Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 Iulai 1991 — Hawaiian Health Horizons [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Health Horizons

This is the final article in a five-part series summarizing the findings of the E Ola Mau Native Hawaiian Health Needs Study conducted in 1985. Its findings and recommendations led, in part, to passage of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988 whieh established the Papa Ola Lokahi Hawaiian Health consortium. The consortium's five member agencies — the state Department of Health, E Ola Mau, the University of Hawai'i, Alu Like and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs — are working with island communities to develop a comprehensive health care master plan for Native Hawaiians and a network of Native Hawaiian health care systems statewide. Report of the E Ola Mau Native Hawaiian Health Needs Study Part 5 of a series: A Strategy for Improved Native Hawaiian Health Improved Native Hawaiian health ean be a reality, according to the study. But to achieve this reality there must be a commitment on the part of federal and state government and by Native Hawaiians at the community level. ■ -

At the federal level, Native Hawaiian health initiatives need to be introduced and/or legislation amended. "Also, there continues to be a need to network and to compete more actively for existing resources both at the regional and national levels," states the report. Policy makers and government leaders at the state level need to support Native Hawaiian health initiatives. The document also recommends building Native Hawaiian coalitions around health issues and "to form an integrated system" for addressing Native Hawaiian health concerns and problems. "At the community level, there is a need to focus on training Native Hawaiian health professionals who are culturally sensitive, themselves, and who ean impart upon non-Native Hawaiians those values whieh are necessary for understanding," according to the report. "It is important that Native Hawaiians assume leadership roles in regards to health planning and program development." Specifically, the report proposed the formation of a Native Hawaiian Health Planning Advisory Committee. In response to the recommendation, the Papa Ola Lokahi Hawaiian health consortium

was established. The responsibility of the committee should include working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to encourage the development of an initiative to improve Native Hawaiian health, states the report. The committee would designate a lead agency to "oversee planning for future programs focusing on Native Hawaiian health and to begin monitoring and evaluating progress in implementing" the study recommendations. The eventual programs developed by this agency should explore ways of integrating, where possible, traditional Hawaiian culture and modern medicine to insure Native Hawaiian acceptibility. "They must be cost effective yet be able to make real socio-economic impact as they relate to the health of Native Hawaiians," the report states, adding that program organizers should be aware of what community groups have developed and try to work closely with these groups. Future articles in "Hawaiian Health Horizons" will discuss the Papa Ola Lokahi master plan for Hawaiian health and component plans made by island planning committees.