She's not one to make waves.

But Katherine Vaiola's resiliency and strength are admirable. Faced with the debilitating impact of diabetes, she fought through it; when her failing kidneys required her to have dialysis three times a week, she stayed strong; and when doctors amputated her leg at the knee, she persevered.

Now her battle is with the state.

Vaiola has been asking the Hawai'i Housing Authority for a more accessible unit; she is unable to get up the stairs in her two-story apartment.

She says she tried to get up her stairs, but her stump would bleed. She finally gave up and resigned herself to living in her kitchen area. For the past five years, she's taken sponge baths in the kitchen sink; she uses an exposed plastic portable toilet in her living room.

She and other tenants have filed a lawsuit seeking compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The state should work with these tenants to meet some of these basic needs.

The waiting list for public housing is long — as are the maintenance and repair needs.

But these tenants have waited long enough. It's time to do the right thing.