Community Connections Through Native Hawaiian Cultural Values to Strengthen Youth Resilience, Health, and Well-Being

NCT07536256 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: NIH: ODTOD035880-013OT2OD035880-01S2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if a community referral program can improve services for youth with mental health and chronic health conditions in a predominantly Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community. The main questions the trial aims to address are:

• What is the best way for a community health center to connect youth with community programs rooted in cultural practices and traditions?
• Does participation in community programs engage youth and mental health and chronic health outcomes? Participants will:
• Participate in a community program for youth that will strengthen connection to 'āina (land) and culture. Programs in the summer are 5 hours per day, 4 days a week, for 4 weeks. Programs in the school-year are 2.5 hours per day, 2 days a week, for 16 weeks.
• Take surveys on their demographics, general well-being, mental health, and chronic health conditions they may have at 4 different times: Before the program begins, immediately after the program finishes, 3-4 months after finishing, and 6-8 months after finishing.
• Have an adult family member complete surveys on their youth's demographics and general well-being at the same 4 times

Conditions

Chronic Disease; Adolescent Asthma; Obesity & Overweight; Youth Mental Health; Youth Obesity; Prediabetes; Asthma

Keywords

Adolescent Health Services; Community Health Centers; Mental Health Services; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Community Health Services; Adolescent; Young Adult; Child; youth mental health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change from Baseline in Kaiona Survey Participant Responses

  The Kaiona Survey is an instrument developed to measure health and wellness based on local community values, embodied in the Kaiona Framework. In this framework, wellness is embodied by four values: mauli ola, a balanced state of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental health; waiwai, abundance and prosperity; pilina, mutually sustaining relationships; and ea, self-determination and agency.

  4 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, 3-4 months after program completion, and 6-8 months after program completion

• Change from Baseline in Harvard Adolescent Flourishing Measure

  The Harvard Adolescent Flourishing Measure is a 12-item survey to measure adolescent well-being around 5 domains - happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships.

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

• Change from Baseline in PHQ-9 Modified for Adolescents Survey

  The PHQ-9 Modified for Adolescents Survey (PHQ-A) is a 13-item self-administered tool to screen and measure severity of depression based on the DSM-IV criteria. 3 items specifically screen for suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm.

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

• Change from Baseline in Pediatric Symptom Checklist

  The Pediatric Symptom Checklist is a 17-item screening survey for youth 11 years and older to facilitate recognition of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral concerns.

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

• Change from Baseline in Positive Childhood Experiences Score

  The Positive Childhood Experiences Score (PCE) is a 7-item survey to retrospectively assess positive childhood experiences, especially interpersonal experiences that serve as assets and resources for developing children.

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change from Baseline in Asthma Control Test

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

• Change from Baseline in Diabetes Self-Care Inventory

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

• Change from Baseline in Obesity Pediatric Weight Questionnaire

  3 time points: Baseline at enrollment, immediate endpoint within 1-2 weeks of completion of intervention program, and 6-8 months after program completion

Study Arms (1)

Kaiona Programs Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Single arm

Behavioral: Community Referral to Kaiona Programs

Interventions

Community Referral to Kaiona Programs BEHAVIORAL

Youth will be recruited to participate in 'āina-based (natural environment-based) Kaiona programming at one of 5 well known community-based organizations. 1) Hoa 'Āina o Mākaha; 2) Ka'ala Farm; 3) E Ala Voyaging Academy; 4) PALS; and 5) MA'O Organic Farm. The program will consist of approximately 80 hours of Kaiona programming through an assigned CBO, delivered either as a summer intensive (four weeks, four days per week, five hours per day) or semester-long format (16 weeks, two days per week, 2.5 hours per day). This dosage provides meaningful cultural engagement while accommodating family and academic obligations. While Kaiona programming will not be strictly scripted, all programs will feature activities that promote cultural values identified by community leaders as foundational to the local perception of health and well being.

Kaiona Programs Arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• youth 12 to 25 years of age;
• live in the Wai'anae zip code 96792;
• utilize Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) for their healthcare, including the WCCHC School-based Health Centers;
• assessed by WCCHC providers as being "at-promise" or having a physical or behavioral/mental health concern that may benefit from further support from Kaiona CBO Programs. Conditions may include chronic disease risk factors such as asthma, obesity, diabetes, or prediabetes, as well as behavioral health concerns.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center: lead
• University of Hawaii: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

Waianae, Hawaii, 96792, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Ferenchak KS, Garcia BK, Maunakea-Forth JK, Jay CV, Pule I, Enos E, Fukuda KL, Engle A, Cruz CK, Keleb M, Raza-Furtado A. The Kaiona Framework: Centering Hawaiian and Pasifika Community in Defining, Measuring, and Promoting Health and Well-Being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026 Mar.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Disease; Obesity; Overweight; Prediabetic State; Asthma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Diabetes Mellitus; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• May M Okihrio, MD, MS

  Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Kenny S Ferenchak, MD, MEdT

CONTACT

808-697-3433; kenneth7@hawaii.edu

Blane K Garcia, MPH

CONTACT

808-697-3272; blanekc@hawaii.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Hybrid type 2 design with stepped wedge intervention design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 10, 2026
• First Posted: April 17, 2026
• Study Start: April 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2028
• Last Updated: April 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

US (1)