Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§11711 Definitions

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 122— - NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALTH CARE › § 11711

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives plain meanings for important words used in the chapter. "Disease prevention" means things like immunizations, blood pressure and diabetes control, stopping infectious and sexually transmitted diseases, reducing toxic exposures, workplace safety, accident prevention, fluoridating water, and mental health care. "Health promotion" means things like pregnancy and baby care (including stopping fetal alcohol syndrome), quitting tobacco, cutting back on alcohol and drugs, better nutrition and fitness, family planning, stress control, and health education for Native Hawaiians. "Native Hawaiian" means a U.S. citizen descended from the people who lived and held sovereignty in Hawaii before 1778, shown by family records, elder or long-time resident verification, or Hawaii birth records. "Native Hawaiian health center" and "Native Hawaiian health care system" are Hawaii-organized, public or nonprofit health providers that use licensed practitioners and include Native Hawaiian health workers in planning and running services; a system may include many centers for each island. "Native Hawaiian organization" serves Native Hawaiians and is recognized and certified by Papa Ola Lokahi to run programs under this chapter. "Papa Ola Lokahi" is a group made up of named state and island health organizations and others the Board accepts if they show a mission, 5-year plan, and budget; the Secretary can exclude members that fail to make that plan. "Primary health services" covers basic medical, lab and x‑ray, preventive care, emergency care, transport, dental prevention, and medicines. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. A "traditional Native Hawaiian healer" is a Hawaiian person who learned healing skills from elders and oral tradition and cares for people directly.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §11711

