A Message from our Executive Director

I am more than pleased to accept a leadership role with the Hawaii Consortium for Integrative Healthcare. For the last two years, I have been developing and facilitating the Hawaii Cancer Lecture Series, a series designed to advance an integrative approach to cancer. The mission of the Consortium is consistent with my belief that this approach to health and healing has much to offer.

In many respects, Hawaii is a leader in integrative healthcare. The Consortium is the only one of its kind that has pulled together such a diverse group of healthcare organizations with the mutual interest of advancing integrative healthcare. Members include the major hospitals, insurance companies, CAM schools and associations, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and integrative clinics. Hawaii also has one of the few medical schools with a full department devoted to complementary alternative medicine. A recent study by that department shows that people in Hawaii use complementary alternative medicine from 4 to 10 times the rate of people on the mainland---reflecting a culture which is comfortable with both conventional and CAM treatments. The Hawaii legislature has gone on record in honoring the value of the traditional healing practices of the Native Hawaiians. Hawaii also has a relatively high number of CAM colleges and the major integrative healthcare modalities operating in Hawaii are licensed with high professional standards.

Many look to Hawaii as the bridge between East and West in many areas. I believe that we can be that bridge in the understanding and combining of Eastern and Western traditions of healthcare. I look forward to working with members and friends of the Consortium in making that happen.

Laura Crites,
Hawaii Integrative Healthcare Consortium
Executive Director