Pacific Island migrants in the United States: Some implications for aging services

Over the last 20 years, the United States has become a focus for Pacific Island migration. A demographic profile of migrants (according to the latest available figures, those from the 1980 Census) is presented along with reasons for migration. This is followed by an account of the typical social organization of a Samoan migrant community. Clashes that sometimes arise between core Samoan and American values are explored. Ethnic identity is shown to be both a strength and a stressor in Samoan migrant adaptation. Complex but ever-changing links between the migrant population and home island residents are investigated. Implications for service delivery to an aging population of Pacific Islanders are discussed.