Reclaiming Ancestral Abundance

Abstract

This article tells the story of a generation of actions taken by the residents of the working-class Honolulu, Hawai'i, neighborhood of Kalihi Valley to merge the efforts of a federally qualified health center with Indigenous and cultural knowledge and practice to address diet-related illness. It recounts the narrative of Captain James Cook's arrival in 1778, which marked the beginning of resource extraction and the decline of traditional sustainable practices in Hawai'i. Fast forward to 2023, when alarmingly high rates of food insecurity in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations highlighted the ongoing effects of this history. Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV) has taken a proactive approach to addressing these challenges. Through community engagement and culturally relevant practices, KKV emphasizes the importance of ancestral knowledge and Hawaiian values, promoting a decolonized understanding of leadership and health. The initiative includes community food systems practices that foster connections to the land and encourage the revitalization of traditional Polynesian food practices, ultimately aiming to enhance the well-being of both individuals and the community.