ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
No. 2017 – 41
COMMENDING DR. LANDON KA LAUʻAE NAʻI I NĀ LĀ INO OPUNUI, ND FOR BEING THE FIRST NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR TO BE ADDED AS A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN PROVIDER TO THE HAWAI‘I MEDICAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, Dr. Landon Ka lauʻae naʻi i nā lā ino Opunui ND, is the son of Richard and Dianne Storaasli; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui, growing up in Hawaiʻi as an ocean enthusiast, competitive outrigger paddler and five-time Ironman triathlon finisher, strives to be a model of healthy behavior; and
WHEREAS, learning of his Hawaiian grandmother’s premature passing due to chronic disease at the age of 50 motivated him to live a healthier lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, Native Hawaiians are at high risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, which are common causes for Native Hawaiians mortality ; and
WHEREAS, these issued motivated Dr. Opunui to take a proactive role in his health and gravitated him towards a self-empowering natural form of health and healing; and
WHEREAS, Dr, Opunui graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui chose to pursue a career in medicine to support the health needs of the Native Hawaiian people; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui was accepted to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in natural science; and
WHEREAS, after receiving his degree, Dr. Opunui continued his education to earn a doctorate degree in naturopathy at Bastyr University in San Diego, California; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui has chosen a to pursue a medical path similar to the Native Hawaiian practice of la‘au lapa‘au; and
WHEREAS, after earning his doctorate in naturopathy, Dr. Opunui return home to Hawaii in 2013 and completed a one-year post-doctorate residency program at Lokahi Health Center in Kailua-Kona, where he studied cancer treatment outcomes which utilize adjunctive and integrative natural medical approaches; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui joined Manakai O Mālama an Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center in 2014; and
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2016, Dr. Opunui became Hawaii Medical Service Association’s (HMSA) first ever Naturopathic Doctor to be added to its Primary Care Physician provider network; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui has recently joined Nā Pu‘uwai Native Hawaiian Health Care System on Moloka‘i, and its mission is to improve the health status of the Native Hawaiians and the communities of Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i with respect to cultural beliefs and practices; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Opunui flies to Moloka‘i twice a month from Honolulu to see patients at Nā Pu‘uwai Native Hawaiian Health Care System; and
WHEREAS, Dr, Opunui is an ‘Ahahui Sīwila Hawai‘i O Kapolei scholarship recipient and the members of ‘Ahahui Sīwila Hawai‘i O Kapolei are honored to have assisted him in his educational endeavors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 58th Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington, in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani, this 4th day of November 2017, commending Dr. Landon Ka lauʻae naʻi i nā lā ino Opunui, ND for being the first Naturopathic Doctor to be added as a Primary Care Physician provider to the Hawai‘i Medical Service Association; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ‘Ahahui Sīwila Hawai‘i O Kapolei and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs commend Dr. Opunui for returning home to Hawai‘i to help heal and improve the health of Native Hawaiians: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the ‘Ahahui Sīwila Hawai‘i O Kapolei, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Storaasli, Manakai O Mālama, Nā Pu‘uwai Native Hawaiian Health Care System. as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani on the 4th day of November 2017, at the 58th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Seattle, Washington.
Annelle C. Amaral, President
