Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2014 — Navigating our path to heahh equity: The Native Hawaiian ond Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Navigating our path to heahh equity: The Native Hawaiian ond Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey

Eō e nā 'ōiwi 'olino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama. E hana kākou me ke ahonui, a pili me ka hā a ke aloha, 'oiai e kūlia i ka nu'u, a kau i ka 'iu o luna. I share this message: 1) of extreme and extraordinary importance and benefit to NATIVE HAWAIIAN and PACIFIC ISLANDERS for 2014; telling 2) of origins dating backto 1997. In 2014, more than 4,000

households containing one or more Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) residents will be added to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the nation's largest in-person household health survey, conducted annually since 1957 by the National Center for Heahh Statistics (part of the Centers for Disease Control), and the U.S. Census Bureau. The NHIS (survey) collects information on health status and conditions, disability, access to and use of heahh services, heahh insurance coverage, immunizations, risk factors and health-related behaviors. "The NHPI NHIS is an unprecedented opportunity to collect rich and accurate information on heahh and related factors affecting the NHPI population in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia)." This nationally representative survey makes possible comparison of the results to national estimates on other groups. NHPI community leaders, policymakers, researchers and service providers agree that better data on the heahh of the NHPI population is overdue and high-quality population heahh data will help to plan and execute policies, as well as develop effective interventions for improving NHPI heahh and well-being. The U.S. Census Bureau will contact a preselected scientific sample of households by mail. Professional interviewers also trained in cultural awareness and sensitivity will conduct in-person interviews any day of the week; any time of the day, as needed. All data collected is used for

scientific purposes only and is guaranteed by law to be held in strictest confidence. Participation is voluntary. I strongly encourage all Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders selected for this survey to respond. Your voice is crucial to the process. It is your voice that matters. Make it count. Census 2010 confirmed that Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders make up 0.4 percent, or 1.2 million of the nation's population (alone or in combination).

The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population grew by 40 percent between the 2000 and 2010 Census. In 1997, 16 years ago, in my KWO columns of September, October and November, I informed OHA beneficiaries and the puhlie of collaborative efforts by a 20-member group at work to impact Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Directive 15 recommendations. My December 1997 article noted delivery of more than 7,000 post cards to OMB. Subsequently, the revised OMB Directive 15 established a new racial category for "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders," providing new standards for data collection on race and ethnicity by all federal agencies by 2003. In early 1995 (pre-revised OMB 15) the U.S. Census Bureau started planning for Census 2000; established four Race and Ethnic Advisory (REAC) Committees: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander. I began as a member on the API committee. In July 1999, the Census Bureau established the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Subcommittee, under the API Committee, in response to the 1997 OMB change. I served as the API Chair in 2000 that included additional NHPI members. Later in 2000, I served as the first Chair for the fifth REAC, "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders," pursuant to the revisedOMB Directive 15. Many miles yet to travel indeed, remain steadfast, holomua i ka lanakila. 14/48 ■

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