Imagine arriving in Hawaiʻi for your dream vacation. You see pristine white-sand beaches, hear the crash of crystal-blue waves, smell the salty air and feel the warm tropical wind on your face while cruising on a moped or motorcycle. Now imagine that’s the last thing you remember before waking up in a hospital bed, if you’re lucky. Too many won’t wake up at all.

“If only he was wearing a helmet.” As a nurse in Hawaiʻi’s only Level 1 trauma center, I hear that phrase daily from nurses, providers, and surgeons. Hawaiʻi is one of the most dangerous states in the Pacific region, and among the most dangerous in the U.S., for two-wheeled vehicle riders.

In 2022, 33 people died in similar crashes; only nine were wearing helmets. From 2018 to 2023, more than one-third of riders in fatal crashes were not helmeted. Between 2023 and 2024, there were 54 fatal crashes involving motorcycles, mopeds, or motor scooters in Hawaiʻi. Of those riders, 30 were not wearing helmets. Surveys show that over half of Hawaiʻi motorcyclists ride without helmets, many without proper licenses, and some even with young children as passengers.

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The data is clear: helmet use reduces the risk of death by 37% for riders and 41% for passengers, and decreases brain injuries by up to 69%. According to the Hurt Study, helmet use is the single most critical factor in preventing or reducing head injuries.

States with universal helmet laws see helmet use rates 53 percentage points higher and 29% fewer motorcycle fatalities compared to states with partial or no laws. Universal laws also save millions in avoidable medical costs and lost productivity due to fewer severe injuries.

Hawaiʻi now has a chance to change course. House Bill 537, introduced earlier this year, would require helmets for all operators and passengers of motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, and electric foot scooters, regardless of age. Rental companies would also be required to provide helmets. States with universal helmet laws show a compliance rate of 86.1%, compared to just 53.4% where laws are partial or nonexistent.

As a trauma nurse, I see firsthand the consequences of not wearing a helmet. Every day, I treat riders with catastrophic, preventable injuries. Too often, I stand beside grieving families who will never see their loved ones again, all because of a simple decision not to wear a helmet.

HB 537 is still awaiting committee approval before it can move forward. Whether or not it becomes law, one truth remains: helmets save lives. I urge all riders, locals and visitors alike, not to wait for lawmakers. Don’t gamble with your life or the lives of those who love you. Wear a helmet every single ride.

And if you believe in saving lives, contact your state representative and tell them to support HB 537. The data is clear, and the choice is yours. Make the choice to save your life.