“Integration is the future”

Ke Ao Nōweo 'Ula (KANU)

A theory of mauliola for Kānaka ʻŌiwi in behavioral healthcare contexts

Ke Ao Nōweo 'Ula, “the new dawn that shines bright,” honors the sacred process of coming out of the darkness of mo'ohihia and wahaheʻe and into mauliola, leading to ao, dawn or enlightenment, an outcome of mauliola. The acronym form is KANU, meaning both plant and hereditary, emphasizing the importance of ʻāina (land, that which feeds) and the relational, cyclical, intergenerational, interconnected ecology of mauliola processes. KANU theory is for Kānaka ʻŌiwi in behavioral healthcare contexts, depicting both supportive and detrimental processes, mauliola as a state of being, and outcomes of mauliola through 21 process categories (242 processes). The theory emphasizes pono (equity, balance) and decolonizing the multi-level violence and disconnection brought on by detriments, so pilina can be nourished in trauma-informed ways, allowing for hoʻōla and hoʻomana for kānaka, ‘ohana, kaiāulu, systems, leadership, culture, āina, and spirit.

These are the rare and vital voices of 19 Kanaka ʻŌiwi clients with experiences of depression, 10 kumu and leaders in culture (e.g., hoʻoponopono, lāʻau lapaʻau), and 12 mental and behavioral health providers who primarily work with Kānaka ʻŌiwi (e.g., LMFTs, psychologists).

Below are the 21 process categories described by participants.

If you’d like to view a 26-min presentation on the theory, please feel free to view it here!