surface. Colleagues pass by greeting her by name and affectionately teasing her. Her laugh is contagious as she counters with a witty response.
Since March 2020, Lalo’s responsibilities have transitioned to coordinating essentials for COVID positive patients. Her humble personality is reflected when she describes her kuleana. “I don’t see myself as an individual doing the work. I am part of a larger team.”
KKV has been offering COVID testing to the Kalihi community since the start of the pandemic. Names of patients who have tested positive are sent confidentially to Lalo and KKV team leaders. Once the list is received an advocate is assigned to each person. “We are so lucky because most of our advocates have second languages,” Lalo says. “And we ask the patients questions such as ʻHow are you feeling today?’ ʻDo you need any toiletries?’ ʻHow many in your household?’ ʻDo you need any isolation support?’ These are important questions to our community.”
Providing food for COVID positive patients is just one element of the larger story. KKV is providing support in many ways and also directing ʻohana to available resources. “We help with everything from unemployment to rental assistance to medical assistance to food delivery,” Lalo says. “And we are addressing the needs of the whole household not just the patient. If there are ten of them in the household, we make sure everyone is taken care of.”
The idea is to ensure that the entire family’s needs are met and to slow the spread and exposure of COVID in the Kalihi community. “The hardest part of this is not being able to give someone a hug,” Lalo says. “I had to deliver a meal to someone and this lady was so grateful. She was going in for a hug and all I could do was hand her the box of food. It broke my heart.”
Lalo is one of our ʻĀina Warriors at Hoʻoulu ʻĀina. Resilient. Organized. Caring. Compassionate.
