EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Although general data and information related to Native Hawaiians are available, literature specifically on Native Hawaiian children is sparse. This section of the report provides the results of a literature review to identify the available data and information on the early childhood care and education of Native Hawaiian children from birth to five years of age.
Data and resources for this report were gathered through several methods.

• Interviews were conducted with individuals in several organizations in the Hawaiian community, many of whom are involved with Ho‘owaiwai Na Kamali‘i.
• Members of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center (QLCC), the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), the Kamehameha Schools (KS), and Alu Like, Inc. have shared data that their organizations collected or have as a resource.
• Resources at the University of Hawai‘i were also utilized:
  • The offices of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity, Operation Manong, the Center for Gifted & Talented Native Hawaiian Children (Na Pua No‘eau), and Kua‘ana Student Services provided community references and information.
  • The Hamilton Library’s Hawaiian/Pacific Resource Center and Sinclair Library’s collections hold many of the publications listed in this report.
  • Faculty members in the College of Education, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, School of Social Work, and Department of Public Health (formerly the School of Public Health) provided journal publications and program summaries included in the present report.

This search has resulted in the identification of 25 potential data sources, which include multiple data sets and reports. This endeavor also led to the development of a bibliography of 78 journal articles, book chapters, dissertations and the like. Of these 78 resources:

• 11 provide data on economic and social characteristics of families
• 2 sources provide information on the composition and organization of families
• 8 provide data on family functioning and harmony
• 31 are focused on health
• 3 analyze parent-child interaction and relationships
• 31 are related to education
  

A quick overview indicates that there is a good deal of data and information about the health of Native Hawaiian children and families. However, very little is available concerning parent-child interactions. Much more is known about K-12 education of Native Hawaiians than about early education. During this study, much rich demographic data was released from the 2000 U.S. Census, which provide the basis for the development of rates relating to various indicators for comparisons over time, location, and ethnicity.

          FAMILY

          PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

          CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH

          EARLY CARE & EDUCATION