From Kalo to Kauka: Becoming a Native Hawaiian Physician

The Pathway to medicine is difficult. Ancient Native Hawaiian healers, Kahuna Lāʻau Lapaʻau, were identified at early ages and taught the practice of healing by their elders. As the Hawaiian world becomes westernized, the need for Kahuna Lāʻau Lapaʻau and for Native Hawaiian physicians increases. The Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence works to plant the seeds of inspiration and encourages Hawaiʻi’s youth to open their hearts and minds to serving the community with all of the skills they develop whether it is in the western or the Native Hawaiian ways of healing. Our ultimate goal is to improve the health of Native Hawaiians through nurturing students on​ the pathway into health professions, advancing research, and engaging our communities. This chapter provides stories of a few Native Hawaiian physicians as they found their call to healing in the western world.