117. Native Hawaiian Health with Dr. Landon Opunui

Episode Summary

Dr. Landon Opunui is a naturopathic doctor and Native Hawaiian. He’s dedicated his career to helping improve the health–and healthcare delivery–and is the medical and executive director of Nā Puʻuwai, one of five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, which serves the islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. Dr. Opunui becomes the first Naturopathic Physician in history to be promoted to the position of medical director within a Native Hawaiian Health Care System.

 

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Key Takeaways To Tune In For

• [1:50] Issues that Native Hawaiians typically face in the medical community
• [3:39] The cultural and social determinants that impact Indigenous communities
• [7:09] How Native Hawaiians view their health through the spiritual well being
• [8:15] Traditional Hawaiian diet compared to modern Hawaiian diet
• [10:10] The rates of diabetes for Native Hawaiians
• [13:50] There are more Native Hawaiians living on the continental US than there are in the state of Hawaii
• [15:02] Dr. Opunui’s experience moving away from Hawaii to go to medical school
• [19:22] Native Hawaiian world views on the modern healthcare approach
• [23:22] The best providers for the communities they serve are from the communities they serve
• [28:58] The integration of traditional healing into modern medicine
• [31:00] Top 3 wishes for the Hawaiian healthcare system

Resources talked about in this episode

• Website: www.napuuwai.org
• Social media handles: IG: @napuuwai