The Ulu Network was formed by the Department’s Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research as a community coalition dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Peoples. The Network includes over 30 community organizations with over 70 sites spanning across Hawaiʻi and reaching into California. The Network includes all 14 federally qualified community health centers in Hawaiʻi, all five federally established Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, two partners in California, several rural community hospitals, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and grass-root organizations. Ulu Network organizations and the Department often partner and collaborate on program development, research, and training activities.
This link will provide you with educational materials that can be used as community resources.
Ola Hou I Ka Hula: Hula for Hypertension Education Program materials
Ola Hou I ka Hula is a culturally relevant heart health education. The education is divided into three modules: Hypertension 101, Medicines, and Healthy Eating.
Akaʻula PSAs
The Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research and Akaʻula School collaborated in the development of three public service announcements, which addresses the consequences of diabetes, or encourages active lifestyles and healthy eating.
Land, Food, and Health
Land, Food, and Health is a culturally tailored diabetes self-management education program for Native Hawaiians and Pacific People which also includes a gardening component.
Malama Puʻuwai Nui
Malama Puʻuwai Nui is a culturally tailored heart education program with a focus on heart failure. Participants receive four heart health education modules.
Malama Puʻuwai Iki
Malama Puʻuwai Iki is an education program that consists of culturally developed material to be delivered to patients in a clinical setting. The material is based on Malama Puʻuwai Nui, and is a brochure given to patients with heart failure.
Eat Local Hawaiʻi Plate
Remember the Food Pyramid? Well…that was recently flattened into a plate! The new “food pyramid” is now called USDA “Choose My Plate” which is designed to help people more closely approximate—on a plate—the daily, healthy amounts of food to eat in each food group. Here in Hawaiʻi we are going one step further with the “My Eat Local Hawaiʻi Plate” which is designed to help people choose healthy, locally grown foods.
Pacific Island Food Models
A comprehensive list of “local” and ethnic food models that complement Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander palates was compiled in April 2006 after an extensive review of commercially available food model products. The three on-line vendors featured in this list are NASCO, Replica Food Models, and Fake Foods, Inc. All of the information needed for ordering the listed food models is available in this document.
Island Food Model Special Order Form and Nutrition Information
Food models are important tools for teaching proper nutrition and portion size; however, it is often quite difficult to find food models that complement the palates of our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. The Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research at the University of Hawaiʻi formed an ad hoc committee consisting of community-based dieticians, nurses, community health workers, and others to address this need. After months of extensive review, discussion, and vendor evaluation, 10 island food items were selected for custom replication. All 10 of these island food models are now available for order directly from the vendor. The nutritional facts and portion size information for each of the items is included. Partial support for this project was provided by the HMSA Foundation.
E-Resource List on Diabetes Education, Nutrition, and self-care for Native Hawaiians and Pacific People
This directory provides short descriptions and website links to health education materials for Pacific Peoples developed by the Department and other organizations.
Diabetes 101 and Heart 101 Presentations
Diabetes 101 and Heart 101 are training seminars developed as foundational health education for community health workers, case managers, and peer counselors serving Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Peoples.
Cardiometabolic Health Education Materials
These brochures were created by the Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research and Ulu Network members for personal or professional use.