Kaloa Robinson made a sweet life for himself. After graduating from Damien, he went to Whittier and then got his master’s at George Washington University. He worked on Sen. Daniel Akaka’s staff in D.C. before coming home to Hawaii, getting married and settling down in Hilo to raise five children. He worked as head of neighbor island outreach for the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was CEO of Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi and served as a Hawaii County police commissioner and fire commissioner. If he is known for one thing, it’s for being the most supportive, encouraging guy around.
But in the past two years, it’s been one tough break after another. Robinson was laid off from two different jobs, most recently from Puna Geothermal in March. The family home is facing foreclosure. And then the 46-year-old father of two and stepfather of three was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
"He realized he had a growth of some kind in November of last year," said his wife, Keakealani. "He compared the unknown growth as if he were constantly sitting on a wallet."
Doctors removed the lump on his hip, but it took months to get conclusive lab results from the biopsy. Finally, the specimens were sent to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Robinson was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma. His treatment began in Houston in May.
"For several months I didn’t want anyone to know that I had cancer. I was afraid of being judged, I was shame and I was in denial," Robinson said. It took a while before the man who was always quick to encourage others could frame his situation so he could encourage himself.
"When I face my treatment or surgeries, I accept it as a means to get better and I welcome it. It’d be sad if I didn’t have options, so I consider that a blessing, too."
His wife said, "Upon arrival at M.D. Anderson for his first visit, he compared it to running out of the tunnel at Aloha Stadium during his high school football years. He was ready and eager to take this challenge on. He was ready to do, and endure what he needed to, in order to get better."
So far, he has had three rounds of chemotherapy. He’s back home in Hilo this week but is getting ready for another round of treatment.
Keakealani is back at work as a nurse in a long-term-care facility. It is a career she loves and a gift her husband gave her. Hers is one of the best stories of Kaloa Robinson’s special brand of encouragement.
"Kaloa asked me what my dreams were, what did I want to do in life. I told him that I always wanted to be a nurse, but I can’t do it now, I have five kids! Kaloa said, ‘Of course, you can, that’s why I’m here. Just do it!’ That was all I needed. Knowing that he was going to be there to encourage me and support me was all it took. It was a rough four years, but Kaloa wouldn’t let me quit."
Robinson’s friends have been helping to raise money to pay for his medical and travel expenses. A secure website has been launched to accept online donations— http://www.kokuakaloa.bbnow.org/ — and deposits can be made at any branch of Hawaii National Bank to: Friends of Kaloa Robinson.
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Reach Lee Cataluna at lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.
Correction: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect URL to accept online donations for Kaloa.
