I received a timely email today from Congressman Kahele that is pertinent for what is happening in Hawaii and across the US. The lesson learned in her time should be heeded now.

From Representative Kai Kahele’s emal:

Today, as the the delta variant of COVID-19 surges throughout our community, we also reflect on the 183rd birthday of our beloved Queen Liliʻuokalani, who led Hawaiʻi’s people through the smallpox pandemic when it reached the Hawaiian Islands. Here was the then-Princess’s guidance to the Hawaiian people at the time:

“Know that my heart is filled with sadness, and that I am hopeful that this disease will not spread amongst us. I am doing, and will continue to do, everything within my power to prevent its spread, and I am strongly asking everyone to assist me in doing everything to defend against this disease by obeying the directives of those in power along with the medical doctors, and I am strongly urging that people go in large numbers to vaccination sites and to stop gathering in places where there are large amounts of people, and to report those infected with the disease to government officials.”