Focus Hawaii Pacific Islanders

Authors

• Lance Chase
• Debbie Hippolite‑Wright

Files

Description

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii introduces the Pacific Islanders in America Research Team, led by BYU–Hawaii social work professor Debbie Hippolite‑Wright. The team—composed of student researchers from Hawai‘i, Tonga, New Zealand, and other Pacific backgrounds—discusses their groundbreaking work documenting the experiences, identities, and social realities of Pacific Islanders living in the United States. They describe several major projects: a comprehensive annotated bibliography of Pacific Islander scholarship; a study on barriers Pacific Islanders face when seeking social services in Hawai‘i; and a social‑distance survey measuring how Pacific groups perceive one another in local communities. Team members share findings, personal insights about identity, and their participation in major academic conferences, including the Tongan Historical Conference and the Asian‑American Studies Conference. The episode highlights empowerment, cultural pride, and the team’s mission to increase recognition of Pacific Islanders as a distinct population deserving of stronger research, visibility, and academic representation.

Length of Video

00:30:13

File Size

1.7GB

Archives Call Number

22.FH

Air Date

6-18-1992

Keywords

Lance Chase, Focus Hawaii, Pacific Islanders in America, BYU–Hawaii research team, Debbie Hippolite‑Wright, Paul Spickard, Pacific Islander identity, social distance study, social services barriers, Pacific Islander research, Tongan Historical Conference, Asian‑American Studies Conference, cultural identity, Polynesian studies, annotated bibliography project

Disciplines

Pacific Islands Languages and Societies

Recommended Citation

Chase, Lance and Hippolite‑Wright, Debbie, "Focus Hawaii Pacific Islanders" (1992). Focus Hawaii. 86.
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/focushawaii/86