Huli Au a Mauliola – Kauka hui’s own oli
Next practice:
- FRIDAY, March 11, 2016
- 5:30 – 8:00 PM
- JABSOM, MEB #304
Meanwhile listen to the audio here.
Ho‘olewa for Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell on Saturday, March 12th
John A. Burns School of Medicine
651 Ilalo Street, Kaka‘ako, O‘ahu
9:00 AM Ho‘okipa – Visitation
11:00 AM Services
12:30 PM Nā Hali‘a Aloha – Remembrances
Parking is available in three nearby lots. Download map.

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Online tributes may be shared here. Donations may be made to the Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell Proposed Endowed Chair in Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (account #127-2010-2). Checks may be made payable to UH Foundation or click here to donate online.
Aloha ‘Āina Mural exhibit at JABSOM
Tribute to Kupuna Kauka Richard Kekuni Akana Blaisdell
We have lost a great healer, teacher, professor, mentor and friend with the passing of Dr. Richard Kekuni Akana Blaisdell .
We honor his contributions to raising the awareness of health among Kānaka Maoli. He returned to Hawai‘i in the 1960s to help develop the medical school at the University of Hawai‘i. He was a leader in gathering Native Hawaiian health data for the Commission on the Status of Native Hawaiians and then E Ola Mau, which then led to the passage of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act in 1988 and the establishment of the five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program and Papa Ola Lōkahi. He was also instrumental in establishing Nā Pu‘uwai and Ke Ola Mamo, developing the first Hawaiian diet program on Molokai, founding ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka, establishing the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the UH medical school, the Native Hawaiian IRB, and so much more. He mentored hundreds of physicians who have graduated from UH since 1975, as well as others in public health, epidemiology and other related fields. Along the way, he connected health disparities to the root causes of other social and economic disparities, and has been a clear and committed leader in the movement for parity, justice and Hawaiian independence.
Here is a tribute to Kekuni delivered May 15, 2015 at the Kihei Ceremony by Dr. Martina Leialoha Kamaka, President of ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka.
Aloha mai kākou…mahalo Ke Akua, nā aumakua, nā kupuna here tonight, both seen and unseen. Aloha to you the new kanaka maoli graduates of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and to the family, friends and teachers who support you.
As the current president of the ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka, the Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians, I am honored to share a bit with you about Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell and why he is important to us as Native Hawaiian doctors and to the legacies that we will leave behind.
Kekuni is surrounded by 4 kanaka graduates of the first class of 1975 on his 89th birthday: Drs. Bill Ahuna, Nathan Wong, Richard Lee-Ching and Noa Emmett Aluli. 2014.
You have just heard the oli and experienced a glimpse of the love, gratitude and admiration that we, your faculty, mentors and future colleagues have for this man. It is important that you understand why. I suspect most of you have never met him but you have heard his name mentioned in the halls of JABSOM, the hospitals or by Native Hawaiian physicians you know. Although you may not have directly benefited from his teaching or experienced his passion for medicine or the issues that affect our people, you are ALL indirect beneficiaries of his vision, his teachings and his passions. You are all here partly as a result of his efforts. In fact, most of you were trained at one point or another by someone that Kekuni himself trained. Also, you will all work in our communities enlightened by the path that he has laid before you.
Kekuni Blaisdell is first and foremost, a proud Native Hawaiian man. He is a father, a grandfather, a scholar and an activist who became the first Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi School of Medicine. But most importantly, he is a man who cares deeply for our people.
In 1985, he co-drafted the E Ola Mau Native Hawaiian Health Report, along with a few others, which documented for the first time, on a national level, the sorry state of Native Hawaiian health attributable to, if I may borrow from a previous president, the grim social, economic and landless political plight of our people. This report was done in preparation for the 1988 Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act approved by the US congress which authorized the establishment of Papa Ola Lōkahi, the five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems and recognized traditional Native Hawaiian healers. As an outgrowth of that work, he was instrumental in the founding of the ʻAhahui o nā Kauka.
