Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell always brought the best governance practices to improve the health of Hawaiians and all the people of Hawai‘i.
Statement of OHA Ka Pouhana CEO Kamana‘opono Crabbe on the passing of Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell:
Dr. Blaisdell was a father of modern Hawaiian medicine and health. He was one of my mentors and pushed me to get my doctorate in clinical psychology. He fought to get more Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and other indigenous peoples into medical school. He brought the wisdom of our Hawaiian ancestors to the modern world and helped revive traditional healing practices.
His greatest accomplishment was to bring medicine, culture and heritage and relate it to modern politics. He understood that one cannot exist without the other and good governance was necessary to promote good health and medicine. That is why he was such a staunch supporter of sovereignty for the Hawaiian people – to bring the best governance practices to improve the health of Hawaiians and all the people of Hawai‘i. The lāhui has lost a dear patriot.
