Newly elected state Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto and Democratic candidate for the House Ikaika Hussey were among 10 people arrested Monday for blocking a bus carrying replacement nurses from entering Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, where some 600 nurses have been locked out in a protracted labor dispute.

What You Need To Know

  • Each of the demonstrators, who reportedly sat in a driveway and linked arms to prevent a bus from passing, were arrested on suspicion of obstructing, a petty misdemeanor under Hawaii Revised Statutes 711-1105. Each was released on $50 bail, according to the Honolulu Police Department
  • Registered nurses represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association have been working in Kapiolani without a contract since last November
  • In addition to higher wages, the nurses have been calling for improved staffing ratios, better working conditions (including breaks and paid time off) and "sustainable jobs"
  • Monday’s demonstration followed news of the death last week of a 4-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy, seizure disorder and other health complications. The parents of Ava Agbayani said inadequate care and lack of access to nurses familiar with their daughter's medical history contributed to the girl’s death

Each of the demonstrators, who reportedly sat in a driveway and linked arms to prevent the bus from passing, were arrested on suspicion of obstructing, a petty misdemeanor under Hawaii Revised Statutes 711-1105. Each was released on $50 bail, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

Registered nurses represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association have been working in Kapiolani without a contract since last November. They staged a one-week strike in January and another one-day strike on Sept. 13.

Following the one-day strike, Kapiolani made good on its threat to lock out the nurses until and unless the union agreed to unconditionally accept and recommend to its membership its standing contract offer.

In addition to higher wages, the nurses have been calling for improved staffing ratios, better working conditions (including breaks and paid time off) and “sustainable jobs.”

According to Kapiolani, the hospital’s current offer includes across-the-board raises that would make the RNs the highest paid the state; enhanced benefits, bonuses and incentive pay; a continually updating staffing matrix that provides the ability to adjust based on the individual conditions and needs of patients; a staffing council of nursing leaders and staff nurses that would enforce the staffing matrix; and “innovative ways to provide registered nurses transparency and opportunities to participate in setting their schedules, as well as a role and a voice in the staffing process.”

While the nurses are locked out, the hospital has relied on replacement travel nurses to meet its staffing needs. According to the union, the situation has adversely affected patient care.

“Our demonstrations are drawing growing attention to this important issue,” said HNA president Rosalee Agas-Yuu. “Today, we saw community leaders stepping forward to express their concerns about the hospital’s lockout of the nurses and willing to be arrested because of the adverse impact this is having on Hawaii patients and their families. Their peaceful act of peaceful civil disobedience showed their solidarity with the nurses, calling for the hospital to end its lockout of the nurses and to restore quality care for keiki and women.” 

Monday’s demonstration followed news of the death last week of a 4-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy, seizure disorder and other health complications. The parents of Ava Agbayani said inadequate care and lack of access to nurses familiar with their daughter's medical history contributed to the girl’s death.

“Ava should have been cared for by the nurses who knew her best,” said John Witeck, a member of the Hawaii Workers Center board who was among the 10 arrested on Monday. “I am here because one loss is already too many. Kapiolani’s intransigence and refusal to end the unjust and injurious lockout and allow our local, veteran nurses to return to their jobs have already caused so much unneeded suffering.

“We demand an end to this lockout now,” Witeck continued. “HPH is flaunting their money to union bust at the cost of our families. HPH can obviously afford to pay and house scabs at luxury hotels and payout management bonuses. They must use that money instead to provide safe staffing for Hawaii. The health of our people should come first.”

The two sides have been meeting daily since last Thursday to try to reach an agreement.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.