Work

In our own voices and words: Creating English- and Hawaiian-language storybooks on dementia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Native Hawaiians are at a high risk for dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the sixth leading cause of death for Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders at age 65+. Many Native Hawaiian elders reside with families, including youth, in multigenerational housing for cultural, economic, and health status reasons, and as such Native Hawaiian families often provide the majority of care to loved ones with dementia. However, few educational materials are available for Native Hawaiian youth, and existing materials are in the English language and are not specific to the Hawaiʻi context. This paper focuses on the translation of a storybook for Native Hawaiian youth who may be encountering dementia in their families, titled Pōmai and her Papa, into ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). Some specific challenges in conducting this translation are discussed and lessons are shared that may aid others endeavoring to translate health communications into their own Indigenous language.

Source: SSM - Mental Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100469

Authors: J. Kepo'o Keli'ipa'akaua, Shelley Muneoka, Kapali Jeffrey Lyon, Kathryn L. Braun

Institutions: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Hawaii System

Language: English

Topic: Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,540