I would like to show you our logo as it symbolizes what Kekuni means to us as kanaka maoli kauka and what our kuleana is. The water pouring out of the ʿumeke symbolizes not only healing but the sharing of knowledge. The hands receiving the water symbolizes our patients, our communities and of course, ourselves. Note the hands holding the ʿumeke. Those hands are Kekuni’s hands. He was the model not only for our logo, but for an example, a model, of how to live our lives as physicians. He was a master of science, a teacher, a healer and an activist who passionately believed that the path to health for our people lay in regaining our sovereignty and connection to this sacred ʿāina.
I would like to end by sharing my personal stories with Kekuni. I remember hearing about Kekuni in the first days of medical school. I was terrified of him. He had a reputation for being a brilliant Native Hawaiian hematologist who was strict and expected nothing short of excellence. I was scared to take his class and I’ve joked with him about this over the years.
Happily I can report that yes, he expected excellence but he also had an incredible passion for medicine and aloha for his students. Who can forget the Five Rules of Chairman Blaisdell? These rules are pertinent not only for students, but also for all physicians as we continue our work and path of life-long learning:
- The Patient comes first
- Bring Science to the bedside
- Doctor means teacher
- Hawaii, Ka Paeʻāina, is a very special place
- Have fun (with what you’re doing)
I’ve also learned that he has a fun and rascal side. No one who attended the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress in 2008 will ever forget his T-shirt key note presentation!
My Dad, who is 90 years old, loves telling me stories about how he and Kekuni (along with another Hawaiian soldier), when on R&R during the Korean War, walked down the middle of the main street in the Giza, loudly singing Hawaiian songs and no one dared to stop them!
I’ve been blessed over the years to call Kekuni my teacher, my mentor and yes, my friend. I hope you all take the opportunity today to introduce yourselves and thank Kekuni for the legacy that he has left for you and for our people. He has made your work harder, and in some ways easier, by pointing out our kuleana to our people, but also showing that we can call on our kupuna, our communities, our culture and each other for help and support. Remember to follow his rules for life as a kauka, honor your patient, this place and it’s cultures, continue your learning, teach, have fun in your work and I’ll add a new one here, if you know you are on the right path, walk it, even if it’s in the middle of the street, let your voice be heard and don’t let anyone stop you!
On a final note, no one in my generation will forget the ways that Kekuni ends meetings, cameras and song and a charge. So, I have several requests….first, please stay to take a picture with Kekuni at the of this event and two, that you all join me in singing the last three line of the chorus from the mele, All Hawaii Stand Together.
Finally I will end with the charge that he has given many of us who have been taught, mentored, worked with, or just been associated with Kekuni, “Ho‘ōla lāhui! Build the nation!”
‘Onipa‘a kākou, ‘onipa‘a kākou
A lanakila, na kini ē
E ola, e ola, e ola na kini ē
May Nālani and Mitch Kamakani and their families find comfort in knowing his legacy will live on.
- Kekuni and Emmett Aluli. 2003
- Father and daughter Drs. Nalani Blaisdell-Brennan and Kekuni Blaisdell. 2005, Ihilani Resort.
- Kekuni shares a laugh with John Keola Lake, 2005
- Kekuni is surrounded by 4 kanaka graduates of the fist class of 1975: Drs. Bill Ahuna, Nate Wong, Richard Lee-Ching and Noa Emmett Aluli. 2013
- Serenaded by Dr. Rick Akau and Dr. Mel Chang. 2013.
- Kauka in the hale halawai at Hakioawa, Kaho’olawe. 2000.
- Kekuni was the keynote speaker at PRIDoC (Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress) in Australia in 2004.
