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Behavioral Health Service Delivery with Pacific Islanders

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Handbook of Cultural Factors in Behavioral Health

Abstract

This chapter will provide a historical background on the Pacific Islanders and will examine some of the similarities within this broad group and then more specifically describe Native Hawaiians. Discussion of the cultural and belief system of Native Hawaiians is essential in working with Native Hawaiians in therapy. Most importantly, Native Hawaiians believe that their individual health is directly connected to nature (ʻāina), family (ohana), and spirits (akua). This chapter will also discuss the negative impact of colonization and statehood had on the Hawaiian people and how that continues to affect the population today. Additional factors contributing to many Hawaiians views and culture are the many migrations from other Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Finally, this chapter will discuss cultural competency with some general suggestions to keep in mind while providing therapy to Native Hawaiians. Evidence-based literature on culturally based treatment with Native Hawaiians has been scant, but is continuing to be published with increasing speed. This chapter will review some of the culturally based treatments that have been published for Native Hawaiians for different disorders and then culturally based interventions for other Pacific Islander groups.

Please note the authors are aware that some historical facts that can be found in the literature may be inaccurate. They also acknowledge the many different perspectives from historical events. They have made attempts to find the most accurate information and exclude all biases, but humbly ask for forgiveness of anything that is unintentionally misrepresented.

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Acknowledgments

Additional heartfelt mahalo to the interns of Community Health Center 2017–2018 training year, Kasha Kim, Ciara Hansen, Leila Mitsunaga, Micah Keaney, and Kellen Imada as well as our training director Kristy Sakai-Costigan, Psy.D. for their critiques and revisions of this chapter, as well as their excellence in all aspects of our patients care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waianae, HI, USA

    Lisa A. Duke

  2. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Hikianaliʻa Foster

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  1. Lisa A. Duke
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Correspondence to Lisa A. Duke .

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA

    Lorraine T. Benuto , Frances R. Gonzalez  & Jonathan Singer ,  & 

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Duke, L.A., Foster, H. (2020). Behavioral Health Service Delivery with Pacific Islanders. In: Benuto, L.T., Gonzalez, F.R., Singer, J. (eds) Handbook of Cultural Factors in Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32229-8_11

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