Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 7, 1 July 2013 — MEN BOND OVER HEALTH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MEN BOND

OVER HEALTH

By Karin Stanton Apilot project focusing on Native Hawaiian men's health care exceeded its goals and organizers are hopeful the program will continue to reach men across the state. Ke Ola Mamo was awarded a $25,000 Kauhale grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for its No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne - For the Heahh ofMen program. A collaboration between Ke Ola Mamo - 0'ahu's Native Hawaiian Heahh Care System - and the American Cancer Society facilitated educational kūkākūkā (discussion) from Kaua'i to Hawai'i Island. The kūkākūkā used a cultural

approach to promote dialogue among men about health-related issues and ways they stay healthy.

Palama Lee, who sits on the No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne committee, said the yearlong initiative drew ahnost twice the expected number of participants, reaching 147 men through the 14 community meetings - and

drawing interest from 70 more men who missed the meetings but wanted to be included in future programs. "We heard a lot from O'ahu groups, but it was interesting to hear what Neighbor Island kāne had to say," said Lee, who has a background in social work and works at Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. "Men don't really have a space where they talk, other than bars and sports events," he said. "They don't dialogue about health, except in support groups maybe. This was a great opportunity to explore attitudes and practices toward heahh care." Lee said many men mentioned chronic ailments already identified in studies, including cardiovascular issues, stroke, substance abuse, diabetes and stress. "It really gave us a snapshot of the heahh issues these men face" across the state, he said, although the discussions also focused on barriers to proactive heahh care and solutions. "What was interesting was how many talked about war-related issues," he said. "Not just from men coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, but

men still dealing with Korea and Vietnam. And fathers were talking about their sons - not just post-traumatic stress disorder, but their medical issues too." Lee said participants repeatedly pointed out affordability of healthy foods and heahh care, and access to primary care doctors and specialists as barriers that discouraged them from seeking heahh care. Mistrust of Western medicine, personal pride and fear of illness also were often listed as reasons for not going to the doctor.

However, Lee said he was encouraged when the discussions turned to solutions. "Whatever the context, it goes back to family. Family support is so important and a big motivator. They give hope and healing," he said. "Also, they want to be role models and pass on positive knowledge to the next generation." For Kaipo Seales, family is the biggest motivator. Seales, who lives with his family on Moloka'i, said he wants to stay healthy to see his children grow up and to be a positive role model for them. "We try to eat healthy - lots of fish, of course," he said. "We have to get back to the traditional t ways of eating and staying healthy."

"In my family, my father was the provider

and my mom went to all the meetings and school stuff," he said. Now that Seales is a father, he works to provide for his family, like his father did, but he also makes time to be involved in his son's life. The rewards of good heahh and a balanced life are easy for Seales to see. "At the school makahiki, I was standing at the end and waiting for my son to finish his race," he said. "He saw me and started smiling and waving a shaka. It's important for him to see me. 'Hey, Dad's here, he supports me.' It gives him a confidence boost, I think." Seales said he appreciated the opportunity to attend a kūkākūkā and connect with other

Native Hawaiian men and reconnect with their culture. "This was a good step. It was very positive and I felt good being a part of it," he said. "I ean only see this as a stepping stone. I'm looking forward to more meetings."

Lee said he was most pleased to train a group of Neighbor Island men to serve as facilitators in their own communities. "We have those anchors now on the Neighbor Islands and we want to grow those seeds," he said. "We're looking for more collaborative partners. We want to eonhnue to reach out to new groups of men and offer a menu of cultural activities. Men learn by doing, so if we incorporate health topics, that will give them an opportunity to eome together and start talking." Claire Hughes, who serves on Ke Ola Mamo's board and helped spearhead the kāne project, said she was encouraged to hear how many men participated. "The response has been good. We've been successful in reaching out. I'm extremely pleased," she said. "Talking about health care is not a subject that comes readily out of individuals, but this is borne out of tradition as men sat together. This is really bringing back an old methodology." ■

Kann Stanton, aformer reporter/editor atWest Hawai'i Today, worksfor the Associated Press and Hawai'i 24/7.

No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne

Kāne interested in learning more aboutthe program and its upcoming events ean eall the Native Hawaiian Health Care System on their island. Kaua'i - (808) 240-0100 0'ahu - (808) 845-3388 Maui - (808) 244-4647 Moloka'i and Lāna'i - (808) 560-3653 Hawai'i lsland - (808) 969-9220

HEALĪH

Stacy Horner, left, and Kaipo Seales, right, participated in kāne-only kūkākūkā sessions on Moloka'i. They, along with Honolulu Poliee Chief Louis Kealoha, second from left, and Palama Lee of the No Ke Ola Pono o Nā Kāne committee, attended the project's report to the community at Oueen Emma Summer Palaee in March. - Photo: UsaAsato