Native Hawaiian: Other Pacific Islander Health & Health Disparities

This scoping review surveys and summarizes Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) health and health disparities research, synthesizes themes and findings, reports gaps and limitations, and provides recommendations for future studies. The literature indicates that NHOPI people suffer from higher morbidity and mortality rates, higher rates of poverty and homelessness, discrimination, obesity and obesity-related diseases, and a higher risk of, and a possible genetic disposition to, other serious diseases and conditions. They experience food insecurity, and even have poorer sleep quality than other races. The few reports of protective health benefits afforded by NHOPI race and ethnicity involve lower rates of developmental disabilities, depression, phobias and anxiety disorders. However, findings are not generalizable, and have not been confirmed in follow-up research. Future NHOPI research may be encouraged and facilitated by studies such as this, by framing the relatively scant literature within the context of social justice, and by emphasizing the vulnerable, underserved and indigenous status of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.