Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 10, 1 October 1989 — Papa Ola Lokahi plans meetings on health [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Papa Ola Lokahi plans meetings on health

Anyone concerned about the direction Native Hawaiian health care will take, as the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988 comes into force, is invited to share their mana'o with the board ot directors of Papa Ola Lokahi. The directors are planning public informational hearings at whieh information will be sought from the general public. The purpose of the community meetings is to provide information on the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act and activities that have been undertaken so far and to begin planning the development of Native Hawaiian health care networks and systems. Papa Ola Lokahi was set up in the act as the organization to assist in the planning of Native Hawaiian health care systems; to develop the resources that will be needed; to monitor and evaluate the progress in the health of Native Hawaiians as a result of the services. Federal funds for Papa Ola Lokahi will be available in October, the start of the federal fiscal year. State funds have been provided for the start-up through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Health. Initial activities of Papa Ola Lokahi will be eoncerned with development of an overall plan for health care and integrating the services of the nine potential Native Hawaiian health care systems. These subjects will be the focus of public informational meetings to be held by the board of directors.

The board of directors of Papa Ola Lokahi includes Myron B. Thompson as president, representing Alu Like ine.. Nanette Kapulani Judd as vice-president representing E Ola Mau, Fern Iwalani Clark as secretary-treasurer representmg the Office of Hawaiian Health of the state's department of health, Gladys Ainoa Brandt as a director representing the University of Hawaii and Thomas Kaulukukui as a director representing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi is Lawrence Miike, M.D. from the John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Miike recently returned to Hawai'i after serving with the Office of Technology Assessment, a research agency of the United States Congress. For more information, or to confirm meeting dates and times, the public may contact the offices of Papa Ola Lokahi at Kawaiahao Plaza, Suite 102 at 567 South King St. , Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813.

The telephone number is 536-9453. According to published material, the orgamzation will act as an advocate for the Native Hawanan community in health-related matters. Papa Ola Lokahi will not provide direct health care or redundant services. The mission of Papa Ola Lokahi is to raise the health status of Native Hawaiians, using the current health care systems to improve, expand, and enhanee the system's availability, efficiency and effectiveness. The program, especially via reintroduction of tested elements of the traditional Native Hawaiian health care system, is expected to benefit all Hawaiians, according to Papa Ola Lokahi The goal is to strengthen the existing system and not to create a new or separate, health structure for Native Hawaiians. The public is invited to attend the Papa Ola Lokahi public informational meetings to leam more about the organization or to share their eoncerns with board members.

Members of Papa Ola Lokahi at opening of new office in Kawaiahao Plaza. L-R: Myron

Thompson, Nanette Judd, Gladys Brandt, Thomas Kaulukukui, Fern Clark, Larry Miike.