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I have a confession to make, which may come as an unwelcome surprise to my libertarian and conservative friends: I sincerely believe  is to save people.

Now that I’ve exploded the heads of approximately three out of 10 of my loyal readers, allow me to explain that  is to organize strength for the weak and help for those who are unable to help themselves by themselves.

In exchange for us agreeing to pay taxes and submitting to laws, the government looks out for us, so we’re not living like a prehistoric Booga Booga the Caveman whose entire responsibility for survival rests on him walking perimeter or hunting mammoths every day. Five thousand years of history reflects that civilization works best when it provides humans collective security against attack, agricultural stability/food supply predictability, and most importantly, sanitation and health care. 

And when it comes to health care, government especially needs to set a positive example and leave the people a legacy for good. But let me tell you why I believe this.

My first exposure and acclimation to government was in my childhood. My father was a Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Air Force, so my health care was government health care for the first two decades of my life. 

Not only that, but whenever I got in trouble at school, whenever I needed help someplace, or whenever I simply needed someone to show me support, my dad would show up for me, often dressed in his Class A uniform, and he’d say to the adults that had authority over me, “I’m here for my son.” 

On one occasion when my dad couldn’t attend my summer camp graduation ceremony, he sent all the junior officers from his HQ in Class B uniform to go on his behalf. When my school wondered why it looked like the graduation had awkwardly turned into some kind of national security special event, my dad’s executive officer replied, “We’re the Daniel de Gracia fan club.”

Younger people today might scoff  like “Rambo” or “Commando” where the story  a senior military officer , but for me that was life as usual.

The point I’m making with this humorous life story is that I learned at an early age that good government is supposed to show up when you need help, be attentive to negative developments and take action when necessary, and serve as an aspirational force in empowering people to be their best.

I learned about what good government can do because of my dad. Hawaii also knows what good government can do for people , and Gov. Josh Green, as a medical doctor, can really help the people in this same spirit of positive intervention.

So where do we start? Well, in Hawaii, Filipinos and Native Hawaiians in particular need urgent help from the government when it comes to their health. One thing we don’t talk about is how both populations  than others, and chances are, many of the older Filipinos and Native Hawaiians in your circle are probably  services.

Like so many other things in Hawaii that we’ve come to accept as routine, you probably grew up seeing aunties, uncles, parents, grandparents and others getting chronic kidney disease, heart disease, or diabetes as a progression of their aging. It just “happens,” right? 

I got a shocking introduction to kidney problems after I got Covid last year, when I found myself constantly suffering from intense inflammation and painful, large swelling all over my body. In December, my labs showed that my estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is , had dropped to a scary 86 mL/min/1.73m2. The average for a person my age should be .

I did the threat calculus in my head and began to wonder if I’d be dying soon or need to be on dialysis. One of my cousins who got Covid lost a kidney, and I didn’t want to be like him.

I don’t subscribe to the “now that you’ve got it, it’s downhill from here” school of medical thought, so I researched it and found that kidney function . So, I had a theory: What if I naturally lowered my insulin production by intermittent fasting? Would that improve my kidneys?

Last week I got my most recent labs back, and three months later, my eGFR is now at 117. Ta-da! Not only that, my blood sugar, lipid profile, and many other key health markers are vastly improved. I also feel so much better and am almost pain-free in my body now. I thank God for this turnaround, but to be honest, I wish I’d known earlier the science of kidney health to spare me some pain during the pandemic.

I was able to get better because I at least had some education to research alternatives. But what about those who don’t? They need someone to show up for them.

Now what if Dr. Josh Green, that is, Gov. Green, were to put a special emphasis on educating the public – many of whom are Filipinos like myself, or Native Hawaiians – on how to prevent kidney damage, early? What if Green could use his medical background to set a positive example and educational initiative so that we have a healthy revolution in Hawaii? 

What if Green were to show up to high schools and talk to people about how to eat healthy and live healthy, before they get sick as adults? What if Green were to use his daily whiteboard updates to give tips on kidney health, liver health and heart health, among others? Imagine if Green were to inject his medical and government presence in a big way into ordinary Hawaii life so that he sets an example for all of us to learn from and be inspired by.

Why am I saying this? Because we all need a hero in our lives, and Green, who I’m sure is looking for a win and a legacy to be praised for, can start by helping Hawaii residents get healthier.

Want an easy win for good government in Hawaii? Our doctor-in-chief and governor can start by giving all of us a hero for health.

Civil Beat’s community health coverage is supported by , Swayne Family Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation, the Cooke Foundation and .