In his remarks at the XVIII International Congress of the Transplantation Society in August 2000 in Rome, Pope John Paul II eloquently expressed how one simple act can be an enormous gesture of love and generosity.

He said: "I am confident that social, political and education leaders will renew their commitment to fostering a genuine culture of generosity and solidarity. There is a need to instill in people's hearts, especially in the hearts of the young, a genuine and deep appreciation of the need for brotherly love, a love that can find expression in the decision to become an organ donor."

The simple act of giving your consent to be an organ donor can make the difference between life and death for another human being. It is an act of love — and of life.

In Hawai'i, we have some work to do in getting this message of love and life deeply imbedded in our psyche. The state, with a donor consent percentage rate in the high 30s, is considerably below the national average, which is consistently in the 50 to 60 percent range. Just this past December, nine people died who could have been organ donors but consent was not given. No one on Hawai'i's list of 388 people who needed a transplant got the chance to live.

A part of the issue is in the heartbreaking timing. Even if loved ones indicated their wish to donate their organs on their Hawai'i driver's license, family members in the midst of emotional turmoil may still decide to deny consent.

But the biggest hurdle in our small state where each organ and tissue donor really counts is individual. We just don't have the number of donors we need to ensure that everyone on our list is given the chance to live.

So far, 30 states have found that a statewide online organ donor registry, with an accompanying education and awareness program, can make a difference. In Arizona and Virginia, for example, donors doubled in the first two years after adopting their online registries in 2003.

In Hawai'i, we have more than 300,000 drivers who checked off the box on their driver's license that indicates they want to help others by donating their organs and tissues upon their death. It is what is known as an "advance directive," but the driver's license process doesn't involve a lot of information. There are no signatures required, no explanations of what organs and tissue are involved, no information that would be beneficial to loved ones.

A bill has been introduced at the Legislature that proposes the establishment of an Internet-based registry of organ donors along with a program to educate and raise awareness about the need for organ donations. An online registry would allow non-drivers to participate and make it much simpler to get on or off the list. In-depth information would be included, for example that an open casket funeral is possible for organ and tissue donors; there is no cost to the donor's family or estate for organ and tissue donation; and that people of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors. It's the medical condition at the time of death that determines what organs and tissue can be donated.

An online registration also facilitates a process that is essential: Telling your family about your wishes and showing them your consent. Now is a far better time for discussion and emotions to be aired than when families are consulted before a donation can take place. Give them the peace of mind of knowing your wishes.

Please take the time to contact your legislative representatives to say you support House Bill 2366 and its companion, Senate Bill 2104. And please choose to be an organ donor the next time you renew your driver's license, and let your family know what you want. The aloha spirit we have in Hawai'i needs to be translated into saving lives of our friends and neighbors whenever possible.

Stephen A. Kula is executive director of the Organ Donor Center of Hawai'i. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.