Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 4, 1 April 1993 — Ola kino o nā Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ola kino o nā Hawaiʻi

Hawaiian healih horizons

Physician finds healing in traditionai diet

by Patrick Johnston Kaua'i physician Wayne Fukino, past president and now advisor to Ho'ōla Lāhui Hawai'i, is a firm believer that what hap-

pens at the dinner table will be an important part of a Hawaiian eultural renaissance. Fukino plays a leading role in Ho'ōla Lāhui's traditional

Hawaiian diet program, the prineipal activity of the non-profit health organization set up to meet the needs of native Hawaiians. Hānai 'ai ho'ōla, feeding

to heal, ts at the heart ot i Fukino's nutritional philosophy. He believes the traditional diet is important for physical and spiritual health because it teaches Hawaiians about their past, enabling them to overcome their negative self-image instilled by 100 years of Western rule. "Cultural education is I important. Telling people about the history and agri-

culture of Hawai'i is an integral part of our diet program. ... The cultural component helps with our self-esteem, making us aware of our accomplishments and helping us overcome negative stereotypes in our own minds." With knowledge of their heritage, and īts resultant increase in national pride, Hawaiians will feel better about themselves and have more incentive to rigorously apply the diet. He believes that as a stronger, prouder people they would be in a better position to rebuild the polkieal and eeonomie base of the Hawaiian people.

Fukino graduated from Kamehameha Schools and received his B.A. from the University of Hawai'i. He then entered the 'Imi Ho'ōla accelerated pre-med program at UH (a program that helps underrepresented minorities enter the medieal field), and later was accepted at the John. A. Burns School of Medicine. He finished his medical schooling in 1981 and began practicing in Honolulu. Seven years later there was an opening on Kaua'i and he jumped at the opportunity to move to the Garden Island. "It was, overall, a good move," he thinks. "Kaua'i reminds me of the Kalihi community I grew up in back in the '50s." Getting the community involved is a key element of the traditional Hawaiian diet, not only in Kaua'i but on all of the Hawaiian islands. Fukino says they could only work with a small group at a time and that they would probably never be able to treat everyone who needs

help. Part of their program is getting the participants to educate neighbors, friends, and family. Information about the diet is disseminated through the loeal press as well as community meetings. Fukino's and Ho'ōla Lāhui's work faced a setback in September with Hurricane 'Iniki as native Hawaiians became more preoccupied with building and less concerned with diet.

Mueh of the emergency food sent to Kaua'i was high in fat and sodium and most residents put their diet on hold. Ho'ōla

Lāhui's prineipal function became the distribution of food and medicines, and Fukino, who also works as a general practitioner at the Kaua'i V e t e r a n s M e d i e a 1

Hospital, had his hands full with injuries and illnesses brought on by the disaster. The psychologieal stress of the hurricane and its effects brought on an increase in the number of congestive heart failures among elderly Hawaiians. Skin infections that before the hurricane would not have required hospitalization increased in severity and required that patients be admitted. If anything, the hunieane has brought the Kaua'i community together, Fukino says, breaking down racial and class barriers and helping in mutual understanding. Everyone had to stand in line to get food and water, and the insuranee crisis that followed hit all homeowners equally.

"It doesn't matter how rich you are. You could have a milliondollar home but if you can't get insurance you're the same as everyone else." Hawaiians, Fukino argues, might have even fared a little better because there were agencies, like Ho'ōla Lāhui, that looked specifically after their needs. The Queen Lili'uokalani Trust provided money for Hawaiian children and OHA grants of $50,000 and $75,000 were allocated for kūpuna and child care. Fukino has nothing but praise for the Imi Ho'ōla program whieh enabled him to become a physician, noting that there are close to 100 practicing Hawaiian physicians in Hawai'i today, largely as a result of the medical school program. Native Americans, he points

out, without access to the same type of education, have considerably fewer doctors.

" "" ' »■ Dr. Fukino's tips for a happier, healthier life: • > ; 1. Don't smoke. Even social smoking ean catise serious heallh problems, not to meniion tremendous eeonomie loss brought about as result of the illness. Fukino speculates that Hawaiians, having evolved in a warm climate free of the smoky homes associated with the cold, could perhaps be genetically weaker at resisting the harmful affects of smoking.

2. Drink only in moderation. It is better to drink moderately on a regular basis than to consume a six or twelve-pack on the weekend. If you like the taste of aleohol, Fukino suggests trying the nonaleoholie beers that are readily avaiiable on the market. 3. Eat less meat and more ; vegetables. Broil (kō'ala, pūlehu), steam (hākui), or bake (kālua) more, and use less oil and salt in cooking.

4. Take time to enjoy the outdoors. Get out and relax, look at a sunset or go Fishing. Hawai'i abounds in . outdoor activities and Hawaiians should take advantageofthem. 5. Don't resort to violence when deaiing with stress. Try to fmd someone to talk to before hitting your wife and children. Kūpuna, ministers, priests as well as a number of organizations are available to give advice.

Dr. Wayne Fukino