Inouye Amendments Would Extend the


Native Hawaiian Health Care Act


By Houkje Ross


Closing the Gap, Pacific Islander Health • June/July 2000


S

eeking to extend health care services to more Native Hawaiians 

and promote health care practices in tune with their traditional 

culture, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) proposed amendments to 

the law that authorizes funds for health care services directed to the 

Native Hawaiian population. 

Introduced in November, Sen. Inouye’s bill, S. 1929, the Native 

Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act Reauthorization of 1999, 

also would extend the authorization of appropriations for Native 

In 1998, Papa Ola Lokahi held a Health Summit in which Native Hawaiians discussed and developed 

health goals and objectives for their comherbal medicines (la‘au lapa‘au), body manipulation or massage 

(lomilomi), and mental health or problem solving in the family 

(ho‘oponopono), he said. 

“In the last 30 years, the Native Hawaiian community has really 

begun to feel the stresses and pressures of changes brought about by 

economic development,” said Spoehr. As more land becomes developed, there is more concrete and less farming, and less consumption of 

healthy foods, according to Spoehr. 

“The amended bill incorporates the desires of local communities 

to return to lives that are based on the natural 

environment, the land and the sea,” said 

munities. Approximately 800 people at- “The amended bill incorporates Spoehr. It calls for increasing the number of 

tended the summit, many more than were culturally competent health care workers; inexpected, said Spoehr. People from all sec- the desires of local communities creasing the use of traditional Native Hawaitions of the community attended: the em- ian foods in peoples’ diets and dietary preferployed, the unemployed, young, old, pro- to return to lives that are based ences; and identifying and instituting Native 

fessionals, non-professionals. One of the on the natural environment, the Hawaiian cultural values and practices within 

most significant contributions the commu- the “corporate cultures” of organizations and 

nity made to the bill was the addition of land and the sea.” agencies providing health service to Native 

culturally competent health care for Native 

Hawaiians. 

Hawaiian health programs from 2002 to 2011, and would support research on the feasibility of making health care an entitlement 

for Native Hawaiians. 

Extended in 1988 and reauthorized in 1992, the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act funds five health service organizations in Hawaii 

that provide: health promotion and education classes; disease prevention through screening, monitoring, case management, exercise, nutrition, and alternative therapies; and referrals to social services and 

primary care. 

The Act also provides funds for a Native Hawaiian Health Professions Scholarship Program, which aims to improve access to health 

services by increasing the number of Native Hawaiians in the health 

professions. 

Papa Ola Lokahi is the umbrella agency that administers funds 

and services. It work s with the five health centers and plans, provides 

training and technical assistance, supports research, and serves as a 

clearinghouse for data and information. 

Integrating Traditional Cultural Practices 

Sen. Inouye’s proposed modifications of the law represent “fine 

tuning” of the existing legislation said Hardy Spoehr, executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi. 

“There is a great desire by the local community to see a return to 

traditional healing practices,” Spoehr said. These include the use of 

Hawaiians. Amendments would also call for 

the use of Native Hawaiian healing practices 

by healers; and support training and education activities and programs in traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices by Native Hawaiian healers. 

Other amendments would provide for the establishment of additional health care systems to serve the islands of Lana‘i and Ni‘ihau. 

The revised bill would also authorize Papa Ola Lokahi to carry out 

Native Hawaiian demonstration projects in areas such as education of 

health professionals. It would call for the development of a centralized 

database and information system on the health care status, needs, and 

wellness of Native Hawaiians. Other projects would include: 

•	 Integration of Western medicine with complementary health practices, including traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices; 

•	 Use of tele-wellness and telecommunications in chronic disease 

management, health promotion, and disease prevention; and 

•	 Establishment of a Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence for 

nursing, mental health and nutrition, and research, training, and 

integrated medicine. 

For more information on the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act 

and the proposed amendments, contact: Senator Daniel Inouye’s office, 

(202) 224-3934, or visit http://www.senate.gov/~inouye/ 

To contact Papa Ola Lokahi, call (808) 536-9453.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center	 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services