Cultural Themes in Health, Illness, and Rehabilitation for Native Hawaiians

Increasing the cultural competency of health care providers requires an understanding of the cultural group being served. For Native Hawaiians, however, little is known about their participation in and views of rehabilitation. In this study, focus groups were conducted in which Native Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian rehabilitation professionals were asked to interpret utilization data and offer their perceptions of the rehabilitation experience of Native Hawaiians. Consistently noted were cultural values and traditions reflecting the importance of `aina (environment), `ohana (family), kuleana (specific responsibilities of family members), and kokua (mutual support and interdependence). Findings demonstrate the link between cultural values and health behaviors and provide guidelines that inform practice, policy, and research.