of Kamehameha I, The 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, The Hale O Na Ali'i O Hawai'i & The Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors - MAMAKAKAUA Kānaka Maoli Medicine, research and Hawaiian sovereignty movement Kānaka Maoli. In the 1980s, Dr. Blaisdell discovered the term Kanaka Maoli, in Historical Text. He was the first to ask the questions: if one compares original historic descriptions of Hawaiians (robust health) with current statistics (ill health), what is it about western contact other than the obvious that explains near extinction of a race? More importantly, what can be done? After this, he began to pioneer serious study of Kanaka Maoli Health Research as a medical field. Na 'Oiwi O Hawaii. In 1984, Blaisdell helped to found Na 'Oiwi O Hawai'i with the goal of promoting Kanaka Maoli Independence. Na 'Oiwi O Hawai'i sponsored the first Native Hawaiian Sovereignty Conference at The Kamehameha Schools. As a major speaker, Blaisdell emphasized that the health of Kanaka Maoli is connected to the 'āina, and to preservation of cultural traditions and knowledge of one's own history and way of life. (This later became the basis for an M. Oneha dissertation, which Blaisdell nurtured and supported.)3,5 Nā Pu'uwai. In 1986, Blaisdell joined the board of Na Pu'uwai, a Native Hawaiian Health Care organization of the island of Moloka'i, with Emmett Aluli and Helen O'Connor. Na Pu'uwai became the Moloka'i-Lana'i Native Health Care System and conducted a study that demonstrated that the traditional Kanaka Maoli diet lowered blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thereby reducing risk for heart disease. (This later became the basis for the Waianae diet, popularized by T Shintani.) This study intensified interest in growing and eating traditional foods throughout the islands and invigorated the organization of health fairs in Kanaka Maoli communities to revitalize preparation and propagation of foods and other traditional medicines and healing practices. It was also one of the first studies on Kanaka Maoli health conducted largely by Kanaka Maoli themselves.3 Director, Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Blaisdell served as Interim Director from 1987-1988. Blaisdell served on the Dissertation committees for nearly a dozen Native Hawaiian PhD candidates, including Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa and Kamana'opono Crabbe. He has helped numerous candidates write PhD papers, including Malcolm Chun.1,2,5 E Ola Mau and Papa Ola Lokahi. Blaisdell was a pioneer in advocating for accessible and culturally appropriate healthcare for Native Hawaiians. He provided dramatic documentation of worsening