Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 05, 1 May 2003 — Nā wāhine kia'i alanui o Nu'uanu [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nā wāhine kia'i alanui o Nu'uanu

Ol AKINO

^ (jl VkIMO —

By Claire Hughes, Dr.PH., R.D.

'Olelo noyeau speaks of the weighty role of women as keepers of

tradition and caretakers of our families in old Hawai'i and today.

This 'ōlelo as retold by Kawena Pūku'i recalls the two women who served as honor guards for the important Nu'uanu pass between two ahupua'a. Just consider the elements of nature that tested their strength and endurance. The pali is windy, always cold, always wet, and the sheer drop of the cliff's edge made it a formidable duty. In addition, they had to challenge passersby at all hours to be sure that their travels were pono. These would have been very special and respected women by the chiefs of the areas on either side of the pass. This 'ōlelo speaks of the role of importance and the esteem in whieh women were held in old Hawai'i. It also illustrates the weighty role of women in our families to this day. During the last 50 to 60 years, the role of women in the U.S. has changed dramatically. In the 1950s, many women were housewives. Today, women are a significant part of the workforce. Some hold professional and corporate management women still have support and service jobs. Employment outside the home does not replace a woman's role in the home. As in the past, women continue to be wives, mothers and housekeepers. Juggling and sharing household responsibilities with husbands, parents, and children has

become a fine art. An interesting picture comes into focus, when we compare our lives with those of our great-grandmoth-ers and their mothers. Families were larger then. Modern conveniences, such as refrigerators, microwaves, electric stoves and irons, washers

and dryers, did not exist. It was only 60 years ago, that family cars and homes with

electricity, telephones a n d f indoor

plumbing were becoming

the norm, but teievision, cellular phones and computers were not yet invented. Back then, some women had domestic help or familv iucuioers to lend a nand, but most managed the household by themselves, back then. In the early 1900s, Hawaiian families either raised their own food or hunted and fished in the oeean and streams. Cooking was mostly done outside, over wood or coals. Kitchen stoves were kerosene or gas-fueled. Routine domestic

chores, such as doing the laundry, cooking and sewing, took hours. Transportation offered a challenge, as most folks walked miles eaeh and every day, making physical activity a big part of everyone's daily life. For longer trips, women rode on horseback,

took the trolley car or hired cabs.

Health ehallenges that were previously more eommon in males,

are increasing in U.S. women. Heart disease

is the leading cause of death in Hawai'i for both women

and men, \ although L the rate is still slightly

higher in men. Hawai'i's women have higher death rates than men £rom cerebro-vascular (strokes) and Alzheimer's diseases. They have mueh lower death rates than men from motor vehicle crashes, other accidents, and intentional self-harm. Rates of death from cancer, diabetes, respiratory and kidney diseases, are similar for both sexes in Hawai'i. The reproductive health of Hawaiian women is a major

eoneem. More Hawaiian women have babies in their teen years, and more Hawaiian women receive late or no prenatal care. Hawaiian women also have higher rates of all cancers. Hawaiian women smoke more, eat fewer fruits and vegetables, are more overweight, have more diabetes and, occasionally, drink more, when compared to other women in Hawai'i. This litany of health problems for Hawaiian women is a source of great pain. We need to ask ourselves, how we ean begin to make small changes in our daily habits in order to start living without illness and pain. The solutions are really simple, but require firm commitment and effort. Smoking is a leading cause of female heahh problems. Quitting cigarette use and setting an example for family members is the solution. Overweight is another major contributor to our heahh pilikia. Eating less fat and fatty foods, eating more fruits and vegetables and walking and exercising are solutions. In order to create a healthy nation, Hawaiian women need to regain strength and heahh. We are the keepers of the tradition. We set the tone for our families. Let's make a commitment to being as healthy as our ancestors. We must do it. We ean do it. Let's do it! ■