Historical Trauma

According to Braveheart, historical trauma is the the cumulative emotional and psychological wounding over one’s lifespan and across generations. (Braveheart, 2003).

We recently conducted a qualitative study exploring how justice-involved and at-risk Native Hawaiian youth conceptualize historical trauma. Translation of the results for the public was also conducted to ensure broad dissemination.

Historical Trauma Policy Action

Recognizing colonization as a determinant of health is important and highlights the importance of policy as a mechanism to undo some of the negative effects of colonization through the uplifting of Indigenous self-determination. The state of Hawaiʻi has several progressive policies related to trauma-informed care generally, however, they have stopped short of address historical trauma for Native Hawaiians. An analysis of historical trauma related bills show that no legislation exists that specifically addresses historical trauma in Hawaiʻi.

Scale for Native Hawaiians

Lack of a mechanism to measure historical trauma among Native Hawaiians limits the development of problem identification, which may influence the inclusion of historical trauma on the legislative agenda.

Research

Ke ala i ka Mauliola: Measuring Native Hawaiian Historical Trauma
Ola HAWAII Pilot Project Grant
Description: A qualitative study using Indigenous methods with justice-involved Native Hawaiian youth, service providers, and policy makers to inform the development of a quantitative scale to measure historical trauma among Native Hawaiian youth.

Mauliola i ke kāwā ola: Native Hawaiian Historical Trauma Across the Lifespan
Description: A qualitative study using Indigenous methods to identify the constructs of historical trauma among Native Hawaiian adults to inform the development of a quantitative scale to measure historical trauma among Native Hawaiians of all ages.

Oceans and Human Health Systems Mapping Project
Description: Use a systems thinking approach to visualize what helps and hinders island inhabitants' relationship with the ocean. Central to this approach is a storytelling methodology that honors Native Hawaiian epistemologies and community members’ unique and diverse lived experiences.