title: Insights in public health: Community strengthening through canoe culture: Ho'omana'o Mau as method and metaphor.
abstract: Historical trauma occurs across generations and is evidenced by indigenous disparities. Efforts made to address this issue commonly utilize European ethnocentric methods. Rather, a community-based approach should be used to empower indigenous communities. God's Country Waimanalo (GCW) is a grassroots organization developed by Native Hawaiians for Native Hawaiians. Its wa'a (canoe) project, Ho'omana'o Mau (everlasting memories; abbreviated Ho'o) is meant to perpetuate pre-colonial Hawaiian practices by educating Native Hawaiian communities and its partners through hands on experience. Since 2012, GCW has opened its wa'a curricula to educators, counselors, and students from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, Alu Like, Hina Mauka, and the Youth Correctional Facility and contributed to Waimanalo based events such as funeral ash scattering and the papio fishing tournament. As metaphor, Ho'o is viewed as the catalyst to engage the next generation of Hawaiians to remember where they descend from, the lineage of chiefs and royalty, while establishing a solid foundation of independence and enhancing their ability to become self-sustaining. As a method, Ho'o is viewed as a classroom, a hands-on learning environment, and an ocean vessel, assembled according to traditional Hawaiian knowledge. Through this knowledge and practice, both indigenous and non-indigenous communities can work together in empowering Native Hawaiians to overcome historical trauma and reduce health disparities.
authors: University of Hawai'i at Manoa Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, Honolulu, HI (IH-L).
authors: Ilima
authors: I
authors: Ho-Lastimosa
authors: University of Hawai'i at Manoa Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, Honolulu, HI (IH-L).
authors: Phoebe W
authors: PW
authors: Hwang
authors: University of Hawai'i at Manoa Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, Honolulu, HI (IH-L).
authors: Bob
authors: B
authors: Lastimosa
mesh_terms: D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D006254:Hawaii; D006302:Health Services Research; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D019365:Metaphor; D011634:Public Health; D012767:Ships
references: J Psychoactive Drugs. 2003 Jan-Mar;35(1):7-13
references: 12733753
references: Gerontologist. 2014 Feb;54(1):117-26
references: 23841952
references: Gerontologist. 2009 Oct;49(5):651-62
references: 19491353
references: Health Promot Pract. 2006 Jul;7(3):312-23
references: 16760238