A recent study conducted by the University of Hawaiʻi has unveiled a significant 19-year gap in life expectancy among the state’s major ethnic groups. Published in the Hawaiʻi Journal of Health and Social Welfare, the analysis reveals that while Hawaiʻi ranks among the healthiest states in the nation, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders continue to experience the most pronounced disparities in life expectancy.
The research team from UH Mānoa’s Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, including Yan Yan Wu, Michael M. Phillips, and Kathryn L. Braun, collaborated with Lance Ching and Claire Prieto from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health to update the state’s life expectancy trends up to 2020. This updated report builds upon a previous study from 2017 that tracked changes from 1950 to 2010.
According to the latest data, the average life expectancy for Hawaiʻi residents is 81.9 years, surpassing the national average of 77.0 years. However, there are still significant variations across ethnic groups:
– Native Hawaiians: 77.4 years
– Other Pacific Islanders: 69.6 years
– Chinese: 88.2 years
– Japanese: 84.9 years
– Korean: 84.3 years
– Filipino: 83.4 years
– White: 81.8 years
Lead researcher Yan Yan Wu emphasized that while Hawaiʻi residents have shown steady improvements in longevity over the past seven decades, Native Hawaiians continue to have a life expectancy that is 10 years lower than the longest-living group. The inclusion of Other Pacific Islanders in the analysis for the first time revealed an even more significant gap, with their life expectancy nearly 19 years less than the longest-living group.
The researchers attribute these disparities in life expectancy to social and economic factors. Groups with higher levels of education, income, and homeownership, such as East Asians and Whites, tend to have longer life expectancies compared to Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
The study underscores the importance of disaggregating public health data to develop targeted programs for populations in need. By addressing the social determinants of health and raising the standard of living for groups with lower life expectancies, significant improvements in health outcomes and longevity can be achieved.
UH Mānoa researchers are committed to advancing health equity in Hawaiʻi by providing culturally grounded programs that cater to the diverse needs of the state’s communities. Through ongoing efforts to improve health data equity and inform evidence-based interventions, the university aims to promote the well-being of all Hawaiʻi residents.
For more information, you can access the full report titled “Disparities in 2020 Life Expectancy by Race and Ethnicity in Hawai’i” in the Hawaiʻi Journal of Health and Social Welfare (2025) [PDF link].
This study sheds light on the significant disparities in life expectancy among Hawaiʻi’s ethnic groups and underscores the importance of addressing social determinants of health to improve overall well-being and longevity.
