HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lanai and Molokai residents said they constantly deal with delayed and cancelled flights while trying to get to their medical appointments. Now, there’s a bill moving through the state Legislature aiming to fix that.
For this Molokai resident, beating breast cancer has been challenging, from learning about her diagnosis to having to go back and forth to Oahu for chemotherapy appointments and dealing with travel roadblocks in between.
“We sat there for a couple hours just for them to tell us that the flight was canceled,” said Kaira Kaina, Molokai resident and breast cancer survivor.
Molokai and Lanai residents rely on a single air carrier for transportation from each island, leaving Kaina to frequently reschedule chemo appointments.
“We had to go back home and I had to relay the message to insurance, doctors and all those important people that were getting my reservations together,” Kaina said.
Kaina isn’t the only one feeling the impacts.
“We’re losing a lot of our patients, not just by death, but relocating out of the state for medical,” said Kimberly Svetin, Molokai Drugs, Inc. President. “I have friends my age that are relocating their parents to the mainland.”