- Kauka executive board and staff meet at Kekuni’s hale: daughter Dr. Nalani Blaisdell-Brennan, Kim Kuulei Birnie, Dr. Dee-Ann Carpenter, Dr. Miriam Chang. 2014
- Kekuni’s keynote speech at PRIDoC was his famous “T-shirt slideshow.”
- At Kalaupapa Airport: Kekuni, Dr. Tom Au, Dr. Bill Ahuna, Roy Inouye, Dr. Marjorie Mau, Karen Young, Dr. Fred Dodge. August 2004.
- Drs. Chiyome L. Fukino and Kekuni Blaisdell 2005
- Dr. Dee-Ann Carpenter, Dr. Kalani Brady, student Po’okela Hanson, Dr. Marjorie Mau & Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell. McVeigh Hall, Kalaupapa. 2004
- Kekuni, Dr. Ted Mala and friends. Anchorage, AK, March 2002.
- Jason, Diane and baby Paloma, with Kekuni, kumu hula Snowbird Bento, Dr. Nate Wong, Dr. Ben Young, 2005
- Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, Dr. Dee-Ann Carpenter, Kumu John Keola Lake, Dr. Kalani Brady, Dr. Lehua Concepcion, Keahi Renaud, Dr. Fred Dodge. Kawaihae, Jan 2004
- Kekuni with Dr. Dileep Bal. Kaua’i, 2005.
- Kekuni, Kumu Keola Lake NPS ranger – Pu‘ukoholā, January 2004.
Kauka can educate and advocate around Hawaiian health data
“Educate and advocate”
This plea was offered to the attendees at the annual meeting last week around the collection, analysis and dissemination of health data for Native Hawaiians by JoAnn Tsark and Hardy Spoehr.
- Who We Are, The Struggle Continues, presentation to Ahahui o na Kauka, 2/6/2016
- Disaggregation of API and the AAPI Identifier, H. Spoehr, 2008
- Public Law 111-148
- Combined cancer statistics mask the truth for Native Hawaiians, POL news release, 1/28/2016
The topic arose as a result of the release of American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2016, which includes a Special Section: Cancer in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The special section combines Asian American data with that of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, drawing inaccurate conclusions, such as declaring that cancer is the #1 cause of death, when for Native Hawaiians the leading killer is heart disease.
The presenters, veterans of the Hawaiian health movement, presented to make the membership aware, and recommended kauka could educate and advocate on committees, councils and wherever members have influence.
Practice Transformation Network for Hawai’i’s rural clinicians
February 8, 2016
Dear colleagues,
This is a time for tremendous change for physicians and health care providers. We are particularly concerned about our primary care and rural medicine colleagues. The boards of ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka and the National Council for Asian and Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) would like you to be aware of some important free resources that are available from CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to aid with the transitions being required of your practices over the next couple of years in converting to a value-based payment system by 2019.
As an overview, CMS awarded more than $685 million to 20 national and regional collaborative health care practice transformation networks (PTNs) and 10 Support and Alignment Networks (SANs) to provide technical assistance to help train and prepare 140,000 clinicians with innovative tools and support. At this point in time, the training and support are free!
However, you need to register before the end of February.
The PTN that is largely charged with covering Hawai‘i is the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium (Feb 2016 presentation). The contact person is Shannon Calhoun, scalhoun@nationalruralaco.com, NRACC PTN Regional Vice President for Hawaii, Southwest Region.
Please review the resources above. Time is of the essence as they are signing up practitioners and practices at this time. We want to make sure that everyone gets the support they need during this critical transition time.
Also, please note that the two boards have been working with a SAN, HealthCare Dynamics International, which has assisted in making contacts with the PTN assigned to Hawai‘i. The SAN has partnered with NCAPIP, National Medical Association and the National Hispanic Medical Association to assure their respective members, many in small urban or rural practices, don’t miss out on this opportunity. Its staff is also available for support and to help answer questions. Please contact Ms. Jan Kelley at HealthCare Dynamics.
