Native Hawaiian Interdisciplinary Health Program: The Virtual Move

Overview: Native Hawaiian Interdisciplinary Health (NHIH) is a program for Native Hawaiian BSW Field and pre-health students that nurtures a deeper understanding of community healthcare through cultural-based service learning. The pandemic required the program to move to a virtual format. Presenter will discuss the pros and cons of the modality conversion.Proposal text: Native Hawaiian Interdisciplinary Health (NHIH) is a program for Native Hawaiian Bachelor of Social Work Field Education and pre-health students (NHSPM premed students and social work students) that nurtures a deeper understanding of community healthcare through cultural-based service learning. Workshops are led by Native Hawaiian traditional healers, faculty and staff with the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence (NHCOE) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the University of Hawaiʻi Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health. Interdisciplinary team work encourages students to learn the impact of effective teamwork on a patient’s health. Participation in NHIH provides an avenue for BSW students to supplement their field experience with learning opportunities to which they may not otherwise have access. Students learn about Native Hawaiian values and ways of knowing while collaboratively working with and exchanging interdisciplinary knowledge with pre-med students.

Native Hawaiian values, history, and culture is at the core of the program. Cultural specialists in traditional Native Hawaiian healing arts, such as ho’oponopono (spiritual family peacemaking), la’au lapa ‘au (herbal medicine) and lomilomi (traditional massage), as well as leaders in the Native Hawaiian community, serve as guest faculty and provide cultural mentorship. This project's importance aligns with Thompson School’s mission: “...The principal responsibility is the generation, transmission, and application of knowledge for the global enterprise with special attention to Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and Asian populations in our state and region;” and with the Social Work Department’s strategic priority, Hawaiian Place of Learning. Pre-pandemic, the NHIH was all in-person and based in community worksites, which was a major factor in the success of the program. When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, the program moved to a virtual format. The challenge of maintaining the authenticity of the program in a virtual platform, was no small task. The presenter will review feedback from the students and presenters and the pros and cons of continuing a culturally-based interdisciplinary project in a virtual setting. While the modality of a virtual environment is not ideal for NHIH, it did allow for a safe learning environment for both students and our cultural experts. Moving forward, the project looks to include both in-person and virtual modalities.