Kamehameha Schools (KS) is joining forces with Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) in an effort to improve the education, health, economic stability and social well-being of students and families across Hawaii. This cross sector partnership is the first for KS with a not-for-profit health care system, creating a unique opportunity for both organizations to serve more haumana and families beyond their campuses and existing community programs.
The memorandum of agreement was signed at a ceremony by Kamehameha Schools’ Chief Executive Officer Jack Wong and Hawaii Pacific Health’s President and CEO Ray Vara. The organizations will be collaborating toward shared goals of creating more resilient children and strengthening families through education, economic empowerment, expanded career pathways, increased aina-based experiences, improved community health and advancement of the Hawaiian culture and language.
“Hawaii Pacific Health and Kamehameha Schools share a common understanding that for us to achieve our organizations’ respective missions, we must extend our reach beyond the walls of our institutions and work together to strengthen and enhance the lives of our children and families across Hawaii,” Vara said. “Through the efforts of both organizations, we will address the root issues that impact the long-term health of our local communities and create sustainable change.”
Both organizations recognize the health of the native Hawaiian population is disproportionately lower than that of the overall state, and strongly believe integrating a commitment to Hawaiian culture and language while increasing a connection to the aina is essential to addressing this disparity.
“We are combining the good work, resources and visions of our organizations into a powerful collaboration of health, education and culture that can have a greater collective impact,” Wong said. “With the community at the heart of our work, and our shared dedication to Hawaiian culture guiding us, we will take action that help Hawaii’s haumana and ohana thrive.”
Many factors impact the health of a community, from employment and food production to educational access. The partnership seeks to address these underlying root causes through joint occupational training programs, internships, increased outreach by HPH, financial and employment support centers, increased aina-based education and more.
About Hawaii Pacific Health
Hawaii Pacific Health is a not-for-profit health care system with over 70 locations statewide including medical centers, clinics, physicians and other caregivers serving Hawaii and the Pacific region with high quality, compassionate care. Its four medical centers – Kapiolani, Pali Momi, Straub and Wilcox – specialize in innovative programs in women’s health, pediatric care, cardiovascular services, cancer care, bone and joint services and more. Hawaii Pacific Health is recognized nationally for its excellence in patient care and the use of electronic health records to improve quality and patient safety. Learn more at HawaiiPacificHealth.org.
About Kamehameha Schools
Founded in 1887 by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Kamehameha Schools (KS) is a private, educational, charitable trust committed to improving the capability and well-being of the Native Hawaiian people through education. In 2015, KS embarked on a bold voyage that envisions, in one generation, a thriving lahui where learners, grounded in Christian and Hawaiian values, achieve post-secondary educational success and become leaders who contribute to their communities both locally and globally. For more information, visit KSBE.edu and connect via Facebook and Instagram (@kamehamehaschools) and Twitter (@ksnews).