This week's observance of the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic has special meaning for me. June 1981 was the same month that I came back to Hawai'i (where I grew up from infancy into high school) from the Mainland.

I certainly didn't realize that the new disease that was just being identified would influence my life so profoundly.

I found out I was HIV-positive in April 1986, now 20 years ago, although I am sure I became infected several years earlier, before HIV was even identified, and long before any treatments were available.

Those were terrible times, with fear and illness and death all around. Most of my friends from those early days of the epidemic are gone; those who have survived are more precious for sharing those memories.

I have been lucky. Family and friends accepted me and helped me, when many others lacked that support. Their acceptance and support helped me keep hope and believe I could continue to be a worthwhile and productive member of society, not an outcast, a pariah.

Despite my illness, I taught for many years in a wonderful private school. The acceptance and support of my colleagues made it possible for me to "come out" to the students and their families about having AIDS, to affirm in person the lessons we taught in the classroom about avoiding the now-well-known risks of contracting HIV — not merely avoiding people with AIDS.

I have tried to help others with HIV/AIDS who were less fortunate, less well, less able to speak up for the help they needed, by working with caring agencies like Life Foundation and Gregory House Programs.

I now volunteer with NAMES Project Hawai'i — the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and serve on the World AIDS Day Committee.

I have found that by helping others I have less time to worry about my own problems, and can sometimes accomplish some good.

I have been fortunate in living in Hawai'i, where excellent medical care from skilled physicians and nurses (and good health insurance for expensive treatments) have kept me alive long past the two-year life expectancy most AIDS patients had in the early days of the epidemic.

While my health is less than ideal, I enjoy each day as much as possible, and am grateful for that blessing.

While I have been lucky, many others have not. Two of my friends — both in their 30s — died of AIDS in the last year.

While deaths are down thanks to improved treatments, there is still no cure. People now live with HIV longer, and need food, housing and medications longer.

Since the AIDS epidemic doesn't seem like such a crisis now, it is harder to convince government, charities and the public that more help is needed. The urgency of prevention messages is lessened, and each year too many new cases of HIV are diagnosed.

AIDS isn't over!

Better, cheaper treatments and a vaccine are badly needed. Prevention methods that would allow women to use them without their partner knowing would be a tremendous help.

While we must rely on the federal government and the drug companies to develop solutions for these problems, there is much we can do that is closer to home.

The epidemic is now moving into many of our poor and minority communities, making it harder for them to get the help they need than it was for my generation. For many, the health insurance and excellent care I received are out of reach.

Guaranteeing access to care to all who need it is the least we should do, and we should insist that local, state and federal government programs assure this.

Many are still rightfully afraid of the stigma and discrimination that keeps people from learning their HIV status, getting treatment and avoiding the further spread of the virus.

Local leaders in churches, schools, businesses and government can make a difference by taking a stand and showing the aloha spirit our Islands are famous for. They can lead the way in offering support for individuals and families affected by HIV and encouraging everyone in the community to treat all those with this illness with dignity and respect.

Anyone can join in the effort to help by volunteering at one of the AIDS agencies, by donating money or services, and by wearing a red ribbon on World AIDS Day — Dec. 1.

We have made great progress in understanding and treating AIDS but much remains to be done. Hawai'i has done a better job than many states, but we still do not do as well as we could. Let us hope that we don't mark another 25-year anniversary before we end the epidemic.

My personal hope is that someday we won't need to make any more new panels for the AIDS Memorial Quilt to commemorate those who have died, but that it will become simply a reminder of the love and caring — those universal human qualities — that have been demonstrated in our response to AIDS.

Tom Sheeran is co-chairman of the Hawai'i World AIDS Day Committee. He can be reached at tsheeran@hotmail.com.