Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§11711 Definitions

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this chapter about Native Hawaiian health programs. Disease prevention means actions like immunizations, blood pressure control, sexually transmitted disease and infectious disease control, diabetes prevention, reducing toxic exposures, workplace safety, accident prevention, adding fluoride to water, and mental health care. Health promotion means things like pregnancy and infant care (including preventing fetal alcohol syndrome), quitting tobacco, cutting down on alcohol and drug misuse, better nutrition and fitness, family planning, stress control, and education to improve Native Hawaiian health and well‑being. Native Hawaiian means a U.S. citizen who descends from the people living in Hawaii before 1778, shown by family records, elder or long‑time resident verification, or Hawaii birth records. A Native Hawaiian health center is a public or nonprofit Hawaii organization that uses licensed providers and includes Native Hawaiian practitioners in planning and running services. A Native Hawaiian organization is a public or nonprofit group that serves Native Hawaiians, is recognized and certified by Papa Ola Lokahi to run programs under this chapter, and has Native Hawaiian practitioner participation in planning and oversight. A Native Hawaiian health care system is a similar, state‑organized entity that may include multiple centers per island and must be recognized and certified by Papa Ola Lokahi to get contracts or grants. Papa Ola Lokahi is a named coalition of specified organizations (for example E Ola Mau, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Alu Like, the University of Hawaii, the State Office of Hawaiian Health, and island health systems) and others the Board admits after they present a mission, clear goals, a 5‑year action plan, and a budget; the Secretary can exclude any listed group that lacks the required mission and plan. Primary health services means basic medical and preventive care, labs and imaging, emergency and transport services, preventive dental care, and appropriate pharmacy services. Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. A traditional Native Hawaiian healer is a Hawaiian person who gives hands‑on care and learned their healing skills from elders and oral tradition.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §11711

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

For purposes of this chapter:
(1)Disease prevention
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)Health promotion
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)Native Hawaiian
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)Native Hawaiian health center
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)Native Hawaiian organization
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)Native Hawaiian health care system
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)Papa Ola Lokahi
(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)Primary health services
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)Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(10)Traditional Native Hawaiian healer
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

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Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 11711

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110