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Away from the Islands: Diaspora’s Effects on Native Hawaiian Elders and Families in California

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Abstract

Native Hawaiians, the indigenous people of Hawai‘i, were once a healthy and hardy people. But today they are affected by varying social and health disparities that have led to poor social and health outcomes. Most of the research on Hawaiians in general and Native Hawaiian elders in particular has been conducted in Hawai‘i, even though the Hawaiian Diaspora has resulted in 45% of this population residing in North America and Alaska. This qualitative study used key informant interviews and focus group methods to examine reasons for migration and perspectives on aging and caregiving in a sample of Native Hawaiian elders and family caregivers residing in Southern California. Findings identified three general themes: discrimination was a factor in their migration from Hawai‘i; similarly to non-Hawaiians, they are concerned about challenges associated with aging and caregiving; and Native Hawaiian cultural traditions and values continue to shape their caregiving and service preferences.

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Notes

  1. Kupuna refers to an individual elder. Kūpuna refers to multiple elders. Nā kūpuna refers to the elders.

  2. 1 Poi is a highly nutritious starch, somewhat similar to a potato, made by mashing the kalo (taro) plant’s corm, or root. Among Native Hawaiians, it is considered a highly important and sacred part of Hawaiian life.

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Funding

This study was funded in part by the Administration on Community Living, DHHS, Washington, DC, by grant number #90O10007–01-00. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings andf conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official governmern policy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ha Kūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Colette V. Browne & Kathryn L. Braun

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  1. Colette V. Browne
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  2. Kathryn L. Braun
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Correspondence to Colette V. Browne.

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Browne, C.V., Braun, K.L. Away from the Islands: Diaspora’s Effects on Native Hawaiian Elders and Families in California. J Cross Cult Gerontol 32, 395–411 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-017-9335-3

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