Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 April 1987 — Native Hawaiian Health, Education Bills [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Health, Education Bills

Papa Ola Lokahi is Result of lnouye Hearing

By Jalna Keala Government Affairs Officer Two Hawaiian organizations for the first time have been named in a U.S. Senate bill to work cooperatively to plan, conduct or administer the programs provided in Senate Bill 136 whieh is "to improve the health status of native Hawaiians and for other purposes." Senator Daniel K. Inouye, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Indian Af'fairs, held a Senate hearing Mar. 6 in the conference room of the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to get input from Hawaii residents on two bills he introduced in Congress to help Hawaiians. Also sitting with Inouye at the hearing was Congressman Daniel K. Akaka. In addition to SB 136, the other bill was SB 360 whieh ts "to improve the education status of native Hawaiians and for other purposes." The two Hawaiian agencies named in the health measure are the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and E Ola Mau ine. The goals and health care expertise of E Ola Mau, combined with the broad quasi-governmental responsibilities of OHA, create a very potent force for Hawaiians. Both organizations worked together to amend the bill to better reflect Hawaiian self-determination. The amendment created a five-member administrative board and given the name Papa Ola Lokahi. Dr. Naleen Naupaka Andrade, a member of E Ola Mau who initially introduced the five-member concept, explained that Papa Ola Lokahi could literally mean a "board of health working in harmony," but that the Kaona goes deeper to the origins of Papa as mother of all Hawaiians. The name was originally offered by OHA Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III, accepted by E Ola Mau and called "a very beautiful name" by Sen. Inouye. Papa Ola Lokahi's five-member organizations include OHA, E Ola Mau, Alu Like ine., University of Hawaii School of

Medicine and the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Papa Ola Lokahi will eall upon other groups or organizations in an advisory capacity as needed. The original legislation calling for an advisory panel of 21 members was determined to be cumbersome and impractical. It was Kanahele who paused during his testimony to directly ask Inouye's opinion of the five-member concept and without hesitation the Senator invoked the privilege of the committee chair in amending the bill "right now." There was a spontaneous burst of applause at his declaration and bright smiles from supporters of the amendment.

The administrative board concept is exciting, innovative and a strong step toward Hawaiian self-determi-nation. Those testifying in favor of the five-member Papa Ola Lokahi were Kanahele, OHA; Dr. Andrade, E. Ola Mau; Hooipo De Cambra, WCCHC; Dr. Terrence Rogers, UH School of Medicine and Winona Ellis Rubin, Department of Social Services and Housing. Alu Like, represented by new president and chief executive officer David Helela, supported a mueh larger board of 21 members or more to be designated by the Governor. A dramatic and touching moment of the hearing eame when Dr. Andrade deviated from her testimony to introduce the 15 members of E Ola Mau who were present. She solemnly recited their titles and credentials as eaeh proudly remained standing. E Ola Mau was formally organized in March, 1986. and is composed of over 40 Hawaiian health care professionals who include physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, dental hygienists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, nurses, kupuna and kahuna lapa'au. They form a statewide network encompassing every island, including the professionals who serve the island of Ni'ihau. The organization's mission is for Hawaiians to achieve lokahi — the harmony of self and with others — whieh will lead to effectively functioning native citizens and leaders. SB 136 is comprehensive in scope and would provide programs of health promotion and disease prevention; community health centers, health service scholarships; health needs assessments and health education and services referrals to Hawaiians whose health statistics are among the worst in the nation. The education bill (SB 360) calls for higher education scholarships, programs for gifted and talented students, family learning centers and special education programs.

Congressman Daniel K. Akaka, left, and Sen. Daniel K. Inouye hear testimony in Mar. 6 Senate hearing in Honolulu.