Page 6 - MidWeek - Nov 3, 2021

6 MIDWEEK NOVEMBER 3, 2021
Reflections Of Laulima
The late Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell dedicated his life to addressing Native Hawaiian health disparities.
What was it like being raised by a professor of medicine and acting chair of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Department of Ha- waiian Studies? Beyond the mandatory morning Hawaiian language drills, Papa Kekuni loved to read to us from Samu- el Kamakau. One Sunday, our lesson was about Kamehame- ha Nui, leadership and the building of Puʻukoholā heiau. Papa read to us in his low, so- norous voice, “When it came to the building of Puʻukoholā, no one, not even a tabu chief, was excused from the work of carrying stone. Kamehameha himself labored with the rest.”
No one was excused, Papa Kekuni restated, emphasizing the Hawaiian values of haʻa-
haʻa (humility), lōkahi (unity) and laulima (cooperation) are what make a great leader.
In May 2021, Native Ha- waiian doctors from ʻAhahui ʻO Nā Kauka film a #Get- Vaccinated PSA, funded by an anonymous kauka ʻōiwi donor.
Today, we are deeply in- debted to the frontline health care workers who have and continue to serve the lāhui during the COVID-19 pan- demic. It’s also inspiring to re- flect on how ‘ōiwi have risen to support our communities.
In July 2021, Dr. Gerard Akaka of The Queen’s Health Systems and the Native Ha- waiian health team support the return of the Merrie Monarch and the Prince Lot hula festi- vals by implementing COVID protocols and assisting with creating vaccination opportu- nities in rural areas.
It begins in March 2020. Gov. David Ige orders the first stay-at-home order. On a hot, sunny day, Diane Paloma of Lunalilo Home delivers meals to kūpuna during lockdown. Paloma comes to the home of her Kamehameha Schools seventh-grade teacher, Mrs. Kaneta, and is overwhelmed with emotion with this oppor- tunity to give back.
serving or employing Native Hawaiians. The program helps 38 small businesses remain open and disburses around $630,000, helping to keep 58 Native Hawaiians employed.
Come September 2021, Nāʻālehu Anthony and COVID Pau gather Native Hawaiian leaders to urge the community to stay healthy amid a dangerous surge in cases.
In June 2020, Dreana Reyes of Lili‘uokalani Trust launch- es the COVID-19 Small Busi- ness Support program to serve small businesses owned by,
That same month, Kim Kuʻulei Birnie of Papa Ola Lōkahi convenes the first NHPI 3R Communications meeting to coordinate incom- ing data from the health de- partment with outgoing health messages to the community.
It is now November 2021. The malihini virus is still pres- ent across the pae ‘āina as nu- merous ‘ōiwi — too many to name — continue to support their communities.
Dr. Nalani Blaisdell-Brennan echoes the teachings of her father, the late Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell, emphasizing the Hawaiian values of ha‘aha‘a (humility), lōkahi (unity) and laulima (cooperation) are what make a great leader. PHOTOS COURTESY DR. NALANI BLAISDELLBRENNAN
In November 2020, it be- comes clear that messages resonate best with the lāhui when shared through a cul- tural lens. Kau‘i Burgess of Kamehameha Schools initi- ates weekly meetings of the NHPI Collective COVID-19 Awareness and Prevention Campaign, gathering organi- zations to coordinate messag- ing and kōkua one another.
Dr. Nalani Blaisdell-Bren- nan (Kamehameha Schools ’80) is the daughter of the late Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell (Kamehameha Schools ’ 42) and Alumni of the Year in 1974. Both have dedicated their lives to addressing Na- tive Hawaiian health dispar- ities. Dr. Blaisdell-Brennan is a board member of ʻAhahui ʻO Nā Kauka, president of the Hawaiʻi Psychiatric Medical Association and a 15-year veteran staff physician at Waiʻanae Coast Comprehen- sive Health Center.
In August 2020, Mehana- okala Hind of the Council for Native Hawaiian Ad- vancement works with fel- low respected kumu hula to institute a monthlong kapu to encourage mauli ola (health and well-being).
When ‘ōiwi leaders come together, collaboratively, to serve our lāhui, side-by-side, our kūpuna, our mākua and our keiki are in good hands.
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