Hale Mua Initiative (Waiʻanae Documentary)

Within the traditional Hawaiian construct of the kauhale (settlement) system, the hale mua (men’s house) served many purposes integral to maintaining the health and well-being of the family and larger community. The hale mua was the socio-cultural institution for religious services, political matters, and perpetuation of traditional cultural practices and beliefs. Like many other indigenous peoples, Native Hawaiians have sustained devastating depopulation and loss of lands and sovereignty rights since Western contact in 1778. Accompanying these losses was the disintegration of traditional social, cultural, and healing systems. With such struggles, the role of Native Hawaiian males has lost much of its value. Through the federal grant–funded Hale Mua Initiative (HMI), ‘Aha Kāne created Indigenous Solutions by founding hale mua in three Native Hawaiian communities. This project teaches kāne (men) and ‘ōpio (youth) about traditional male roles and responsibilities and reestablishes the inter-generational relationships so essential to the hale mua’s function. The initiative also addresses participants’ four primary areas of health: Ola Wailua (spiritual health), Ola Na‘au (social/emotional health), Ola Kino (physical health), and Ola No‘ono‘o (mental health). The Hale Mua Initiative is strengthening Native Hawaiian communities by training men and youth to be healthy, culturally grounded leaders and contributing members of society.

Indigenous Solutions: “Hale Mua Initiative – Reestablishing the Traditional Hawaiian Men’s House” discusses the use of cultural foundations to promote leadership, health, and inter-generational relationships for males in three Native Hawaiian communities.