{"id":139652,"date":"2021-04-19T13:25:41","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T23:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=139652"},"modified":"2021-08-24T10:01:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T20:01:26","slug":"native-hawaiian-healers-pandemic-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/04\/19\/native-hawaiian-healers-pandemic-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Native Hawaiian healers share ways to deal with pandemic stress"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Ti<\/p>\n

In ancient Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, k\u0101naka ʻ\u014diwi (Native Hawaiians) turned to nature and spiritual elements to treat ailments, injuries and evoke overall well-being. It\u2019s a method of healing called lāʻau<\/span> lapaʻau<\/span>, a tradition still practiced today and taught at University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To help address COVID 19-induced stress and anxiety, the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Counseling and Student Development Center<\/a> (CSDC<\/abbr>) and Native Hawaiian Student Services<\/a> (NHSS<\/abbr>) will feature a live presentation with Native Hawaiian healers Keoki Baclayon<\/strong>, a lāʻau<\/span> lapaʻau<\/span> instructor at Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span>, Lomilomi expert (Hawaiian massage) Wesley Sen<\/strong> and Jodie Leslie<\/strong>, a registered dietitian.<\/p>\n

The livestream event, He Ola: Practicing Hawaiian Wellness During the Time of COVID, will be held on Friday, April 23, at 4 p.m. on Zoom. The presentation will focus on ways to integrate Indigenous practices to alleviate mental health concerns, diet and nutrition.<\/p>\n

The virtual session is free and open to the public, and registration is available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“We are very blessed to have these guest speakers discuss their specific practices in Hawaiian wellness, especially during this vital time of promoting overall health,” said NHSS<\/abbr> Co-curricular Specialist Kyle Help<\/strong>. “With this panel, we hope to not only inform the UH<\/abbr> community of the importance of Ola and Hawaiian wellness, but introduce as a resource and highlight k\u0101naka that specialize in these sustaining cultural practices.”<\/p>\n

Help will open the presentation with mele pule (prayer chant), He Ola, to revive physical and spiritual well-being.<\/p>\n

“During a time of collective emotional exhaustion due to the pandemic, we are grateful for the opportunity to facilitate this event that addresses the importance of integrating cultural-sustaining practices with mental health. We invite our local and campus community, as well as faculty, staff, and students at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa to take part in this opportunity for collective healing,” said Allyson Tanouye<\/strong>, CSDC<\/abbr> director and chief psychologist.<\/p>\n