Kūkulu Kumuhana: Well-being Through a Native Hawaiian Lens
Well-being feeds, and is fed by, many streams. Native Hawaiian perspectives of well-being emphasize relationships, interconnections, and balance. Kūkulu Kumuhana is a culturally grounded, community-driven, holistic framework for exploring and strengthening wellbeing. Learn about the development of the framework and its applications in personal growth, evaluation and programming.
Please join Dr. Brandon Ledward of Kamehameha Schools, Dr. Patrick Uchigakiuchi of the University of Hawaiʻi, Dr. Paula Morelli, consultant and editor, and Kumu Mikiʻala Lidstone for this discussion.
A third-generation descendant of Filipino/Spanish and Japanese immigrant-settlers, was born in Chicago, Ill. and raised in Molokaʽi and ʽOahu. Her parents’ incarceration during WWII at Heart Mt. Wyoming concentration camp for Japanese-Americans, life experiences as a woman of color, and work with Indigenous and minority communities formed the basis of a life-long commitment to social justice. During the 70’s and 80’s she and her psychiatrist-husband, Tom, were honored to provide mental health services in Los Angeles, Seattle, Kauai and `Oahu.
In 2016, Paula retired as faculty at the University of Hawaiʽi, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work (1996-2016), and became the Hawai`i program director at Consuelo Foundation (2016-2020). Currently, she is an independent research consultant and contracted by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʽi (RCUH) as an area expert for the Overdose to Action, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant, which develops opioid prevention strategies at state and local levels. She enjoys participating in art (ceramics, photography, painting), growing food, cooking, and swimming.
Born and raised in Kailua, O’ahu, Brandon now resides with his wife and three young children in Kapolei. A graduate of the public school system, he went on to earn a MA and Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. As part of Kamehameha Schools’ Strategy and Transformation group, Brandon blends ōiwi intelligence, systems thinking, and foresight to strengthen and advance our lāhui. He is passionate about culture- and ‘āina-based education as well as indigenous approaches to research and evaluation. Brandon relies on his ‘ohana, surfing, and music for joy a
Born in Nānākuli and raised in Kailua on the island of O‘ahu, Miki‘ala Lidstone finds her strength in sense of place. Today she lives in Kapolei not far from where she was born in Nānākuli. In 2014, Lidstone founded the Ulu Aʻe Learning Center whose mission is to empower and enrich lives through culture and place-based programs that develop skills, build confidence and promote healthy relationships based on Hawaiian customs and values. The seeds of Ulu Aʻe were first planted in 2004 by parents and community organizations that urged Lidstone to expand the place and culture-based educational programs she conducted as a teacher at Kapolei High School and as a kumu hula with Hālau ʻo Kaululauaʻe. As a result, Lidstone expanded her reach and capacity to deliver programs and curriculum to residents living in the ahupuaʻa of Honouliuli and later expanded to serve the greater area of ‘Ewa moku. She is committed to place-based education and believes that all keiki and youth should have endless opportunities to grow their relationship to the place they live.
Patrick Uchigakiuchi trained as a clinical psychologist at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Psychology Department. His current area of work involves research aimed at developing and evaluating programs for youth, adults, and families experiencing behavioral, emotional, and social challenges from a cultural, developmental, and life-course perspective. He has also been involved in researching, developing, and evaluating innovative programs and interventions that address health/mental health disparities experienced by underserved and unserved populations. His aspiration is to eliminate health and mental health disparities through partnerships with individual advocates, community-based organizations, and governmental agencies in developing comprehensive and sustainable interventions and support systems from a strength/gift-based and culturally responsive youth- and family-centered approach.
