Why is the University of Hawaii not offering courses in International Law? Are they being dictated by the Federal Government while in the process of stealing our lands?Read more…
Raw for Thirty, whose mission it is to bring together people in a Movemement to Reverse Diabetes Naturally through the spreading of educational resources on nutrition, has named April 25th to be Reversing Diabetes Action Day *.According to the 2007 Hawai‘i Health Survey, over 90,900 people have diabetes in Hawai‘i. Although there are other factors involved, there is a well-established link between good health and decreased susceptibility to diabetes. The 2007 American Diabetes Association Position Statement is just one source that asserts that beneficial nutrition therapy is an important part of diabetes prevention and intervention: Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes. So on this day, we especially advocate an evaluation of diet and exercise regimens. Additionally, lā‘au lapa‘au classes can help identify other medicinal plants used for diabetes. If you're interested in learning more, check out the classes at UH Mānoa for the Fall 2009 semester. There are also a number of lā‘au lapa‘au classes offered elsewhere.*Please note that we are not endorsing any products sold by Raw for 30 or any of their affiliates. We do support an action day to reverse diabetes naturally. In addition to their website, the organization's press release is available here. Another, more well-known diabetes awareness day, World Diabetes Day, is celebrated on November 14.Finally, as we reflect on overcoming diabetes in our society, please consider lending your support to the following event:‘Ohana Concert for Janell ArakiThis is a fundraising effort to help Janell and Darren Araki in their battle against the rare disease “Calciphylaxis“ that is jeopardizing their ‘ohana. The goal is to raise awareness of Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and Calciphylaxis while raising money to help with the cost of Janell's ongoing healthcare. They hope to bring agencies and people together in an effort to combine strengths, raise awareness, overcome disease, and assist in medical treatments.This is a family event at the Aloha Tower featuring Hawai‘i's best local musicians such as: Nā Leo, Weldon Kekauoha, Kapena, Vaihi, Kupaoa, Mauna Lua, and much more . . .Lots of prizes, raffles, food, and beverages will be available. Bring the entire family and come help a very worthy cause at the same time!Sunday, May 3, 20092:00pm - 10:00pmThe Waterfront (formerly Kapono's), Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Drive$20 donation, ages 12 and Under are Free!For ticket information contact KAHAKU REIMANN @ 808-864-1638 or DARREN ARAKI @ 808-479-0606Parking Details: $5 at Aloha Tower Marketplace or across the street--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information:Name: Darren Araki or Kahaku ReimannPhone: (808) 479-0606Alternate Phone: (808) 864-1638Email: theplacetobeproductions@yahoo.comWebsite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calciphylaxis--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Information accessed at http://hawaiieventsonline.com/quicksearch.php?eventID=16082To read more:Honolulu MagazineStar BulletinExaminerK5---------------------------------------------------------------------------------More food for thought in a April 15 article from the Guardian News: Experimental stem cell treatment an alternative to insulin for diabetes
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Hawaiian herbal healing kept alive at universityby Leah Gouker, Ka Leo Contributing WriterIssue date: 10/12/05 Section: NewsThe Center for Hawaiian Studies has the only curriculum in the nation that has institutionalized a traditional healing practice.Levon Ohai began teaching lā`au lapa`au, the Hawaiian practice of herbal healing, at UHM in 2001. "What we're offering here is one of a kind," he said."[It's] a process of restoration," Ohai said.Uala Lenta teaches the introductory course. She was raised in south Kona, where her mother regularly used Hawaiian and other herbal remedies. Lenta has been learning the practice of lā`au lapa`au from Ohai for the last four years.Lenta's class involves identifying the plants and their characteristics, a skill needed before students move into Ohai's advanced classes."I try to practice as much as I can because the more you practice, the better you get," said Lenta, who believes the craft should be used in each students personal life. "It is one thing in saying 'this plant is good for this,' but you can say 'yeah I used it and it works.'""The only way to preserve Hawaiian culture is to practice and take action," Lenta said. "The only way to keep the language alive is to speak it, so the only way to keep lā`au lapa`au alive is to practice and teach it. So that's exactly what this is."Ohai said that teaching lā`au lapa`au at UH has its problems."You can't do it the way it was really done, but at least there is some semblance of it here," he said.Lenta agreed that it can be difficult to teach lā`au lapa`au, which is as much spiritual as it is physical, in the university setting."Usually there is just one teacher with just one haumana [student], who usually trains for years," she said. "This way it can get passed on to more people."Graduate student Anna Holt is enrolled in the Hawaiian Medicinal Herbs introductory course. She says the opportunity to learn lā`au lapa`au serves as a reminder."For Hawaiian people, it's important to remember the way that people used to heal themselves, and they're still applicable," she said. "It just reinforces the knowledge that Hawaiian people have and used to have. I think, like anything, you can't let anything be forgotten."Anthony Ortiz, a plant pathology graduate student, said he loves Lenta's class. "I think it's really important to practice traditional methods of life, period," he said. Ortiz often uses his knowledge of herbs to heal himself. "People are always getting sick, or if you're like me, always getting cuts and bruises," he said. "Usually if I get hurt, there's something right next to me to cure me."Ohai said he is very thankful to the university for making this opportunity possible. "Its objective is to share the knowledge," he said. "That's what the students like - anything that's new. That's progress, that's progression to me.""It's been received very well out here by the students," Ohai said. "Most of them come from a range of backgrounds: medical, botany, biology, nursing and broader areas like engineering and English."Lenta has 42 students in her class although the number of student places available is 30. "I don't want to turn anyone away if they want to learn," Lenta said. "This subject is so personalized and I want to work one-on-one with everyone, but it is difficult."Ohai was born and raised on Kaua`i. His grandfather passed the lā`au lapa`au knowledge down to him, and he comes from a long family line of practitioners. Although he is teaching fulltime at UH, he continues to practice."I get calls every week," he said. Most of his patients are people he doesn't know personally. "It's just by word of mouth, probably.""We don't deal with treatment; we deal with healing and cures," Ohai said. "If you know what to take, how much to take and when to take - those are the three important questions."Ohai says people tend to associate price with quality when it comes to medicine. "But it is not so with the herbs. The herbs are true and honest," he said. "If you take it, you will be healed."Andrew Affleck contributed to this article.
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