An epic three hour virtual concert is set for November 21 to promote awareness, advocacy and action to help Pacific islanders cope with the COVID-19 environments they’re living in.
For example a mother contracted COVID-19 and was forced to quarantine in a tiny one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment.
Her small children and other relatives, including elders were forced to remain in the living room. There were 12 of them; and to make it worse, the bathroom was in the bedroom.
The Pacific Islanders Hawaii Covid-19 Response Team says this dire situation is common for our Chuukese, Samoan, Marshallese communities.
Pacific Islanders are 4% of Hawai‘i’s population but a whopping 27% of CoVID-19 cases. As of November 6, the same people groups account for 45 deaths in Hawai‘i due to CoVID-19. That’s 20%, in other words one in five COVID-19 deaths are Pacific Islanders, a stunning tragedy.
Tina Tauasosi-Posiulai of the Pacific Islander Hawaii COVID-19 Response Team said, “We’re scrambling on many levels for help, answers and much-needed resources.
“But with a resilient spirit of aloha, we are fighting back!”
Team member, Tony “Da Braddahs” Silva added, “I’m shocked that our native people are dying for lack of resources right here in America, right here in Hawai‘i!
“This is a call for everyone to come together to lōkahi and laulima, to work together for the lives of our island ‘Ghana!”
A dozen different organizations and nonprofits related to Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have collaborated to produce PSAs in native languages, a hotline, social media posts, and now an epic 3-hour concert to promote awareness, advocacy and action.
“Pasefika Su‘i Fefiloi” Virtual Concert is on November 21, 2020 with all-stars Rebel SoulJahz, Josh Tatofi, Kapena, John Akapo, Kelandy and Da Braddahs.
It will be live-streamed on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube and available free to all islanders worldwide.
