Strengthening Native Hawaiian community ties to support youth resilience and health
Official title: Fostering Community Connections Through Native Hawaiian Cultural Values to Strengthen Youth Resilience, Health, and Well-Being
Funded at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Ctr · NIH-11379177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Local health centers, schools, and community groups are using Native Hawaiian cultural practices to help young people build resilience, get mental health support, and stay healthy during and after the COVID-19 era.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waianae, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | September 24, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,500,000 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2OD035880-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Native Hawaiian young people and their families in the Waiʻanae area, especially those experiencing mental health challenges or limited access to services.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not Native Hawaiian, live outside the Waiʻanae/community partner area, or need highly specialized medical treatments may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
As a Native Hawaiian youth or family in the Waiʻanae area, you would see community health centers, schools, and place-based organizations working together to bring cultural values and practices into wellness activities. Partners will identify young people who need extra support and cross-refer them so care and wellness programs are coordinated across sites. Programs combine traditional Native Hawaiian concepts like lokahi (balance) and connection to ʻāina with trauma-informed approaches and modern mental health supports. The effort aims to reduce barriers to care in under-resourced neighborhoods by meeting youth where they are in the community.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve access to culturally meaningful care, strengthen resilience, and reduce mental health disparities among Native Hawaiian youth.
How similar studies have gone: Community-led, culturally grounded programs for Indigenous youth have shown promise for improving resilience and mental health, though approaches vary and local adaptation is important.
Where this research is happening
-
Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Ctr
Waianae, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Okihiro, May Michiko — Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Ctr
- Study coordinator: Okihiro, May Michiko
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Fostering Community Connections to Strengthen Youth Resilience and Well-Being
A Hawaii-based effort helps teens and young adults get mental health and preventive care more easily by building local networks and smart referral pathways.
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Pediatricians Building Resilience for Toddler Well-Being
Aiming to help toddlers at risk for mental health problems by identifying them in primary care and delivering family-based support through an online tool and telehealth.
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A workplace resilience program to support child care providers’ mental health
A fully remote, randomized trial will test a web-based Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) program to improve mental health and well-being for child care providers.
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Psychosocial factors shaping midlife health, well-being, and thinking across diverse groups
Aiming to understand how family, finances, and beliefs affect health, happiness, and thinking in US adults in midlife and how these patterns differ across race, gender, and education.
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Improving Mental Health and Well-Being for Child Care Providers
This project is testing a web-based program to help child care providers manage stress and improve their mental health.
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Using Native Hawaiian cultural values to improve youth health and resilience
This study is all about helping Native Hawaiian youth feel better and thrive by blending their cultural values with modern healthcare, creating a supportive community that tackles mental health challenges and promotes resilience.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.