Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — He Mau Ninau Ola [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

He Mau Ninau Ola

Some Healih Questior\s by Kekuni Bhisdett, M.D.

Ninau: E kauka, I am a Maui Community College student and I want to leam traditional Hawaiian medieine. I saw on TV you gave a one-day course at the University last month. How ean 1 sign up for the next course so I ean start practice on my island? Pane: Minamina you were not able to ioin us on

Oct. 11 when ke Kulanui O Hawai'i Hawaiian Studies Program, under the direction of Kumu Abraham Pi'ianai'a, sponsored 'Aha Kupuna La'au Lapa'au (Native Hawaiian Elders' Healing Conference) on the Manoa campus, as described elsewhere in this month's Ka Wai Ola O OHA. I was merely moderator. The impetus for the 'Ahu

was Kupuna Harry Kunihi Mitchell Sr., of Ke'anae, on your island of Maui. In the Summer of 1985, he was so ho'ohoka 'ia (disappointed) that the scheduled demonstrations of traditional Pacific Island medicine did not occur in Pape'ete, Tahiti, he was mana'opa'a (determined) that a healing halawainui (conference) be held in Hawai'i. He felt it was urgent that the mana and 'ike (knowledge) of la'au lapa'au (medicine) by our remaining kupuna be preserved before they hala (pass on). Further, such knowledgable kupuna deserve official recognition, certification and licensure sothat they may practice and teach their 'ike to opio (youths) as legitimate supplement to the current dominant western medical care system in our homeland.

E Ola Mau, established in May, 1986, as a native Hawaiian health professional organization, weIcomed the opportunity to kokua Unele Harry, for one of the recommendations in the E Ola Mau report of December, 1985, was to incorporate traditional Hawaiian eoncepts and practices in programs to improve the health of ka po'e Hawai'i. A planning committee was formed around Kupuna Mitchell with Rona Rodenhurst of the UH Hawaiian Studies Program as chair, Haunani Apoliona of Alu Like, UH haumana (students) Keoni Fairbanks and Naone Morinaga, and Ana'lika Victor of E Ola Maui, with olelo a'o (advice) from Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III, Jalna Keala, Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins and Maleolm Naea Chun of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The long-range papa hana (plan) whieh evolved envisions six steps: 1. He 'Aha Kupuna La'au Lapa'au in Honolulu to begin exchange and documentation of 'ike and no'eau (skills) by kupuna from the major 'ailana (islands). This first step was taken on Oct. 11 at Manoa with gratifying results. 2. Establishment of an 'Aha Kuka (Council oO Kupuna Lapa'au to begin to consider standard curricula for teaching, and criteria and methods for certifying, licensing and monitoring by a Papa Ola Hawai'i (Native Hawaiian Board of Health). Such a Papa was first created in 1868 during the reign of Kamehameha V, and was re-enacted through the initiative of King Kalakaua in 1886. On October 11, 1986, 100yearslater, attheUH Manoa 'Aha, the six participating kupuna present aecepted membership in a new 'Aha Kuka Kupuna Lapa'au.

3. Organization of Na Mea Kako'o Opio, a support hui to assist na kupuna individually in their teaching and practice, and to help ke 'Aha Kuku Kupuna Lapa'au to meet regularly, keep records, raise funds and testify when appropriate before the State Legislature. 4. A series of two-day 'aha iki (mini conferences) in 1987 on eaeh major 'ailana to eonhnue sharing and documenting, especially such items as mau la'au (plants), proper mau hua'oleleo (terms), eolleehon and preparation of materials, rituals and pule (prayers), distinctive to eaeh loeal setting. 5. Another island-wide 'aha, hosting kupuna from previous 'aha to review findings, deliberations and recommendations.

6. Implementation of recommendations, such as formal establishment of halau la'au lapa'au for teaching and practice on all inhabited 'ailana together with West-ern-trained native Hawaiian health professionals, and a government-recognized Papa Ola Hawai'i. In view of these papa hana, I suggest that you kahea (eall) Kupuna Mitchell of Ke'anae, or Kupuna David Ka'alakea of Wailuku, ma'a practitioners of la'au lapa'au. Perhaps they will accept you as he haumana, so that you may learn in the traditional manner. You ean also be helpful by serving as he mea kako'o 'opio with others in organizationa! affairs on Maui and in promoting a needed mau mea kako'o network mai Ni'ihau a hiki i Hawai'i. You should not wait for formal courses to be offered at ke Kulanui O Hawai'i, Although a current UH Hawaiian Task Force has proposed courses in la'au lapa'au on the UH campuses, it will be at least two years before such offerings will be available, and the UH instructors are unlikely to be as ma'a (experienced) and na'auao (learned) as the above-named kupuna on Maui. E 'onipa'a ka 'imi na'auao mai na kupuna mai.

He waiwai nui ke aloha; o ka'u no ia e pulama nei. Love is a great treasure whieh I cherish. — Mary Kawena Pukui.