Providing vaccination opportunities for the West Oahu community

by Shannon Tangonan | Aug. 28, 2021

For Nanakuli resident Conrad “Ray” Higa, there was no hesitation when it came to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Two shots in the arm would allow him to safely interact with his mother, who’s in her mid-80s and lives in Ewa Beach.

“I don’t want to just not see my mom,” said Ray, Hawaiian Electric operations manager at the Kahe and Campbell Industrial Park (CIP) generation facilities. “The benefit of the vaccine far outweighed the risk.”

So it really was a no-brainer when Ray was approached to help set up vaccination clinics — for employees and the public — at both the CIP and Kahe power plants.

Ray sits on the board of the Kapolei Local Emergency Action Network (KLEAN), whose members include Campbell Industrial Park businesses. The Kapolei Chamber of Commerce launched “Caring for West Oahu — Let’s Get Vaccinated,” partnering with KLEAN and health care providers to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations among area businesses and their employees, as well as residents. See a full listing of clinics in Campbell Industrial Park at Vaccination — Kapolei Chamber of Commerce.

Ray stated that the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce informed KLEAN that “businesses have led the way with this vaccination effort. When someone’s employer says, ‘Hey, you should vaccinate,’ that’s the biggest influence.”

The first of three clinics at both Kahe and CIP were held Thursday, Aug. 26. The next clinics are set for Aug. 31. See the schedule and addresses for the clinics at Kahe and CIP generation facilities.

With vaccination rates lower across West Oahu, Ray hopes these clinics will make an impact.

Ray, whose ties to the Waianae Coast community run deep, said there are numerous reasons why some area residents are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Some wanted to wait until there was full FDA approval, others are just afraid or have had had negative experiences with other vaccinations — and then there’s the anti-vax info on social media.

Ray remains hopeful that more West Oahu residents will get vaccinated. “I know someone who was very anti-vaccination. That person got vaccinated when he decided that the benefit outweighs the risk,” he said.

On Thursday, Ray said he was glad to hear a story from one of the nurses working at the CIP clinic. A man stopped by and asked, ‘How long will you be open? Because I want to bring my family,’ Ray said. He returned with several family members.

Shannon Tangonan is a manager of external corporate communications at Hawaiian Electric