Kuuipo Surls-Kane, a 33-year-old woman, found herself at the heart of a troubling story that began with an assault in Hilo, Hawaii. For eight years, she had navigated life as a homeless individual, relying on the rudimentary safety of Moʻoheau Park, a gathering spot for those without shelter in downtown Hilo. However, her fragile sense of security shattered on the night of August 2, when a teenage boy attacked her under a dimly lit quarter moon.
Just past midnight, near the park’s bandstand, a security guard alerted police after witnessing the violent mugging. Officers quickly apprehended a 16-year-old suspect, who was found with illicit drugs. Charged with second-degree assault and a drug offense, he was flown to a youth correctional facility on Oʻahu. Though the physical attack left Surls-Kane lying on the ground, it also set off a chain of events that would drastically disrupt her already tenuous life.
After being transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, her condition deteriorated due to the injuries she sustained, including a broken jaw and bleeding in the brain. Given the severity of her situation, hospital staff decided to transfer her to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.
Meanwhile, Surls-Kane’s family was deeply concerned. They often checked on her, but this time, they would soon find themselves on an unexpected mission to find her. Following her discharge from Queen’s, where it was reported that she had refused care, her family realized she had vanished into the streets of Honolulu, disoriented and alone.
According to various advocates for mental health and homelessness, the circumstances surrounding Surls-Kane’s discharge reveal significant systemic flaws. Louis Erteschik, executive director of the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, critiqued the hospital’s decision to discharge Surls-Kane without considering her mental health needs. He expressed concern about the lack of follow-up options available to hospital staff, particularly when dealing with vulnerable patients.
The predicament raised important questions about the balance of civil rights and social justice in Hawaii. Connie Mitchell, the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Services, emphasized that laws often prohibit the involuntary treatment of individuals with mental illnesses unless they pose a significant danger to themselves or others. In this case, Surls-Kane’s refusal for treatment resulted in her being released without proper support or transition.
Her case highlights the ongoing struggles that mentally ill individuals face, particularly those experiencing homelessness. The inadequacies in communication among hospitals and social service providers exacerbate the challenges to obtaining care. Mitchell pointed out that while some vulnerable individuals receive coordinated discharge planning, those who refuse treatment often fall through the cracks.
Once free from the hospital’s confines, Surls-Kane had minimal resources. Discharged in blue hospital scrubs, she had lost possession of her cellphone, identification, and money. Her whereabouts remained unknown, igniting a desperate search by her family.
As the sun set on August 3, Surls-Kane’s childhood friend, Michelle Pagtama, arrived in Honolulu, driven by concern and determination. She printed missing person flyers and roamed the streets around the hospital, looking for any sign of her friend. During her search, a homeless individual in Chinatown reported having seen Surls-Kane just days before. The sighting offered little comfort as the information suggested Surls-Kane was distressed and disoriented, believing she was still on the Big Island.
Surls-Kane has long battled schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition that has severely interfered with her ability to function. Meanwhile, her struggles with addiction further complicated her life, leading to a family history marked by loss. Her children were taken from her care, drastically altering her path and resulting in a direct descent into homelessness.
Despite her struggles, Surls-Kane was not without support. Family members, especially her sister and niece, devoted time and resources to checking on her. They provided food, clothing, and emotional support while monitoring her condition. Surls-Kane often frequented the McDonald’s on Kinoʻole Street, the bandstand, or the bus terminal—places where her family could find her. This established network gave her a semblance of belonging in a world so often hostile to those on the streets.
Described as free-spirited and kind-hearted, Surls-Kane’s nature was as complicated as her circumstances. Family members remembered moments of clarity, warmth, and humor from her when sober, contrasted with the confusion and disorientation that characterized her mental health episodes.
Twelve days after she was declared missing, hope flickered when a distant cousin from Oʻahu located her at a Sand Island homeless encampment. Upon spotting her near a makeshift tent, he noted her poor condition and inability to recognize him. Despite numerous attempts to convince her to leave with him, Surls-Kane was reluctant and unresponsive to the situation.
Meanwhile, Ramirez, Surls-Kane’s niece and closest contact, had planned her own intervention. She flew to Honolulu in the hope of supporting her aunty—aiming to coax her into a safe environment and hospital care. The plan seemed promising; authorities had advised her that her aunty could fly back with her, even without identification.
However, the reunion did not unfold as desired. When Ramirez found Surls-Kane, it became painfully clear that her aunty was deeply disconnected from reality. In a heartbreaking encounter, Surls-Kane appeared disoriented, unable to recognize Ramirez, and refused to acknowledge any familial ties.
The heartbreaking disassociation prompted Ramirez to call the police, hoping they could intervene due to her aunty’s unstable state. Unfortunately, the responding officer’s assessment—determining that Surls-Kane neither posed a danger to herself nor others—resulted in no further action.
Leaving without her aunt, Ramirez’s heartbreak intensified. The emotional toll of being unable to assist her aunty weighed heavily on her. Returning to Hilo without Surls-Kane felt like an insurmountable failure, amplified by the uncertainty of her aunty’s fate.
Family members continued to grieve the fact that systemic failures left Surls-Kane without options for meaningful support or treatment. The implications of such gaps in provision affect not just individuals in crisis but also their families and communities, highlighting essential needs for reform in Hawaii’s mental health and social service systems. With a growing number of individuals facing similar crises, it becomes increasingly urgent to examine and improve how care and support can be offered to those navigating the complex intersection of homelessness and mental illness.
As the search for Surls-Kane continues, her family’s frustration with systemic inadequacies only builds. The overarching narrative reflects deeper societal challenges that require concerted action and policy changes to support individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness competently and compassionately.
image source from：civilbeat
