Cultural Reconnection is Medicine | A Q&A with Noe Sagapolutele of Waʻa Collective
In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, we sat down with Noe Sagapolutele—therapist, community advocate, and founder of Waʻa Collective—to discuss culturally grounded healing, the unique mental health needs of Native Hawaiian and Pasefika communities, and how connection can be medicine, especially for those living far from home.
Waʻa Collective is a community-rooted space for healing, grounded in the values of pilina (authentic connection), cultural humility, and spiritual care.
They support Native Hawaiians and Pasefika—on ʻāina (land) and in the diaspora—by connecting folks to providers and programs that see the full depth of their story.
Born and raised in North Kohala, Noe is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Waʻa Collective. She started Waʻa to respond to a deep need—for healing that is grounded in culture, community, and care.
What began as conversations between colleagues has grown into a movement of Native Hawaiian and Pasefika providers committed to shifting the mental health narrative and supporting one another along the way.
Q: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to this work in mental health and healing?
A: From a young age, I’ve always found joy in helping others. I was raised in North Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island, where family, faith, and hard work were the foundation of our lives. We didn’t have much in the way of material things, but I remember feeling deeply loved—and in many ways, my world felt complete.
That sense of connection has stayed with me. In my practice today, I still believe that material things come and go, but what truly matters is how we show up for one another. My work continues to be grounded in the values I was raised with: faith, family, hard work, and connection. These continue to guide everything I do.
Q: What mental health needs do you see as unique to Hawaiian and Pasefika communities—and how do they differ between those living in Hawaiʻi and those in the diaspora?
A: As someone who has worked as a Social Worker in one of Hawaiʻi’s most densely populated Native Hawaiian communities, I’ve witnessed firsthand the deep struggles our people face. The pain is real, but it’s often carried in silence due to stigma, mistrust of systems, and generational trauma. Native Hawaiian and Pasefika communities consistently rank at the top of social deprivation indexes—facing disproportionate rates of poverty, homelessness, lower educational attainment, and limited access to culturally grounded care.
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Differences Between Hawaiʻi and the Diaspora:
Q: How does Waʻa Collective center healing in ways that honor Hawaiian or Pasefika values?
A: At Waʻa Collective, we begin with pilina—authentic connection. Without it, healing becomes an uphill journey. Real transformation only happens when we take the time to truly see, hear, and understand each other.
Connection means more than just familiarity—it’s about holding space for someone’s story. Even if we share the same ethnicity, our lived experiences, wounds, and sources of strength can be vastly different. That’s why deep listening and cultural humility are at the center of our approach.
In my own practice, I always return to relationships—with self, with ʻohana, with ʻāina, and with Ke Akua. To be kānaka is to be spiritual. Whether that spirituality is rooted in traditional Hawaiian beliefs, Christianity, or a personal relationship with the divine, we honor it. We start there.
Because healing isn’t just clinical—it’s relational, cultural, and spiritual. And when we nurture those connections, we give people the foundation they need to get unstuck, to breathe again, and to move forward with strength.
Q: What role does cultural reconnection play in mental health—especially for those far from home?
A: Cultural reconnection is medicine.
For Native Hawaiians and Pasefika peoples—especially those in the diaspora—being disconnected from culture often means being disconnected from a sense of belonging. Far from home, many feel invisible, isolated, or pressured to assimilate. The ache for ʻāina, for ʻohana, for language, for community—that ache is real, and it often shows up as depression, anxiety, or a deep internal conflict around identity.
Reconnecting to culture helps us remember where we are and where we come from. It reminds us that we are descendants of navigators, healers, storytellers, and protectors. Whether it’s learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, joining a hula hālau, practicing traditional medicine, or simply being in relationship with other NH/PI folks—these acts can be incredibly healing.
Q: What advice do you have for Hawaiians in the diaspora who don’t have access to NHPI therapists or culturally safe care?
A: If you’re a Hawaiian or Pasefika person in the diaspora and don’t have access to NHPI therapists or culturally grounded care, know this: you are not alone.
Start with your kūpuna. Reach out if they’re still here. Ask them questions. Listen to their stories. There’s healing in the remembering.
If your kūpuna have passed on, turn to your moʻokūʻauhau—your genealogy. Learn their names. Learn the names of the lands they came from. Do the research, even if it feels overwhelming. Piece by piece, it will come together.
And when you can, go to those places. Walk the land your ancestors walked. Breathe in the air they breathed. Let your feet touch the soil where their ʻiwi rest. In those moments, you may feel something shift—like a remembering, like a return.
Q: What’s one thing you want NHPI folks to remember this Mental Health Awareness Month?
A: Mental health is health.
When we have a sore tooth, most of us don’t hesitate to see a dentist. When our vision is blurry, we make an appointment with the eye doctor. When our muscles are tight or in pain, we might seek out a massage therapist or chiropractor.
It’s no different when it comes to our mental and emotional well-being. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, disconnected, or just not like yourself—that’s your body asking for care.
Caring for your mental health is not a weakness. It’s not extra. It’s not a luxury. It’s part of being well.
Mental health is a part of health—just like your teeth, your eyes, your muscles, your heart. You deserve support for all parts of who you are.
Q: Is there anything else you would like Hawaiians in the diaspora to know about you and your work, including offerings, vision, hopes, and needs?
A: Waʻa Collective is here for you—whether you’re on ʻāina or far from home. We understand how isolating it can feel when you don’t have access to professionals who truly see you, understand your culture, and hold space for your unique journey. That’s why we’re committed to connecting you with mental health providers and community supports who get you—not just your ethnicity, but your story, your struggles, and your strengths.
For too long, mental health has been misunderstood in our communities. There’s a stigma that says if you’re struggling, something is wrong with you—or worse, that seeking help means you’re “crazy.” We want to challenge and change that narrative. Mental health is simply part of our overall health—just like our physical health. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to take time to heal.
Our vision is to build a community where healing is accessible, culturally grounded, and centered on aloha and respect. We believe that care should honor our values—our connection to family, ʻāina, and spirituality. We want every Native Hawaiian and Pasefika to feel empowered to seek support that strengthens their mind, body, and spirit.
If you’ve been hesitant or unsure where to turn, please know that Waʻa Collective is here to walk alongside you. Whether you need someone to listen, guidance to find the right provider, or a place to share your story, we are ready to support you with open hearts and open arms.
Healing is a journey we don’t have to take alone. Reach out—there’s a place for you here.
Mahalo nui loa to Noe and Waʻa Collective for the work they do to uplift and support our lāhui with care, depth, and integrity. To learn more or explore Waʻa Collective’s mental health provider directory, visit waacollective.com.
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