Culture and activity: a case study of Kahua Ola Hou, Molokaʻi, HI

Abstract

This case study examines perceptions of Native Hawaiian youth, staff, and parents of the youth who were taking part in a three-week intensive substance abuse treatment program for youth. The setting is Kahua Ola Holl, a group home located in HO'olehua, Moloka'i, HI. Interviews with the participants (children. staff, and parents) and observations of the activity settings were conducted to find the meaning of the activity settings that were initiated, maintained, and dissolved throughout the day. The activity settings of the program were later analyzed using open coding procedures to provide a picture of the ways in which Hawaiian culture was used to help treat the children in the program. From these data seven themes emerged ('ohana. forgiveness, being Hawaiian, malama.. being pono, Ho'oponopono, and healing). The ways in which the participants at Kahua Ola Hou defined substance abuse, transmitted Hawaiian cultural values, utilized aspects of Hawaiian culture as treatment, and conceptualized the relationship between activity settings and the transmission of culture are discussed. One finding was that Kahua Ola Hou used a traditional Hawaiian psychological practice, ho'oponopono, as a treatment method. Data on the meaning and use of ho'oponopono showed that analyzing cultural activity settings can contribute to our understanding of the activities, why they are happening, the history of the practice. and how the practice occurs. Potential implications are that the more knowledge psychology gains from discovering how people from differing cultures conceptualize the idea of psychology, the more culturally sensitive decisions will be with regards to people from cultures that aren't familiar. Implications for future research are presented.