"Sustainability" appeared to be the common theme on the opening day of the state Legislature. Lawmakers are fortunate that Hawai'i's vigorous economy doesn't appear to be slowing down and our treasury is in the black.

But even though our economy has been thriving for quite some time, newly elected Senate President Colleen Hanabusa rightly asked, "How is it possible with such economic growth that so many of us wonder if we will be able to pay our mortgages next month?" And "how is it possible with so much housing, so many are homeless?"

As lawmakers determine what projects to fund this year to sustain our record growth, they must not forget the old, the sick and the poor.

Everyone knows we are facing a "silver tsunami" as many baby boomers quickly reach retirement age. We will be demanding more services, not only in quantity, but also in quality. For those of us who come from the "sandwich generation," Medicare has now become a household word as we struggle to learn more about one of the greatest government-sponsored health programs ever established.

Getting old is not easy. Our senior population needs to have access to quality healthcare and affordable coverage. If not, age will "take them down." Comprehensive, coordinated healthcare services for the elderly must be a priority.

In 2006, Congress introduced Medicare drug insurance. We need to do a better job in educating Medicare beneficiaries about these benefits and how to take advantage of this program. Understanding Medicare Part D can mean a great deal in terms of better access to care and significant savings for our aging citizens.

The cost of a healthy healthcare delivery system is staggering. The pressure of consumer demand, pharmaceutical advances and technological changes have made medical economics a science unto itself. With the Prepaid Health Care Act, Hawai'i is known as one of the most progressive states in the union when it comes to health insurance coverage. But at last count, about 10 percent of our state, or 120,000 individuals, still do not have any health insurance coverage.

Lifting the cap on QUEST, Hawai'i's version of health insurance for low-income families, would go a long way to help with the uninsured. Getting sick can easily bankrupt you, especially if you do not have health insurance. Health insurance coverage for all is only half of the answer. The other half is to ensure the services are available, especially in rural areas and on the Neighbor Islands.

The cost of living in Hawai'i continues to go up and what was once considered affordable housing is clearly out of reach for many middle class families, much less the poor and homeless. Half a million dollars will barely get you into an average house. In addition to improving our healthcare system, government must make a sustained commitment to affordable housing for average income families.

With a thriving economy and a manageable state population of 1.2 million, it seems reasonable for us to assume that many solutions are "doable" if we put aside partisan biases and work together for the needs of the most vulnerable in our community — the old, the sick and the poor.

The Rev. Frank A. Chong is manager of government and community relations at AlohaCare. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.