Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 3, 1 March 1989 — New Era In Ha waiian Healih Dawning [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

New Era In Ha waiian Healih Dawning

5 Hawaiian Agencies Form Papa Ola Lokahi

by Debor£ih Lee Ward Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA The urgent need of Native Hawaiians for a new, concerted approach to revitalizing their health is finally beginning to be addressed through a combination of federal, state and loeal programs. On February 1, the State Department of Health formed a new Office of Hawaiian Health, directed by Fern V. Clark, a native Hawaiian. The goal of this office is to help the state health department improve its services to Native Hawaiians and to make those services more accessible, both geographically and culturally. A new slate of officers was elected in January for E Ola Mau, an organization of Native Hawaiian health professionals. E Ola Mau is devoted to a mission of better health services for Native Hawaiians. Rounding out the federal share of this new impetus is the formation last month of Papa Ola Lokahi (POL), a five-agency administrative board designated to receive and spend federal money under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988, P.L. 136. Papa Ola Lokahi is composed of E Ola Mau, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Alu Like ine., the University of Hawai'i, and the Office of Hawaiian Health of the State Department of Health. On January 25 Papa Ola Lokahi held its initial meeting to elect its officers. Elected as president was Myron B. Thompson, representing Alu Like, ine. Vice-president is Kanani Low Mariano, new executive director of E Ola Mau. Tbe secretary/treasurer post will be held by Fern Clark, new director of the Office of Hawaiian Hea!th. Directors of Papa Ola Lokahi include Gladys Ainoa Brandt, chair of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, and Thomas K. Kaulukukui, chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees. On February 14 a meeting of the Papa Ola Lokahi directors and officers was held in the Honolulu office of Senator Daniel Inouye to formally sign the articles of incorporation. Mariano, a past administrator for Moloka'i General Hospital and a lobbyist on health issues says she views the establishment of Papa Ola Lokahi as a historical event. "We saw it as the beginning of a new approach to health for Native Hawaiians." OHA Chairman Kaulukukui said recently, "With OHA, Alu Like, E Ola Mau, the University of Hawai'i and the State Department of Health working together, and with the authorization of federal funds totalling more than $19 million over three years beginning in 1990 — we ean reverse the statistics of disease and early death whieh have taken so mueh of the joy of living out of Hawaiian families." The first federal funds for Papa Ola Lokahi and the health programs it will be developing for Native Hawaiians as authorized by the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988 are expected to be available this October. However, in the interim Papa Ola Lokahi will be filing for tax-exempt status and gathering existing information on Hawaiian health care needs in preparation for future planning steps. While at the present time the new organization has no funds (either from the state or the five member agencies), Thompson said he is seeking support from member agencies. No state matching money is required by federal law for the planning and administration grant to eome in Papa Ola Lokahi's first year. He said state matching money is only required when the nine health centers are being developed. However, the match ean eome as a grant or on an in-kind basis, he said. Here's the breakdown of federal money that will go for Hawaiian health programs under Papa Ola Lokahi: Fiscal year 1989-90 • $700,000 for set up of an administrative structure and to develop a comprehensive health care plan to identify and prioritize health care

needs of Hawaiians, and to identify where the nine health centers will go. • $900,000 initial planning money for nine community health care centers. The law authorizes nine centers. However, if an existing facility ean be used, it will be considered as an "inkind" matching grant, and money ean be used differently. Fiscal year 1990-91 • $1 million administrative grant for coordination, implementation and updating of the comprehensive health care master plan; training for Native Hawaiian health care practitioners, community outreach workers, counselors, and cultural educators in health promotion and disease prevention; or identification of and research into

the diseases that are most prevalent among Native Hawaiians — including behavioral, bio-medical, epidemilogical, and health services. An additional $1 million has been allocated for FY 1992 and FY1993. • Another $5 million to maintain and operate the health centers Fiscal year 1991-92 • $10 million to operate the centers. • $1 million administrative grant for administration responsibilities, research, and management. Fiscal year 1992-93 • $1 million administration grant for research, administration and management.

Senator Daniel K. lnouye (second from left) joins the directors of Papa Ola Lokahi in his Honolulu office. lnouye was instrumental in securing passage of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act, and in the formation of Papa Ola Lokahi. From left to right are: Kanani Low Mariano, executive director of E Ola Mau; Sen. lnouye; Gladys Ainoa Brandt (seated), chair, University of Hawai'i Board of Regents; Clarence Ching, OHA Trustee, representing Thomas Kaulukukui, OHA Chairman; Fern Iwalani Clark (seated), director, Office of Hawaiian Health; and Myron B. Thompson, board member, Alu Like ine.

e a E -e u § iS £ o o £