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Contribute to Hawaii wellness study

By Staff | Mar 11, 2022

Kamehameha Schools, Lili’uokalani Trust, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Papa Ola Lokahi are uniting to conduct a comprehensive study of wellbeing in Hawaii.

The findings will inform organizational planning and improve community services for Native Hawaiians.

Data collection for the 2022 ‘Imi Pono Hawai’i Wellbeing Survey began on Feb. 22 and will build on results from the partnership’s 2021 research.

The latest findings from 2021 show close family and neighbor relationships, a strong sense of place, connections to environment, high levels of civic engagement and spirituality are key factors to community resilience in Hawaii.

Uneven access to education and digital connectivity remain serious threats.

Those findings, along with ‘Imi Pono briefs focused on COVID-19 Impacts, Strengths and Challenges to Native Hawaiian Wellbeing and ‘Oiwi Leadership, are available online, accompanied by a dashboard with results for all survey questions, at www.ksbe.edu/research/imi_pono_hawaii_wellbeing_survey.

“From a Native Hawaiian perspective, resilience stems from the interdependence of Akua (God, gods), kanaka (people), and ‘aina (natural environment). When these relationships are in balance, communities often withstand or rebound from extreme challenges,” said Principal Strategist Dr. Brandon Ledward of Kamehameha Schools’ Strategy and Transformation Group.

“Hawaii has many strengths when it comes to resilience; however, we also face real challenges. The inability of some Hawaii households to access reliable, high-speed internet for learning, healthcare or employment reduces human and financial capital. We know from prior studies that Native Hawaiians, rural residents and economically disadvantaged groups are especially vulnerable to educational and digital connectivity gaps.”

The good news is all four organizations have the same goal: “… to empower and strengthen our people and to build resilient, thriving communities,” said OHA Research Director Dr. Lisa Watkins-Victorino.

Hawaii residents 18 and over can take the survey at www.hawaiiwellbeingsurvey.com. It will close when research quotas are achieved.