Aloha,
Martina L. Kamaka, MD, President, ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka; Director, NCAPIP
Dee-Ann L. Carpenter, MD, Secretary, ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka; Member, Hawaii IPA
“Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing” – features young Hawaiian physicians
“Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing”
A Television Special Produced by Emme Tomimbang
in Partnership with Hawaii News Now
Honolulu, Hawaii –Aug. 3, 2015 – In the special, “Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing,” veteran Hawaii producer Emme Tomimbang tells the story of not only inspirational Kahanamoku scholars from the John A. Burns School of Medicine, but also Nadine Kahanamoku, the widow of legendary surfer and Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku. The hour long program will be broadcast exclusively on Hawaii News Now on KGMB.
Upon her death in 1997, Nadine Kahanamoku donated their entire estate to the John A. Burns School of Medicine to be used for scholarships awarded to medical students of Hawaiian ancestry. Since then, there have been over 80 Kahanamoku Scholars, each with his or her own story; each, in his or her own way, perpetuating the Kahanamoku legacy of healing.
“Through the couple’s single act of kindness, there is a single pebble in the pond, causing a ripple effect that changes the communities and the thousands of lives touched by this legacy of healing,” said Emme Tomimbang, president of EMME Inc. “It is a legacy of healing, a legacy of opportunity for medical scholars of Hawaiian ancestry and the communities they come to serve,” said Tomimbang. In this special we will see what few know and that is Nadine Kahanamoku’s extraordinary act of philanthropy and her special relationship with her husband Duke, who is regarded as Hawaii’s favorite son.
“We’re once again extraordinarily proud to be honoring the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku and his countless contributions to Hawaii by broadcasting this remarkable special production,” said Rick Blangiardi, General Manager of Hawaii News Now.
Emme Tomimbang and her team traveled statewide to visit with island physicians in their communities on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Dr. Haku Kahoano, also a Kahanamoku Scholar will serve as co-host with Emme.
As the John A. Burns School of Medicine celebrates its 50th Anniversary in July and Duke Kahanamoku celebrates the 125th Anniversary of his birth on August 24th, Hawaii News Now and EMME Inc. commemorate these milestone moments with an evening paying tribute to the Kahanamoku legacy with a double header on KGMB.
This project is PRESENTED BY BANK OF HAWAII
CO SPONSORED BY: Kaiser Permanente, Kapi‘olani Women’s & Children’s Medical Center and Queen’s Health Systems
with support from the Estate of the late Wayne Morris Corn
MONDAY, AUG. 24th on KGMB
8-9pm “Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaii’s Soul” (premiered in 2005) 9-10pm “Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing”
REBROADCAST: SATURDAY, AUG. 29th on KGMB
6-7pm “Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing”
A Kauka’s Kuleana
August 2015
Aloha kākou,
‘Ahahui o nā Kauka, the Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians, invites you to renew your membership, or join as a new member. ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka believes that physician leadership has a unique role in the shared goal to raise the health status of our people.
Our mission, to champion superior health care for all Native Hawaiians, has never been more critical. Native Hawaiians suffer the highest prevalence of chronic health illness including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Although Kānaka Maoli comprise 20-25% of the population, barely 3.2% of practicing physicians in Hawaiʻi are Kanaka Maoli. We have a way to go to achieve parity, and we can all do more to improve our community’s health by cultivating relationships with one another. The need to come together to provide care for our people is especially great on our neighbor islands where there are severe shortages of specialists and primary care physicians.
Hui pū, join us, in finding that space where Hawaiian physicians can not only care for our local people, but support and promote better health outcomes for the whole community through advocacy, leadership, education, mentorship, community service and collaboration. Cultural fellowship is also important to our growth as physicians and we plan to continue to offer huakaʻi throughout our pae ʻāina o Hawaiʻi.
