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Health and well-being are a function of familial relationships between Native Hawaiians and their land. As a result of settler colonialism, Native Hawaiians face systemic and social barriers, which impede their relationship to land, with implications of adverse health outcomes. This qualitative study explores changes in health among Native Hawaiians, with a specific focus on food systems and the environment. Community-engaged research approaches were utilized to recruit 12 Hawaiian adults. The major themes include the following: (1) health as holistic and a harmonious balance, (2) nutrition transition and current connections to 'āina (land extending from the mountain to the sea; that which feeds or nourishes), and (3) food sovereignty and community solutions to uplift the Lāhui (Nation of Hawai'i). Consideration of cultural values, community strengths, and traditional lifestyle practices may address health inequities and changes in food systems related to health that stem from colonization, determinants of health, and environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition-related problems have been increasingly prevalent among children and adults nationally and globally. Pregnant women and children are particularly susceptible to nutrition-related concerns. Mindfulness-based programs have demonstrated favorable outcomes for lifestyles and behaviors and may, therefore, assist in nutrition-related concerns. This column focuses on existing literature that focuses on the way mindfulness practices improve eating and nutrition outcomes for mothers. The synthesized findings of this review provide support for the effectiveness of mindfulness practices of mothers affecting improved nutrition for their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to western arrival in 1778, Native Hawaiians possessed a sophisticated culture and resource management system conducive to an island ecosystem. However, disenfranchisement from ancestral lands and traditional food sources as a result of colonization led to Native Hawaiians being forced to abandon many of their traditional practices. Today, many Native Hawaiians experience food insecurity, placing them at further risk for obesity and other nutrition-related chronic diseases. Consequently, there is a growing need for place-based and culturally relevant strategies rooted in Hawaiian epistemology to address these issues. This paper describes the history and development of one such intervention - the MALAMA study - in the community of Waimānalo that innovatively merges the modern technology of aquaponics with traditional Native Hawaiian practices and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]