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Hā Kūpuna : Working with and for Native Hawaiian Elders

Explore the experiences of Native Hawaiian elders in the face of colonization and efforts to retain and revitalize their culture. Learn about health disparities, a dementia education project, and resilience interviews. Developed by HāKūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders.

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Hā Kūpuna : Working with and for Native Hawaiian Elders

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  1. HāKūpuna:Working with and for Native Hawaiian Elders Kathryn L. Braun, Colette Browne, and Shelley Muneoka HāKūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

  2. HāKūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders • Purpose--to discuss: • Native Hawaiians experience of colonization and loss • Efforts to retained and revitalize culture • Our activities • Mixed methods approach • Health disparities • Dementia education project • Resilience interviews

  3. Hā(Breath)Kūpuna(Elders) Transfer of specialized knowledge & training from an elder to a younger person by breathing into the mouth or fontanel (Pukui, 1979). Courtesy of Dr. Claire Hughes

  4. Hawai‘i is a paradise.

  5. The Hawaiian Island Chain: Only 7 islands have people 1.4 million people live in Hawaii!

  6. Each island is different The Big Island of Hawai‘i has a snow-capped mountain and an active volcano! Mauna Kea (4,205 m) Mauna Loa (4169.4 m)

  7. Native Hawaiians are Polynesians that used the stars and wave patterns to settle the Pacific

  8. Were a robust and healthy peoples. Had a sophisticated system of kapu that guided society. Lived in harmony with the land in an a‘hupua‘a system Native Hawaiians

  9. A‘hupua‘a system

  10. Captain Cook (1778) Whalers Missionaries (1820s) Illegal overthrow of government (1898) Colonization and Destruction by Westerners 80% of Hawaiian died from introduced diseases and laws within 100 years of contact with Europeans. “The missionaries came to do good, and they did very well.”

  11. People “imported” to work plantations • 50,000 from China 1852-1898 • 10,000 from Portugal 1877-1884 • 200,000+ Japan, including 8,000 from Okinawa 1885-1924 • 5,000 Puerto Rico 1900 • 8,000 Korea 1902-1905 • 30,000 Philippines 1905-1920 • 2,250 Malaga 1907

  12. We are home to many Asians and Pacific Islanders Hawaiians - 24% Caucasians - 24% Japanese - 18% Filipinos - 16% Chinese - 7% Koreans - 3% Samoans - 3%

  13. Hawai‘i has a long life expectancy, but some live longer than others We need more Native Hawaiians to make it to old age!

  14. HāKūpuna • Established in 2006 • Assure transmission of hā from older to younger generations • Develop and disseminate knowledge on Native Hawaiian aging • Support service delivery to Native Hawaiian elders • Work with “sister” centers to strengthen efforts on behalf of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian elders

  15. Hawaiian Renaissance – 1970s • Increase protests and pride in Native Hawaiian culture • Constitutional Convention 1978 • Guaranteed access to mountain and ocean • Return of Kahoolawe • Hawaiian language becomes official language of state • Hawaiian taught in the schools and university • Creation of Hawaiian-language charter schools

  16. Kaho‘olawe • 1941 - US military started using island for training and target practice • 1976 - Protests and occupation began • 1991 - Bombing ended • 1993 – Clean up began

  17. Reemergence of Native practices

  18. HāKūpuna’s Mixed Methods Approach to Knowledge Development Qualitative Studies Quantitative Studies Syntheses and Recommendations • Key informant interviews with providers & leaders • Kūpuna in Hawai‘i • Focus groups with grandparents • Kūpuna on the Continent • Life expectancy by ethnicity • Years of life loss by ethnicity • Health indicators by ethnicity (HHS and BRFSS) • Life course & resiliency model • Indigenous & decolonized research methods • NHPI elder health

  19. Research Philosophy • We work in collaboration with Native Hawaiian communities to increase knowledge of Native Hawaiian elders. • We take a balanced approach to research so document cultural strengths and factors that promote native resilience and health, as well as health disparities and needs.

  20. Prevalence of Chronic Conditions by Age (Hawaii BRFSS 2011-2014) -1

  21. Prevalence of Chronic Conditions by Age (Hawaii BRFSS 2011-2014) -2

  22. Storybook about dementia for keiki • Developed with community/youth input • Aimed at youth ages 8 - 12 • Native Hawaiians are more likely to live in intergenerational households • 12% of Hawaiian kūpuna live in a home with grandchildren • 7% of elders of other ethnicities in HI • 3.6% US national average

  23. Critical Turning Points #1: Pomai is worried. She notices that her Papa is changing and seems distant and distressed. #2: Pomai’steacher notices Pomai’s worried and speaks to her after class. #3: The counselor recommends that Pomai and family meet with Papa to share concerns and plan next steps. #4: Pomai is connected with educational and supportive resources, and learns how she can best help Papa, her family, and herself. #5: Several years pass and Pomai is in high school. She becomes a peer educator, helping her community become dementia-friendly.

  24. 18 elders living away from Hawai‘i for 30+ years Age range: 60-90 Recruited through Native Hawaiian Civic Clubs, snowball sampling, service provider and personal connections Interview took about 1-2 hours each and used ZOOM Transcript read by 2 team members and sent back to elder for approval Coded and analyzed by team Kūpuna on Continent Study WA OR NY IL NV DC CO CA MO AZ LA TX FL

  25. Kūpuna on the Continent: Migration and Resilience in Native Hawaiian Elders • Push factors • High cost of living • Limited opportunities for education and work • Resilience • Despite experiences with racism, built successful lives away from Hawai‘i • Spreading aloha spirit • Strong sense of place – 2/3rds want to be buried or have ashes spread in Hawai‘i.

  26. Starting a Hawaiian canoe club in Arizona! • We co-founded the first Hawaiian outrigger canoe club in Arizona. And there's now four of them! We met L, and he owned the canoes, but he left them back in Santa Rosa. We said, ‘Hey, the canoes are just sitting there, and nobody's using them. We're bringing them to Phoenix.” So that's how we ended up founding it over here. So we paddled in the lakes. We even go compete!

  27. Hanging with other Native Peoples • We got married shortly after that, moved down to New Mexico. He had his arts and crafts, and we traveled the circuit because there's a lot of Native People in the southwest. We are recognized as a tribe by the people, not legally of course, but we're able to go to powwows and have booths and things like that because they do consider us Natives.

  28. Honoring NāKūpuna: Stories of Culture and Resilience • Collaborating on a book to honor Hawaiian practices as companion to 3-credit college class offered by the School of Social Work.

  29. HāKūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders • Key Points • Native Hawaiians experienced colonization and loss • Native Hawaiians are revitalizing their culture • Hā Kūpuna tries to take a balanced approach to research • Hā Kūpuna has helped to: • Reveal health disparities among elderly • Educate on disparities and dementia • Document resilience and cultural practices

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