OUR MOʻOLELO
Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi is a Native Hawaiian Health Care System serving all of Hawaiʻi Island. Our umbrella organization, which covers the five other Native Hawaiian Healthcare Systems serving their communities on seven Hawaiian islands, is Papa Ola Lōkahi.
Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi’s history was determined by two important and related paths in history: a grassroots campaign started on Hawaiʻi Island and the recognition of health disparities among Native Hawaiians by the federal government of the United States of America.
While Papa Ola Lōkahi is now our umbrella organization, Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi has its own unique backstory, predating Papa Ola Lōkahi. According to the booklet entitled “Papa Ola Lōkahi – Nānā I Ka Pono Nā Ma,” accessible on the webpage https://www.papaolalokahi.org/publications, Hui Mālama had its start in Puna when: Hawaiian community leaders (mostly farmers), health professionals, and educators responded to the Puna Hui ʻOhana’s concern about Native Hawaiians’ reluctance to seek medical care until it was too late, the island’s vast and remote geography, and other issues of access to preventive and primary health care services. (p. 22)
That non-profit organization became a Native Hawaiian Health Task Force in 1988. Connections were also forged with other Hawaiian serving organizations on other Hawaiian islands. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi incorporated in 1991 and officially became a Native Hawaiian Health Care System.
Health disparities among Native Hawaiians began to be recognized by the federal government of the United States of America in the 1970s. In 1974, Native Hawaiians were involved in a federal Native American law, and the non-profit organization Alu Like received a grant to create a needs assessment of Native Hawaiian people. In 1976, a Needs Assessment of the Native Hawaiian community was finished. Federal initiatives followed.
Later, in 1985, a health assessment of Native Hawaiians in Hawaiʻi was conducted, leading to further federal initiatives. This was the E Ola Mau Health Needs Assessment. In 1986, congress completed a study of Native Hawaiian health which similarly displayed the grave state of Native Hawaiian health.
Two years later in 1988, the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act passed Congress, creating Papa Ola Lōkahi. In 1992, Congress formally recognized Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems on the Hawaiian islands.