By Christina Johnson
For decades, November has carried profound significance for veterans as it marks two national observances. Held on November 11, Veterans Day was established in 1919 to commemorate the armistice of World War I and was later expanded in 1954 to recognize all military veterans. November is also National Veterans and Military Families Month, created in 1996 to recognize the sacrifices of spouses, children, and caregivers who share in that service.
These recognitions resonate in places like Hawaiʻi where the value of ʻohana emphasizes collective responsibility. Yet for the thousands of Native Hawaiian veterans and their families, these annual events are also a firm reminder that countless military personnel and households continue to endure the lasting health consequences of their military service, mainly due to prolonged toxic exposure. Such hidden costs of service demand more than symbolic gratitude.
Toxic exposure has long been an inevitable risk in military service. And though this encompasses a range of hazardous contaminants, asbestos remains among the most widespread and devastating. For much of the 20th century, asbestos was built into various military infrastructure, especially Navy ships and shipyards, because of its fire and heat resistance. In Hawaiʻi, its presence was documented in bases like Pearl Harbor Naval Complex and Aliamanu Military Reservation.
It’s this heavy reliance on asbestos that made service members alarmingly vulnerable to deadly conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Similarly, their families were also put at risk, as tiny asbestos fibers can cling to their uniforms and belongings, carrying them back home unknowingly. Data indicate that roughly a third of mesothelioma cases stemmed from such secondhand exposure. This toll has been particularly evident in Hawaiʻi, where asbestos-related deaths have exceeded 740 between 1999 and 2017.
The observances held each November are more than symbolic – they are a call to fulfill the crucial responsibilities owed to veterans as well as their supportive families. Federal measures such as the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 have already demonstrated progress by expanding health services and compensation to toxic-exposed veterans. Yet despite all these, much remains to be done.
Both state and federal governments must strengthen their outreach efforts so that many will be aware of the benefits available to them. They must likewise prioritize easing access to specialized care, streamlining claims processes, and extending coverage even to military families. Only by materializing these needs can the nation and Hawaiʻi truly honor the sacrifices of its veterans and their ʻohana – transforming ceremonial commemorations into meaningful protection and, especially, justice.
Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit whose mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the VA claims process. For more information, visit asbestos-ships.com.
