The Society for Prevention Research has awarded University of Hawaii Cancer Center researcher Scott Okamoto the 2023 Prevention Science Award for developing and testing cancer preventative strategies in the Pacific, according to a June 21 press release from UH Manoa. He is the first researcher working in Hawaii to be recognized for this award by SPR, an organization dedicated to promoting health and well-being through scientific investigation on the prevention of physical, social and mental health issues.
The Prevention Science Award recognizes individuals or teams who use scientific methods to test preventive interventions.
Since 2006, Okamoto has worked on developing "a culturally-grounded, school-based, drug and tobacco prevention curriculum for rural Native Hawaiian youth attending public intermediate schools in Hawaii," UH officials noted in a statement. The award-winning prevention course, called Hoouna Pono, has educated and trained more than 480 students. His method focused on developing skills to resist drug use through interactive activities, faculty-led discussions and realistic video content.
“Dr. Okamoto’s work is integrated into the Hawaii community and has impacted thousands of students through shifting their trajectory and delaying onset of substance use concerns,” said Kelsie Okamura, a Harvard University implementation researcher, in a statement. “His research creates a path to independence for other scholars, social workers, and substance use prevention professionals who desire to serve those in communities that need them the most.”
Okamoto recently received a $2.8 million grant from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toward developing a new curriculum for e-cigarette prevention in public intermediate and charter schools in Hawaii, according to an August 2022 release from UH.
More than 500 students will be involved in programming that builds off the the existing Hoouna Pono curriculum over the course of five years.
Okamoto said, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to develop and test an e-cigarette prevention intervention tailored to rural Hawaiian youth," in a statement last year. "Our proposed intervention will educate youth on the risks of e-cigarette use, while also reflecting the cultural and relational values of rural Hawaiian youth and communities.”
According to CDC data, 18% of middle school students in Hawaii use an electronic vapor product. Of these students, 30% are of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Island descent.
