Press Releases

HILO, HI – March 1, 2020 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) announces the 2020 series of Laʻau Lapaʻau Workshops for Hawaiʻi island. The workshops provide a first-hand opportunity to learn about traditional Hawaiian healing practices, including an introduction into laʻau lapaʻau, hoʻoponopono, lomilomi ha ha, and laʻau kahea. Workshops are presented by Poʻokela Ikaika Dombrigues who emphasizes the importance of traditional wisdom as a way to uplift and heal people of Hawaiʻi.

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HILO, HI – October 4, 2019 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʿŌiwi (Hui Mālama) is pleased to announce a two-year grant award of $307,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Community Grant. This grant award supports the Uplifting the Health of the Hawaiian Nation by Perpetuating Culture and Strengthening Identity Project. The goal of this project is to provide pathways and introduce the basics of various cultural practices.

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HILO, HI – March 4, 2019 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) announces the 2019 series of Lā‘au Lapaʻau Workshops for Hawaiʻi island. The “Hoʻomana Ke Ola Nā Kānaka ʻŌiwi” (empowering the health of the Hawaiian people) workshops provide the opportunity to learn about the ancient Hawaiian healing practices of Lā‘au Lapaʻau, Hoʻoponopono, Lomilomi Ha Ha, and Lā‘au Kahea. The workshops are led by Poʻokela Ikaika Dombrigues who emphasizes the importance of empowering people to learn to improve their health with a focus on mind, body, and spirit, “Illnesses stem from stress, depression, cultural conflict, and lifestyle choices. The goal is to remind us of resources all around us that can help people take better care of themselves.”  Continue Reading

HILO, HI – December 13, 2018 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) is pleased to announce the expansion of their health services to include a medical and behavioral health program on Hawaiʻi island. Joining the Hui Mālama staff to form the medical team are: Kaʻohimanu Dang Akiona, MD; Gaku Yamaguchi, MD; Ikaika Moreno, MSN, NP-C; Donna Dennerlein, LCSW; and Stacy Haumea, RD, CDE.

Executive Director Louis Hao shares, “We are in a time of hoʻihoʻi, a time to replenish, restore, renew, and rebuild. It has been a vision of ours to reestablish medical services. There is a need in the community for these services. We strive to help make the community healthier and appreciate the opportunity to serve our people.” Continue Reading

HILO, HI – June 7, 2018 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) is pleased to announce a $6,500 award from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) ‘Ahahui Grants program. This grant award supports the Second Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival and its objectives to increase prenatal care, improve birth outcomes, and enrich positive parenting skills of Hawai‘i Island ‘ohana.

The Second Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival will be held at Naʻālehu Park in Ka‘ū on Saturday, July 28, 2018, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Expecting mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ‘ohana are invited for a day of health education, community resources, and interactive keiki activities. Continue Reading

HILO, HI – February 20, 2018 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) announces the 2018 series of Laʻau Lapaʻau Workshops for Hawaiʻi Island. The “Ola Pono Ola Loa” (live right, long life) workshops provide the opportunity to learn about the ancient Hawaiian healing practices of Laʻau Lapaʻau, Hoʻoponopono, Lomilomi Ha Ha, and Laʻau Kahea. The workshops are led by Poʻokela Ikaika Dombrigues who emphasizes the importance of helping people learn to mālama their bodies, “People are getting sick. We need to share this knowledge and help people understand traditional healing practices so they have the choice to use it for the care of themselves and their ʻohana.” Continue Reading

HILO, HI – February 7, 2018 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) is pleased to announce a new class starting March 2018. Healthy at Any Size was developed in response to the need for a holistic approach to health focusing on nutrition, body image, increased movement, and personalized path to health. In this 6-week course, participants will learn how to use biological cues to identify hunger, fullness, and satisfaction, develop a personalized way of eating, explore ways to appreciate their body, develop fun ways to move for increased vitality, and identify what truly nourishes them. Continue Reading

HILO, HI – January 25, 2018 – Cigna Health and Life Insurance held its Gold Circle Conference in May 2017 on Hawaiʻi Island. Part of Cigna's focus during the conference was fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility by donating to a local agency. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) was chosen to be the recipient of their health-focused fundraiser. The conference's 750 attendees participated in a fitness activity where each minute of their fitness activity resulted in $2 toward Hui Mālama. $10,000 was raised and donated to Hui Mālama. Continue Reading

HILO, HI – January 3, 2018 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) announces new Healthy Hāpai Prenatal Program for Hawaiʻi Island. Expecting mothers are learning about pregnancy, postpartum, & positive parenting education. The free five session program is offered island-wide in Hilo, Waimea, Kona, Kaʻū, and Puna areas. The engaging and educational curriculum is designed to help mothers throughout pregnancy and after birth. Continue Reading

HILO, HI – November 27, 2017 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (Hui Mālama) responds in support of recent blood pressure guideline updates from the American Heart Association lowering threshold for high blood pressure to 130/80. Previous guidelines listed threshold as 140/90. With the changes, nearly half of the United States are now identified as having high blood pressure. Continue Reading

HILO, HI – July 11, 2017 – Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (HMONO) is pleased to announce an award from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) ‘Ahahui Grants program. The grant of $6,500 will support The First Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival. The event addresses the need for more prenatal education and aims to promote prenatal, children’s, and family health. The Mālama Nā Keiki Festival will be held at Naʻālehu Park, Ka‘ū, Hawai‘i Island, on Saturday, August 26, 2017, from 9am to 1pm. Participants can enjoy a festival of health education, community resources, and interactive keiki activities. The festival is FREE and open to the public. First-time mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ‘ohana from across the county are encouraged to attend. Continue Reading

HILO, HI - March 2, 2017 - Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi will host “Ola Pono Ola Loa”  Native Hawaiian Traditional Lāʻau Lapaʻau Workshops throughout Hawaiʻi Island beginning March 11, 2017 at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo. Workshops will feature Poʻokela Ikaika Dombrigues and his insight into the healing wisdom of Hoʻoponopono, Lāʻau Lapaʻau, Lomilomi Ha Ha, and Lāʻau Kahea. Continue Reading