HILO, HI – June 7, 2018 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) is pleased to announce a $6,500 award from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) ‘Ahahui Grants program. This grant award supports the Second Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival and its objectives to increase prenatal care, improve birth outcomes, and enrich positive parenting skills of Hawai‘i Island ‘ohana.
The Second Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival will be held at Naʻālehu Park in Ka‘ū on Saturday, July 28, 2018, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Expecting mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ‘ohana are invited for a day of health education, community resources, and interactive keiki activities. Local health agencies will be in attendance to share about health services available to families. Some highlights include early head start enrollment assistance with Family Support Hawaiʻi, dental health education with Bay Clinic, keiki car seat facts with Hawaii Child Passenger Safety Program, and electrical safety with Hawai‘i Electric Light. Free health screenings for participants include vision exams with Project Vision Hawaiʻi, hearing screenings, and immunization information. The event also offers locally-sourced healthy food, music, keiki performances, zumba, and more. All event activities are free and open to the public. 
Last summer’s First Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival, also generously funded by OHA, launched the new Hui Mālama Healthy Hāpai prenatal program that provides expecting parents with hands-on learning about maternity health and wellness practices. The free five-session program is offered island-wide in Hilo, North Hawaiʻi, Kona, Kaʻū, and Puna areas throughout the year. At this year’s Mālama Nā Keiki Festival, the Healthy Hāpai program facilitator, Leila Ryusaki, will lead a breastfeeding mini-class and host a prenatal panel with specialists in lactation and breastfeeding, birthing strategies, and women’s health. 
Hui Mālama Executive Director Louis Hao stated, “Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi is thankful to OHA for their generosity, attention to the needs of our people, and efforts for the community. With their support, we are able to bring more health education and resources to Hawaiʻi Island. Mahalo nui loa.” With the generous support of the OHA ‘Ahahui Grants program, Hui Mālama will further help the community to develop a strong network of prenatal and postnatal support, and learn best practices to prevent potential health problems, raise healthy happy children, strengthen family, and fulfill the OHA and Hui Mālama shared goal of a strong and healthy Hawaiian nation. 
About Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi
Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi is dedicated to improving the wellness & well-being of Hawaiʻi Island so that all residents can Live Longer & Feel Better, Together. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Incorporated in 1991, Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi serves as the Native Hawaiian Health Care System for Hawaiʻi Island, providing community health and education services with the sole objective of improving access to quality healthcare, education, and services for the people of Hawaiʻi County. For more information, visit www.hmono.org
About OHA
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is a unique, independent state agency established through the Hawai‘i State Constitution and statutes to advocate for the betterment of conditions of all Native Hawaiians, with a Board of Trustees elected by the voters of Hawai‘i. OHA is guided by a vision and mission to ensure the perpetuation of the culture, to protect the entitlements of Native Hawaiians, and to build a strong and health Hawaiian people and nation. For more information, visit www.oha.org