{"id":127904,"date":"2020-09-30T08:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=127904"},"modified":"2020-10-01T09:00:32","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T19:00:32","slug":"connection-aina-critical-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/09\/30\/connection-aina-critical-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Connection to \u02bb\u0101ina critical to health among Native Hawaiians"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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Holistic cultural practices that foster a connection to ʻāina<\/span> (land) are important in improving the health of Kānaka Maoli (Indigenous Peoples of Hawaiʻi<\/span>), according to a new study<\/a> from public health researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa<\/a>. The findings were published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For Kānaka Maoli, practices such as growing their own food, taking care of ʻāina,<\/span> and cleansing through hiʻuwai<\/span> (bathing in the sea or a stream), are needed for physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health.<\/p>\n

糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies<\/a> researchers LeShay Keliʻiholokai<\/span><\/strong>, Samantha Keaulana<\/strong>, Mapuana C.K. Antonio<\/strong> and their colleagues conducted interviews and small focus groups with 12 Kānaka Maoli adults living in Waimānalo, including eight kūpuna (elders), to learn about Kānaka Maoli perspectives on health.<\/p>\n

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The Waimānalo Limu Hui and other volunteers have worked to restore limu in Waimānalo. Here, pōhaku (rocks\/stones) from the beach have been wrapped in lei limu. (Photo credit: LeShay Keliiholokai)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
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The Waimānalo Limu Hui has been restoring Pāhonu, the look iʻa<\/span> (fish pond) once used for turtles, in Waimānalo. Pōhaku (rocks\/stones) are pictured with limu growing on them. (Photo credit: LeShay Keliiholokai)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n

“Imbalances, such as disconnection between ʻāina<\/span> and Kānaka, create maʻi<\/span> (sickness) in Kānaka Maoli,” said Keliʻiholokai<\/span>, who is also a board member of Ke Kula Nui O Waimānalo<\/a> and Waimānalo Limu Hui<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The researchers analyzed the interview transcripts to identify key themes. Results showed that the participants viewed themselves as part of ʻāina.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Kānaka Maoli view themselves as deeply connected with ʻāina<\/span>, and there is no separating ʻāina<\/span> from Kānaka,” said Antonio, an assistant professor of Native Hawaiian and Indigenous health. “The connection between ʻāina<\/span> and people is spiritual and reciprocal, and important to well-being and resilience.”<\/p>\n

ʻĀina<\/span> as physical, emotional and spiritual healing<\/h2>\n

A second theme that emerged was the Kānaka Maoli view of ʻāina<\/span> as physical, emotional and spiritual healing. The participants said they could innately tell when a person was not connected to ʻāina,<\/span> and when a person did not mālama (take care of) ʻāina<\/span>. The intergenerational knowledge of the role of ʻāina<\/span> in health was passed down as wisdom from the kūpuna to the rest of the ʻohana<\/span> (family).<\/p>\n

A third theme was that Kānaka Maoli view colonization as disruptive to their values and their connections with ʻāina.<\/span> Addressing the health disparities that stem from colonization will require healing the displacement and disconnection from ʻāina<\/span> felt by Kānaka Maoli.<\/p>\n

“Colonization resulted in negative impacts from outsiders and foreigners that led to attacks and desecration of ʻāina,<\/span> and therefore, to the health of Kānaka Maoli,” said Keaulana, a doctoral student 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa\u2019s public health program. “Community initiatives are needed for community healing.”<\/p>\n

Co-authors on the study include Ikaika Rogerson, Kirk Deitschman, Kenneth Ho Jr. and H. Ilima Ho-Lastimosa of Ke Kula Nui O Waimānalo; Joseph Awa Kamai, Luana Albinio, Dawn Kepa and J. Kahaulahilahi Vegas of Waimānalo Pono Research Hui; Kilauea Wilson of the Waimānalo Community; and Kuaiwi Laka Makua<\/strong> and Jane J. Chung-Do<\/strong> of 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa\u2019s Office of Public Health Studies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Researchers conducted interviews with 12 Kānaka Maoli adults living in Waimānalo, including eight kūpuna (elders), to learn about their perspectives on health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[1363,242,241,449,158,9],"class_list":["post-127904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-manoa-research","tag-native-hawaiian-health","tag-public-health","tag-public-health-sciences","tag-publication","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t