Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 3, 1 March 2012 — OHA Grantee Profile: Ke Ola Mamo Hawaiian men's health initiative gets boost [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Grantee Profile: Ke Ola Mamo Hawaiian men's health initiative gets boost

By Karin Stanton Agrant from Office of Hawaiian Affairs could help save health and lives. Ke Ola Mamo, a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and well-being of the Native Hawaiian community, has been awarded a $25,000 Kauhale grant. The funds will bolster the No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne - For the Heakh of Men program through a partnership between the American Cancer Society and Ke Ola Mamo, one of five Native Hawaiian Heahh Care Systems created under the federal Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988. The program, No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne, aims to find out how best to deliver preventative health services to Native Hawaiian men and encourage the kāne (men) to schedule regular checkups. "This grant establishes a brand new partnership," said Claire Hughes, project CoDirector and Ke Ola Mamo board member. "The OHA grant provides the link between the American Cancer Society and Ke Ola Mamo and makes this partnership possible." The Kāne Initiative will facilitate educational discussion sessions, or kūkākūkā, at community

meetings, Hughes said. "We are looking forward to reaching out on a personal level to discuss health concerns and information with Native Hawaiian men," she said. "The iniīial thrust will be to discuss what their heahh concerns and their preferences are in preventive heahh services." The long-term goal is to ensure Native Hawaiian men receive the regular checkups, early diagnosis and treatment needed to extend their heahh and lives. "Native Hawaiian kāne have higher rates of chronic heahh conditions, like illness of the heart, diabetes and some cancers," Hughes said. "They have higher incidence rates that result in higher death rates. The life span of a Native Hawaiian man is about 12 years shorter than other groups." This 12-year gap has persisted for the last 30 years and is not closing, Hughes said, making partnerships like No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne essential to address such heahh concerns. This program addresses the kāne who may not have all the information and heahh services that they need to recognize and take action on the early signs of a heahh challenge. "Across the board, men in America show a reluctance about getting to the doctor," she said. "However, Hawaiian kāne in particular have a greater need for regular checkups because of their higher risk for developing heahh challenges." In our small-group meetings, Native Hawaiian men were asked what they needed to lead a healthy life. Answers ranged from quality family time and outdoor recreation, such as fishing, and a job that offers heahh insurance, as well as a desire for access to traditional Hawaiian healing practices. "We want Hawaiian kāne to take full advantage of any preventative service they want and need," she said. "We're looking forward to learning from our Hawaiian kāne. Then the Native Hawaiian Heahh Care Systems ean address the desired heahh services in a more effective manner." "I want Hawaiian kāne to look forward to long, healthy and productive lives, like those our ancestors lived," Hughes said. "Their families deserve to have their kāne around for a long, long time." Joelene Lono, Ke Ola Mamo Executive

Director, said the grant is critical in advancing the project, and she thanked OHA for its "commitment and support of our efforts to identify and address the barriers to Native Hawaiian kāne who seek heahh care." Ke Ola Mamo's mission is to empower, educate and promote the heahh and well-being of the Native Hawaiian community through a system of culturally appropriate services on O'ahu. Ke Ola Mamo provides primary care, mental heahh services, workshops in heahh lifestyles, outreach and enrollment, access to traditional healing, and other programs aimed at improving the heahh status of Native Hawaiians. The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary heahh organization, whieh supports the work of the government, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major heahh problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. ACS is the only voluntary heahh agency in Hawai'i to form a eommihee of Native Hawaiian heahh professionals, cancer survivors and others who work in Hawaiian communities to address the significant heahh disparities found in this population. ■ Karin Stanton, a former Reporter/Editor at West Hawai'i Today, works for The Associated Press and Hawai'i 24/7. KŪKĀKŪKĀ SESSI0NS WHO: All Native Hawaiian men 18 and older WHEN: Registration is ongoing and sessions are held on an on-demand basis with a group of about 15 men per session WHERE: Locations determined bydemand on 0'ahu until summer, when Neighbor lsland programs will begin C0ST: Free INF0RMATI0N: Ke Ola Mamo, (808) 848-8000

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Many early photographs, like this one, show that Hawaiians were indeed tall and lean. - Photo: Courtesy of Bishop Museum