People dressed in purple filled the sidewalk along S. Beretania Street Friday afternoon, in front of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, waving signs and cheering in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, which is observed on Sunday, Aug. 31. Though it is a somber day of remembrance for those lost to overdose, the goal remains to raise awareness and increase education.
Despite the beaming sun and tradewinds, organizers and staff members from Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center smiled, and even danced, to garner car horns of support. Local media, policymakers and the public were invited to attend.
“Weʻre expecting more than 100 people today,” Andrew Ogata, HHHRC director of marketing and development, told Aloha State Daily. “We also held a morning breakfast for clients of our syringe exchange program. This day can be hard for some, so we just wanted to make sure they were taken care of.”
Something new at this yearʻs event was a display of 352 windmills, representing those in Hawaiʻi who died from overdose in 2024, he noted.
Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) Manager Joshua Derrig told ASD that number is underreported.
“Overdose touches everyone and thatʻs what today is about,” he said.
HHHRC works with several community partners on this initiative, such as Big Island’s Kumukahi Health + Wellness, Malama Pono Health Services on Kauʻi, and more, Derrig said.
According to its website, HHHRC has operated this free, anonymous program across the four major islands for more than 30 years, born out of the HIV and AIDS crisis. In addition to sterile syringes, HHHRC offers participants harm reduction supplies and services including overdose prevention education and naloxone (Narcan), health education and support for substance use treatment and housing, among other social services.
To find a pick-up location for Narcan, visit hhhrc.org/naloxone or call 808-521-2437 (Oʻahu).
For more updates, follow HHHRC on Instagram.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
