Over the past forty years, considerable attention and funding has been spent to improve the health status of Kanaka ?Oiwi. While gains have been made, Kanaka 'Oiwi continue to experience an average life span ten years shorter than that of the general population (Wu et al. 2017). This is caused in part by non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases that affect Kanaka 'Oiwi at significantly higher rates than the general population (Native Hawaiian Databook 2017). Coupled with mental and behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, there are multiple health needs that require attention to improve the health of all Native Hawaiians throughout the lifespan. In addition to these physical and mental health factors, there are systemic barriers to achieving health equity. "The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels" (World Health Organization 2017). The purpose of this article is to describe an initiative that addresses intergenerational health disparities as a public health crisis and mobilizes experts throughout Hawai?i in a call to action to implement large scale interventions that will create structural shifts to achieve health equity and social justice. The authors describe the initiative's three-pronged approach involving collaborative leadership, a strong research base and applied health framework as requisite conditions for developing a social justice curriculum as a method of addressing the determinants of Kanaka 'Oiwi health, and realizing mauli ola (Hawaiian deity of health and life).