By Melyssa Kawehi Moderow, MPH
ʻEu ke kanaka i kona hanu ~ One stirs because of the breath within.
The adage above tells us that, with the proper tools and encouragement, one can breathe with strength and vitality. With the release of a new Tobacco Prevention Toolkit, we hope to stir into action a movement that reduces tobacco and nicotine use among Native Hawaiians.
Recent research has shown that tobacco and nicotine use remain high, impacting the health of our ʻohana. Concerns from our lāhui about how tobacco use affects our hā, our breath, and our ability to live long and healthy lives for our ʻohana, has been corroborated with data.
These voices remind us of the importance of providing culturally grounded information and resources to support healthier choices for ourselves and our ʻohana, benefitting the lives of our keiki.
Thus, Papa Ola Lōkahi has collaborated with many community partners to develop a Tobacco Prevention Toolkit to serve as a one-stop collection of culturally relevant resources to support prevention, reduction, and cessation of tobacco and nicotine use.
It is intended for community members, ʻohana, service providers, and organizations looking for practical tools, education, and support that reflect our values and lived experiences. By grounding this resource in community voices and ʻike Hawaiʻi, families and individuals may be empowered to make informed decisions about their health and to protect their hā.
Native Hawaiian (12.8%) and Pacific Islander (9.5%) adults experience disproportionate rates of cigarette use compared to the overall Hawaiʻi population (8%) according to Hawaiʻi Health Matters (HHM, 2024). These disparities are even more concerning among our ʻōpio.
In recent years, cigarette and vape use has increased among young people, with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) ʻōpio vaping at significantly higher rates than the overall Hawaiʻi population: Native Hawaiians: 17%; Pacific Islanders: 27%; Overall: 13% (HHM, 2023).
These trends highlight the urgent need for early, culturally responsive education and prevention efforts that center on the values of our lāhui. It is also important to take exception to the tobacco industry’s role in shaping these dismal outcomes.
Big tobacco has long targeted communities of color. Historically, tobacco companies have appropriated Native Hawaiian culture in advertising, portraying images of long-haired women wearing cigarette lei while dancing hula.
Today, targeting continues by flavoring tobacco and vape products to reflect familiar branding, such as “Hawaiian Sun Juice” and “Aloha Sun Vapes.”
The tobacco industry has even described Asian and Pacific Islander populations as a “potential gold mine … predisposed” to addiction via tobacco products, reinforcing how profit has been prioritized over people’s health.
Kūʻē! The Tobacco Prevention Toolkit is one way we can reclaim our own narratives, strengthen our knowledge, and support one another through our mauli ola journeys. Together, we can uplift our ʻohana and create a healthier future for generations to come.
Protect your hā.
