Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 8, 1 August 1991 — OHA speakers address Hawaiian health issues [ARTICLE]

OHA speakers address Hawaiian health issues

by Gail Chun OHA Trustee Moses Keale, Sr. and Adminstrative Director Richard Paglinawan will be two of numerous featured speakers at a workshop to be held Aug. 23-26 at Poipu Beach, Kaua'i. The workshop, "Health Matters: Ethical, Social, and Philosophical Aspects of Health Care," will explore several compelling health care issues and attract health practitioners nationwide. According to Carmen "Boots" Panui, OHA liaison from Kaua'i, Keale and Paglinawan will

address the Hawaiian perspective needed to administer Western medicine. "Throughout history, indigenous people lived in harmony with the elements. So, if something was wrong with a person, it was because of a person's disharmony with the elements," Panui said. "This holds true for many Hawaiians today," she said. "Especially in rural communities, Hawaiians eome from a different perspective because of their cultural values." Keale will address the need of cultural sensitivity from health practitioners when serving a person of Hawaiian ancestry.

Paglinawan, along with his wife Lynette, will talk about the Ho'oponopono tradition in Hawaiian culture. Ho'oponopono is a Hawaiian healing technique that deals with the family as a whole, and not just a person's illness. According to David Nakamoto, officer for the Kaua'i unit of the Queen Liliu'okalani Children's Center, Keale and Paglinawan will give their presentations 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Aug. 23. Although health practitioners nationwide will be attending, Nakamoto said Keale and Paglinawan's presentations will specifically address those practitioners impacting Hawaiian families.