Hawaiian Culture: Workforce Issues and Bio-cultural Ecology

Hawaiian Culture: Workforce Issues and Bio-cultural Ecology

Workforce Issues

Workforce issues in the Hawaiian culture has a historical angle to it. Ancient Hawaii, where most of the present religious, cultural, economic, and social order of the Hawaiian culture emanate from. Family structures determine the place of a person in society (Alicata et al., 2016). From allotment of plots of land for agricultural purposes by a chief to common people, Hawaiians cultivated a culture of sharing and giving in an openhearted manner. Subsequent historical activities such as the presence of Captain Hook to Hawaii, the era of industrial monopoly, racial unionism in 1900-1934, and the period of true labor unions emergence after the New Deal by President Roosevelt, all contributed to the present workforce issues in Hawaiian culture (Alicata et al., 2016). Captain Hook’s policies led to the erosion of Hawaiian culture through abolishment of the monarchy that was an important administrative feature of Hawaiians. Captain Hook also brought in Western culture tendencies to Hawaii, and more foreigners were employed in labor activities within Hawaii than locals.

At present, working Hawaiians have protection from labor unions, and as such enjoy workers’ benefits negotiated through labor unions. Presence of labor unions contribute to the prosperity and welfare of the Hawaiian community (Smith & Jury, 2016). However, Hawaii has faced restrictive chances in employment opportunities in the past that still exists, despite growing legal restrictions on favoritism and racism in the labor sector. Most Hawaiians still work within the agricultural sector, while others have ventured into the tourism industry. However, the vast number of Hawaiians still face similar challenges that minorities in the U.S. face in job seeking opportunities (Smith & Jury, 2016). These workforce issues have also caused strain on welfare to Hawaiian community. Some of the deficiencies that workforce issues have created are in access to health services by most Hawaiians. It is imperative that any health policies developed for the interest of Hawaiians consider the setback workforce issues have had in advancing health policies among Hawaiians.

Biocultural ecology

Biocultural restoration has been an area where Hawaii has led in within its region since it harbors several projects aimed at health restoration and functionality of systems existing in the humanity and nature’s confluence. Multifaceted approaches facilitating this agenda have been nurtured through perpetual resource abundance that Hawaiians call in their language as aina momona (Nunez et al., 2018). Success of these movements have been their approach to merge both contemporary and ancestral science that drove biocultural ecology in Hawaiian community Rozzi, 2018). Other elements that have been integrated in these processes are technology, the philosophy to be adaptive by incorporating in multiple fields, practices that build programs, enhance initiatives, and propose projects favorable to the community.

Some of the areas where biocultural restoration has occurred is in traditional food systems, nearshore fisheries, forest and streams management, and health and wellness areas. The perception is that there are health benefits associated with restoration of biocultural ecology in Hawaii, as it establishes the ecosystem and environment that most Hawaiians live in (Rozzi, 2018). In health matters, the environment where people live can facilitate health and wellness of a community. Ensuring that there is sustainable programs, projects, and initiatives that highlight importance of cultural restoration and ecology boosts health prospects for Hawaiians (Nunez et al, 2018). The ability of policy makers to adapt to find means to associate contemporary methods to cultural components of Hawaiians enables the integration and acceptance of health policies to Hawaiians, a feature that is critical in advancing health programs to Hawaiian community.

References

Alicata, D., Schroepfer, A., Unten, T., Agoha, R., Helm, S., Fukuda, M., … & Michels, S. (2016).

Telemental health training, team building, and workforce development in cultural context: the Hawaii experience. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 26(3), 260-265.

Nunez, M. A., Dimarco, R. D., & Simberloff, D. (2018). Why some exotic species are deeply

integrated into local cultures while others are reviled. In From Biocultural Homogenization to Biocultural Conservation (pp. 219-231). Springer, Cham.

Rozzi, R. (2018). Biocultural Conservation and Biocultural Ethics. In From Biocultural

Homogenization to Biocultural Conservation (pp. 303-314). Springer, Cham.

Smith, M., & Jury, A. F. (Eds.). (2016). Workforce Development Theory and Practice in the

Mental Health Sector. Pennsylvania: IGI Global.