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For purposes of this chapter:
(1)The term “disease prevention” includes—
(A)immunizations,
(B)control of high blood pressure,
(C)control of sexually transmittable diseases,
(D)prevention and control of diabetes,
(E)control of toxic agents,
(F)occupational safety and health,
(G)accident prevention,
(H)fluoridation of water,
(I)control of infectious agents, and
(J)provision of mental health care.
(2)The term “health promotion” includes—
(A)pregnancy and infant care, including prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome,
(B)cessation of tobacco smoking,
(C)reduction in the misuse of alcohol and drugs,
(D)improvement of nutrition,
(E)improvement in physical fitness,
(F)family planning,
(G)control of stress, and
(H)educational programs with the mission of improving the health, capability, and well-being of Native Hawaiians.
(3)The term “Native Hawaiian” means any individual who is—
(A)a citizen of the United States, and
(B)a descendant of the aboriginal people, who prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawaii, as evidenced by—
(i)genealogical records,
(ii)Kupuna (elders) or Kama’aina (long-term community residents) verification, or
(iii)birth records of the State of Hawaii.
(4)The term “Native Hawaiian health center” means an entity—
(A)which is organized under the laws of the State of Hawaii,
(B)which provides or arranges for health care services through practitioners licensed by the State of Hawaii, where licensure requirements are applicable,
(C)which is a public or nonprofit private entity, and
(D)in which Native Hawaiian health practitioners significantly participate in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of health services.
(5)The term “Native Hawaiian organization” means any organization—
(A)which serves the interests of Native Hawaiians,
(B)which is—
(i)recognized by Papa Ola Lokahi for the purpose of planning, conducting, or administering programs (or portions of programs) authorized under this chapter for the benefit of Native Hawaiians, and
(ii)certified by Papa Ola Lokahi as having the qualifications and capacity to provide the services, and meet the requirements, under the contract the organization enters into with, or grant the organization receives from, the Secretary under this chapter,
(C)in which Native Hawaiian health practitioners significantly participate in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of health services, and
(D)which is a public or nonprofit private entity.
(6)The term “Native Hawaiian health care system” means an entity—
(A)which is organized under the laws of the State of Hawaii,
(B)which provides or arranges for health care services through practitioners licensed by the State of Hawaii, where licensure requirements are applicable,
(C)which is a public or nonprofit private entity,
(D)in which Native Hawaiian health practitioners significantly participate in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of health care services,
(E)which may be composed of as many Native Hawaiian health centers as necessary to meet the health care needs of each island’s Native Hawaiians, and
(F)which is—
(i)recognized by Papa Ola Lokahi for the purpose of planning, conducting, or administering programs, or portions of programs, authorized by this chapter for the benefit of Native Hawaiians, and
(ii)certified by Papa Ola Lokahi as having the qualifications and the capacity to provide the services and meet the requirements under the contract the Native Hawaiian health care system enters into with the Secretary or the grant the Native Hawaiian health care system receives from the Secretary pursuant to this chapter.
(7)(A)The term “Papa Ola Lokahi” means an organization composed of—
(i)E Ola Mau;
(ii)the Office of Hawaiian Affairs of the State of Hawaii;
(iii)Alu Like Inc.;
(iv)the University of Hawaii;
(v)the Office of Hawaiian Health of the Hawaii State Department of Health;
(vi)Ho’ola Lahui Hawaii, or a health care system serving the islands of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau, and which may be composed of as many health care centers as are necessary to meet the health care needs of the Native Hawaiians of those islands;
(vii)Ke Ola Mamo, or a health care system serving the island of O’ahu, and which may be composed of as many health care centers as are necessary to meet the health care needs of the Native Hawaiians of that island;
(viii)Na Pu’uwai or a health care system serving the islands of Moloka’i and Lana’i, and which may be composed of as many health care centers as are necessary to meet the health care needs of the Native Hawaiians of those islands;
(ix)Hui No Ke Ola Pono, or a health care system serving the island of Maui, and which may be composed of as many health care centers as are necessary to meet the health care needs of the Native Hawaiians of that island;
(x)Hui Malama Ola Ha’Oiwi or a health care system serving the island of Hawaii, and which may be composed of as many health care centers as are necessary to meet the health care needs of the Native Hawaiians of that island; and
(xi)such other member organizations as the Board of Papa Ola Lokahi may admit from time to time, based upon satisfactory demonstration of a record of contribution to the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians, and upon satisfactory development of a mission statement in relation to this chapter, including clearly defined goals and objectives, a 5-year action plan outlining the contributions that each organization will make in carrying out the policy of this chapter, and an estimated budget.
(B)Such term does not include any such organization identified in subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that such organization has not developed a mission statement with clearly defined goals and objectives for the contributions the organization will make to the Native Hawaiian health care systems, and an action plan for carrying out those goals and objectives.
(8)The term “primary health services” means—
(A)services of physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals;
(B)diagnostic laboratory and radiologic services;
(C)preventive health services (including children’s eye and ear examinations to determine the need for vision and hearing correction, perinatal services, well child services, and family planning services);
(D)emergency medical services;
(E)transportation services as required for adequate patient care;
(F)preventive dental services; and
(G)pharmaceutical services, as may be appropriate for particular health centers.
(9)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(10)The term “traditional Native Hawaiian healer” means a practitioner—
(A)who—
(i)is of Hawaiian ancestry, and
(ii)has the knowledge, skills, and experience in direct personal health care of individuals, and
(B)whose knowledge, skills, and experience are based on demonstrated learning of Native Hawaiian healing practices acquired by—
(i)direct practical association with Native Hawaiian elders, and
(ii)oral traditions transmitted from generation to generation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Amendment by Pub. L. 111–148 is based on section 202(c) of title II of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148. The 1992 amendment is based on section 1 of S. 2681, One Hundred Second Congress, as passed by the Senate on Aug. 7, 1992, and enacted into law by section 9168 of Pub. L. 102–396. section 9168, which referred to S. 2681, as passed by the Senate on “September 12, 1992”, has been treated as referring to S. 2681, as passed by the Senate on Aug. 7, 1992, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Section was formerly classified to section 11710 of this title prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 102–396. Pub. L. 100–579 and Pub. L. 100–690 enacted substantially identical sections. The text of this section is based on section 12 of Pub. L. 100–579, as subsequently amended.

Amendments

2010—Par. (2)(H). Pub. L. 111–148, which directed the amendment of section 12(2) of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988 by adding subpar. (H), was executed by making the amendment to this section, which is section 12 of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1992—Pub. L. 102–396 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to

Severability

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Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 11711

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73