Organ Donation in Hawaii
Organ Donation in Hawaii
There are more than 340 people in Hawaii who are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
The Hawaii Organ Donation Coalition seeks to promote awareness of the often misunderstood subject of organ donation.
Ultimately, making the choice to donate is a very personal one, so it's a good idea to get the facts first. Perhaps discuss the topic with your family and then decide.
According to Hawaii Organ Donation Coalition, if you sign up today, you could end up saving or improving the lives of over 50 people when you become an organ and/or tissue donor.
Register as an Organ Donor
In Hawaii, you can register to become an organ donor either online or in person at your local HI DMV office .
If you opt to become an organ donor, you should absolutely make your family aware of your choice as to avoid any conflicts if that situation should come about. You do not want your family to have to make the difficult decision at the end of your life.
In Person
You are able to register as an organ donor and potentially aid the lives of individuals awaiting a transplant in Hawaii when applying for or renewing a driver's license or state ID card. It only requires checking the box on the application form. Your choice will be noted on your driver's license with the words "Organ Donor."
This label will tell medical personnel in the event of your death to contact your family and remove any savable organs, so make sure to inform them of your decision and let them know which organs you do or do not wish to donate. Otherwise, they will need to make this difficult decision on their own.
Online
You can register as an organ donor online through:
- Legacy of Life Hawaii.
OR - ORGANIZE.org, which will add your registration to a national database of donors.
There is a field for your driver's license or ID card number, but it is not required.
You can also specify which organs you want to donate upon your death.
How You Can Help With Organ Donation
In addition to signing up as an organ donor, you can support the cause in a variety of ways, such as:
- Volunteering with Legacy of Life Hawaii.
- Purchasing a t-shirt or calendar to help Legacy of Life continue its efforts to increase the number of organ donors.
Approximately 17 people die every day due to not getting the organ transplant. You can play a big part in increasing the number of donors in HI, and potentially saving many more lives in the future.
Advanced Health Care Directive (AHCD)
Uniquely, Hawaii also enables you to note on your driver's license if you have signed an Advanced Health Care Directive, or AHCD. This document in a sense is a living will that states your wishes in the event you become incapacitated in an accident.
Simply check the box on the license application, right below the organ donor box, and the letters "AHCD" will appear on your license. In the event of an accident after which you are unable to communicate for yourself, these letters on the license will prompt medical personnel to contact your family. Again, your family should be properly informed that you have prepared an AHCD.
Additional Information
There are a variety of myths around organ donation. All of the following are absolutely false:
- Organ donors do not receive adequate medical attention: Doctors and nurses make every effort to save your life.
- The transplant of an organ will disfigure your body: Your physical appearance will not change at all and you may still plan for an open-casket funeral service.
For more information about common misconceptions about organ donation, you can read our page about Organ Donation Myths.