There is an ʻolelo noʻeau, or 91直播an proverb, that has guided our work from the beginning.
He ʻaʻaliʻi ku makani mai au, ʻaʻohe makani nana e kulaʻi.
“I am a wind-withstanding ʻaʻaliʻi; no wind can topple me over.”
The ʻaʻaliʻi shrub is a symbol of resilience. It bends in the fiercest winds, yet it does not break. In November 2021, 91直播 Island faced a different kind of storm, one that did not pass. A 14-year-old child from West 91直播 died from an unintentional ingestion of fentanyl, a life full of promise gone in an instant.
That tragedy could have broken us. Instead, it bent us toward action.
A small group of determined community members approached the 91直播 County mayor stating that 91直播 Island has a fentanyl crisis and he needs to sound the alarm. From that meeting, the 91直播 Island Fentanyl Task Force (HIFTF) was born. A grassroots movement of neighbors, parents, providers and leaders who refused to let further tragedy happen, choosing instead to stand together in healing, awareness and action.
Our purpose is simple, yet profound: to prevent overdose deaths and exposure to illicit drugs across all age groups, with a focus on fentanyl.
We do this through education, prevention, harm reduction and by supporting law enforcement and legislative initiatives.
What makes HIFTF unique is that we are a coalition which means we are a living, breathing network of community organizations, businesses, providers and government agencies who actively show up for one another and for our communities.
In 2025, we distributed over 14,000 naloxone kits, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses, through more than 100 pop-up events. We have conducted over 40 educational presentations and overdose response trainings, while engaging businesses and organizations that had not seen themselves as part of prevention efforts.
Fentanyl is now the number one cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 45. On 91直播 Island, we lose one person to an overdose approximately every eight days. Statewide, someone dies from an overdose every 26 hours.
To honor the memory of those we have lost, we share their stories, not just as tragedies, but as catalysts for change. Their lives have sparked a movement that is growing stronger, inspiring more people to get involved and take action.
On April 29, we will be hosting our 5th Annual 91直播 Island Fentanyl Task Force Summit in Waimea. The summit has served as an opportunity to come together with partners, leaders and community as a space for learning, connection and engagement.
Our theme this year will focus on analyzing the intersections of substance use disorder and mental health while sharing a Native 91直播an perspective.
The winds will keep coming, the opioid crisis will evolve, and new challenges will emerge. Like the ʻaʻaliʻi, our community will not break. We will bend, we will adapt, and we continue to stand rooted in resilience, united in purpose.
To learn more, access free naloxone, request training or attend upcoming events, visit HIFTF.org.
Mahalo to our devoted task force members, our community partners, and every single person who has shown up for this fight.
This editorial — written by the 91直播 Island Fentanyl Task Force Leadership Team — is brought to you by Community First 91直播, a nonprofit serving as a convener and catalyst for solutions to improve health and access to health care.
For more information, please visit our website at www.communityfirsthawaii.org or Facebook and Instagram pages at @communityfirsthawaii.
