Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 6, 1 June 2017 — UPLIFTING NĀ KĀNĒ TO BENEFIT OUR LĀHUI [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UPLIFTING NĀ KĀNĒ TO BENEFIT OUR LĀHUI

As some may know, I eame to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from the heahh field and mueh of my elinieal and research background has focused on diabetes, obesity, mental heahh and other challenges facing our community. That's why I'm especially proud to announee the publication of Kānehō'ālani: Transforming the Heahh ofNative Hawaiian Men, OHA's comprehensive report on the well-being of our kāne that will help us set the direction for a healthier future. This is the first ever report to look specifically at kāne heahh from a cultural perspective - spanning ancient Hawai'i to today and considering all our males from keiki to kūpuna. We've begun similar research on our wāhine but h was important to address our males first because compared to all other Hawaiians, they have the shortest life spans, the highest rate of death from chronic diseases and the earliest incidence of risky behaviors. While grim, this is crucial information to have if we want to meet the needs of our kāne, as well as those on the ground providing services in our communities. The weahh of data in this report will be a powerful tool, not just for OHA, but for anyone seeking funding, advocating for puhlie policy or creating programs to uplift kāne. Historical accounts from early foreign explorers clearly articulate how strong ancient kāne were, how nimhle and how healthy. Compared to contemporary kāne, they were taller, leaner and more muscular in build, and easily worked long days under the sun. But the arrival of westerners changed kāne's traditional roles and separated them from their culture and 'āina. Nearly 300 years later, their heahh profile shows a sharp decline and the representation of Hawaiian kāne in our families, communities and positions of leadership has heeome a matter of growing eoneem.

Kānehō' ālani highlights the need to respond as a community in order to reconnect Native Hawaiian males with their cultural identity. I For example, data shows Native Hawaiian males prefer cultural healers | over western-based medical professionals. Kāne have told me, "I just would like a traditional healer in lā'au lapa'au, perhaps," "Maybe I need to go see a ho'opono'pono practitioner before I go see a psychiatrist

or counselor," or "Maybe I prefer lomilomi to help ease my stress.' We've also observed kāne tend to be more expressive speaking in a group of peers or to a community leader or kūpuna elder than Ā in doctor's offices. j

The community-driven Kānehō'ālani report is meant tc empower our males to raise consciousness and help other kāne find the right path to reconciliation. We've let others speak for us for too long. It's our turn to identify our needs, figure out where we ean intervene, and set our own direction. Uplifting our males now ean only benefit our lāhui in the future. 'O au iho nō me ke aloha a me ka 'oia'i'o, Kamana'opono M. Crabbe, Ph.D. Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive 0fficer

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