Nearly 100 West Hawaii residents Saturday took to the streets to joining citizens across the nation rallying in support abortion rights of abortion rights in Hawaii and beyond.
“Today we are here to advance reproductive rights across our state and increase access to reproductive rights but also because there is an attack against reproductive rights in our nation right now,” said one of the rally’s organizers Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D-South Kona, Ka‘u and a portion of North Kona). “What happened in Texas is one of the most restrictive bans on abortion care that we have ever seen and it is really a devastating thing for us women and anyone who has a uterus to see this restriction happening. So we are standing with advocates from across the entire country today and across the state to advocate for reproductive rights and reproductive services and increasing that access so that every single person has the right to choose.”
West Hawaii residents opposing a recently enacted Texas law, banning abortions after six weeks and giving Texans the power to sue abortion providers, joined demonstrations around the country Saturday, rallying at the intersection of rights in Kailua-Kona. The date marks two days before the Supreme Court reconvenes for its yearly term, and the stakes have never been higher to protect access to safe abortions as we know it.
Another organizer, Clair Mason of the Young Progressives Demanding Action, Big Island said they were there to show unity with the rest of the country.
“Hawaii believes in reproductive rights and a space to feel safe,” she said. “We deserve access to reproductive health on the Big Island and shouldn’t have to fly to Oahu.”
The demonstrations took place two days before the start of a new term for the Supreme Court that will decide the future of abortion rights in the United States.
“This past year in legislative session we passed HB 576, which allowed advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortion services, which is great for rural areas,” Kapelasaid. “Right now, there’s only abortion access, only one Planned Parenthood in Honolulu and Maui and there’s nothing here on Hawaii Island. Our Planned Parenthood closed a couple of years ago, so people have to fly to Honolulu to get reproductive care or an abortion if that’s what they need. There is one place in Hilo, but it is very hard to get an appointment.”
Kapela noted one of the most important things about Planned Parenthood is that most people think they only do abortion care.
“It’s not. Only 3% of what they do is abortion services,” she said. “The rest is reproduction care. For me, as a young woman, I struggled to find a doctor that would talk to me about my body. Having a doctor that was a woman that understood what was happening with my body and what worked best because most people don’t know what birth control will work best for them. Everyone needs something different, so not having access to a doctor or a reproductive care center where you can learn about your body, you are never going to get that chance.”
Rianne Capron attended the rally to support abortion rights.
“I’m almost 70 years old. I saw the passage of Roe v. Wade,” she said. “We need to keep church and state separate. What it comes down to is protecting my voice.”
She said the threat to the landmark Supreme Court decision will threaten minorities the most.
“What are they thinking? It’s going to affect our brown sisters the most. White women have the means to travel to other states. They are doing this so they can raise another generation for the military.”
“Today is important not only for women and girls but men too,” said Maureen Hallenbeck. “They need to assist their girlfriends, wives and one-night-stands.”
Jeff Morinove attended Saturday’s rally.
“I’m here to support women. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
Paul Aguirre said he fought the fight when he was 20 years old.
“Now, I’m 75. People had daughters that died because they had to have abortions. We are here because people have become complacent.
“I hope they pay attention. This is so important because it impacts everyone,” he said.
“At the end of the day we need to make sure that health care is a human right. Access to reproductive health care is a right. We need to make sure we are fully funding access not to insurance but access to a healthcare system that is working for us,” Kapela said.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.