In 1975, five UH graduates joined eleven other Hawaiian physicians in practice. Today, there are more than 300 kauka. We now have a critical mass who—collectively with our Ali‘i Trusts and their medical centers, the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Department of Health and its hospitals, and health insurers—can effect change.
It is a privilege to be a physician. Our kuleana is not only as doctors of medicine and healers, but as Kānaka. Our opportunity is now. Please join us in this mission.
We will be meeting on our islands to welcome new and returning members and to discuss our kuleana to our communities. Please join us!
E ola mau ka lāhui Hawaiʻi,
Marcus Kāwika Iwane, MD Noa Emmett Aluli, MD
John A. Burns School of Medicine, 2010 John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1975
Chair, Membership Committee Kauka Kupuna & Vice-President
“Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing” An Emme Tomimbang special featuring several kauka
“Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing”
A Television Special Produced by Emme Tomimbang
in Partnership with Hawaii News Now
Honolulu, Hawaii – July 29, 2015 – In the special, “Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing,” veteran Hawaii producer Emme Tomimbang tells the story of not only inspirational Kahanamoku scholars from the John A. Burns School of Medicine, but also Nadine Kahanamoku, the widow of legendary surfer and Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku. The hour long program will be broadcast exclusively on Hawaii News Now.
Upon her death in 1997, Nadine Kahanamoku donated their entire estate to the John A. Burns School of Medicine to be used for scholarships awarded to medical students of Hawaiian ancestry. Since then, there have been over 80 Kahanamoku Scholars, each with his or her own story; each, in his or her own way, perpetuating the Kahanamoku legacy of healing.
“Through the couple’s single act of kindness, there is a single pebble in the pond, causing a ripple effect that changes the communities and the thousands of lives touched by this legacy of healing,” said Emme Tomimbang, president of EMME Inc. “It is a legacy of healing, a legacy of opportunity for medical scholars of Hawaiian ancestry and the communities they come to serve,” said Tomimbang. In this special we will see what few know and that is Nadine Kahanamoku’s extraordinary act of philanthropy and her special relationship with her husband Duke, who is regarded as Hawaii’s favorite son.
“We’re once again extraordinarily proud to be honoring the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku and his countless contributions to Hawaii by broadcasting this remarkable special production,” said Rick Blangiardi, General Manager of Hawaii News Now.
Emme Tomimbang and her team traveled statewide to visit with island physicians in their communities on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Dr. Haku Kahoano, also a Kahanamoku Scholar, will serve as co-host with Emme.
As the John A. Burns School of Medicine celebrates its 50th Anniversary in July and Duke Kahanamoku celebrates the 125th anniversary of his birth on August 24th, Hawaii News Now and EMME Inc. commemorate these milestone moments with an evening paying tribute to the Kahanamoku legacy with a double header on KGMB.
This project is PRESENTED BY BANK OF HAWAII
CO SPONSORED BY: Hawaii Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanente, and The Queen’s Medical Center with support from the Estate of the late Wayne M. Corn.
MONDAY, AUG. 24th
8-9pm “Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaii’s Soul” (premiered in 2005) 9-10pm “Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing”
REBROADCAST: SATURDAY, AUG. 29th
6-7pm “Kahanamoku: A Legacy of Healing”
NEEDED – Medic for the MEGA Expedition
MEDIC required for month-long sail:
Role: primarily function as a medic on an emergency support vessel to the Mega Expedition fleet
Basic criteria:
– Stabilising trauma and keeping patients stable to get in reach of emergency air rescue.
– Advising crew on other vessels via VHF radio to diagnose problems and treating minor injuries
– Prepare the medical box on board.
– Sailing experience a plus.
– Preferably based in Hawaii (otherwise West Coast)
Dates: 29th of July through the 29th of August.
Departs: 1 August, Kewalo Harbor, Honolulu.
Yacht name: Swiftsure (68′ Nelson Marek)
Paid: $2,500 for the period.
Contact: megaexpedition@theoceancleanup.com or http://www.theoceancleanup.com/