Collaborating to provide integrated care in Hawai’i

Aug. 4, 2025

Video

Integrating traditional Hawaiian healing with primary care

Video transcript

The video opens with a stunning aerial shot of a tropical coastline. Bright turquoise water laps against a white sand beach, which is nestled at the base of a large, lush green mountain. In the distance, a small island sits in the ocean. Upbeat, gentle Hawaiian music with ukulele plays.

MALE VOICEOVER: In Hawai’i, healing practices embrace the wellness of the individual, the ʻohana, meaning family, kaiaulu, the community, and the ʻāina, the land.

The camera pans down, focusing on the vibrant turquoise water and the white foam of the waves breaking on the shore. It then moves to an aerial view of the beach, showing a line of trees separating the sand from a park and a town. The view shifts to an aerial shot of a town with houses and buildings, set in a valley with large, green mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky. The video cuts to a close-up shot of a rustic stone sign with white painted letters that reads E KOMO MAI WAIMANALO. An aerial view of a residential neighborhood with many houses and green trees, surrounded by mountains. The shot transitions to a close-up of a small garden with plants growing in a tiered, scalloped stone planter. The ground is covered in gravel.

MALE VOICEOVER: Rooted in Hawai’i's rich culture history, traditional Hawaiian healing methods utilize plant-based medicines and techniques to support holistic health.

The video cuts to a person's hands cutting a large, green leaf with scissors.

MALE VOICEOVER: It emphasizes the balance of mind, body, and spirit and using natural, herbal medicines derived from the rich landscapes.

The video cuts to an aerial shot of a group of people exploring tide pools on a rocky shoreline next to the ocean. The exterior of the modern, two-story Waimānalo Health Center building is shown.

MALE VOICEOVER: Waimānalo Health Center, a local federally qualified health center, takes an integrated approach by pairing traditional healing with modern healthcare practices.

The video cuts to a medical office, a female doctor with dark hair, wearing a white lab coat, uses a stethoscope to listen to the back of a patient with long, curly hair.

MALE VOICEOVER: Healing practitioners work hand-in-hand with primary care providers to deliver holistic care.

The video cuts to several elderly women, one using a cane, walk through the parking lot towards the health center entrance.

MALE VOICEOVER: As part of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i's commitment to supporting health equity, these services are offered to members as a value-added benefit.

The video cuts to a modern, tiled hallway inside the health center. The shot changes to an overhead view of four long, raised garden beds filled with various plants.

MALE VOICEOVER: The program began as a 24-month pilot in 2021, offering a range of culturally grounded services.

The video then cuts to a female doctor and another woman walk into an exam room where a patient is sitting on the exam table. The next scene shows a woman with curly hair gently massaging the shoulder of a man who is seated under a tree. The shot is soft and blurry.

MALE VOICEOVER: These services include Lomi Lomi, a therapeutic massage technique using pressure points and energy cleansing to relieve pain, and Lāʻau lapaʻau, the use of native Hawaiian plants, herbs, and roots for healing.

The video cuts to a close-up of fresh turmeric root and turmeric powder in a bowl, surrounded by traditional stone mortars and pestles. In a classroom setting, a woman stands behind a table covered with large green leaves, instructing a small group of people. The students are then shown sitting at tables, writing in notebooks.

MALE VOICEOVER: In addition, members can participate in classes that emphasize the laws of ola, like exercise, diet, and meditation.

A blue banner with white text appears on the screen over footage of people working with plants and herbs.

ON SCREEN TEXT: The pilot program demonstrated a 51% reduction in emergency department visits, a 29% decrease in per-member-per-month costs and a 74% reduction of in-patient care costs.

The video cuts to a close-up of hands working with bright green seaweed on dark volcanic rock.

MALE VOICEOVER: Preserving and promoting traditional Hawaiian healing prioritizes health equity, enabling more people in our communities to access culturally relevant care.

The video cuts to people working in a garden, shoveling soil into a wheelbarrow. Then, a close-up of one person's hands carefully wrapping a green leaf around another person's wrist as a poultice.

MALE VOICEOVER: Waimānalo Health Center's integrated approach is bridging gaps in care.

The video cuts to an aerial shot of people exploring the rocky shoreline.

MALE VOICEOVER: And by offering services that resonate with our members' culture and traditions, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i helps foster a more engaged and empowered approach to healthcare.

The video dissolves to a blue UHC logo on a white screen. Blue text appears. The music fades.

ON SCREEN TEXT: UHC

uhc.com

Traditional healing practices are a vital component to Native Hawaiian people and their culture. It is a way of life. To be “healthy” is to be pono (righteous), as well as to live in lōkahi (balance) with the world around you by addressing the needs of not only the individual, but also the community and the land. Achieving this balance requires an integrated approach that emphasizes the mind, body and spirit, like the one offered by Waimānalo Health Center (WHC) on Oʻahu.

A federally qualified health center, WHC provides medical, dental, vision and behavioral health services. Their mission is rooted in honoring Native Hawaiian values and providing high-quality care to their patients. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i shares a similar focus, investing in solutions based on the unique needs of their members and recognizing the importance of tradition.

“In the Waimānalo area, there are many of our members of Native Hawaiian descent who have strong ties to their culture,” said Eric Kawada, director of Delivery Systems Evolution of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i.

As part of their shared commitment to building healthier communities, WHC and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i launched a pilot program in 2021 designed to help improve health outcomes through the use of integrated care.

During the program, healing practitioners worked with primary care providers (PCPs) to deliver holistic care, leveraging the benefits of traditional healing methods along with modern health care practices. Program participants were all UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i members who go to WHC for their health care services.

“It’s part of the integrated care model,” Eric said. “For our members to receive these services, they have to be referred from their PCP. From there, the PCP and the Native Hawaiian practitioner work together to ensure there is a coordinated approach to care.”

Services that were available as part of the pilot included:

Lomilomi, a therapeutic and restorative massage technique that focuses on pressure points and energy cleansing
Lāʻau Lapa’au, the use of native Hawaiian plants, roots and herbs to support healing
Classes on topics including diet and meditation

Results from the pilot showed:

A 51% reduction in emergency department visits
A 29% decrease in per-member-per-month costs
A 74% reduction in inpatient care costs

Given the positive outcomes from the pilot, the integrated care services have become a value-added benefit for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawai’i members, expanding the availability and accessibility of Native Hawaiian healing methods.

“This allows for another avenue in which our members can get the care that they need,” Eric said.

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