Hospital Hosting Native Hawaiian Medicine Seminar

North Hawai’i Community Hospital. NHCH file courtesy image.

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital will host a Native Hawaiian medicine seminar for healthcare providers and the public on Monday, Aug. 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the hospitalʻs Mauna Kea-Mauna Loa room.

The free event, entitled “Western Legislative Impacts on Traditional Medical Practice,” will be presented by Helen Wong Smith.

“Hawai’i’s indigenous culture and ethnic diversity have contributed to unique laws that accommodate culturally based medical practices,” said Smith. “The presentation will discuss the demands for laws which addressed cultural medical practices such as lā’au lapa’au, and lomilomi, as well as federal recognition of our aboriginal medical traditions.”

Smith is the executive director of the Kaua‘i Historical Society and has a degree in Hawaiian studies and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Hawai‘i. She has worked as an archivist for Queen’s Medical Center and the Pacific Island Network of the National Park Service.

For more information, call Liana Honda of the North Hawai’i Community Hospital Native Hawaiian Health Program at (808) 881-4432.