Ang Kalusugan at Kayamanan: The Health and Wealth of Hawai'i Filipinos

Many Filipinos suffer from high rates of chronic diseases, while systemic and cultural barriers make it challenging for them to access care. Culturally relevant programs that integrate community perspectives and values are essential to improve Filipino health.

To understand how health may be improved using self-identified community strengths and assets, researchers partnered with Filipino residents of the Kalihi neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Researchers conducted a focused ethnographic study in spring 2016 with 52 adult residents of Kalihi to document Filipino perspectives on the overlapping concepts of health and wealth. Specifically, facilitators led culture circles, resulting in semi-structured discussions of community wellness.

Participants shared perspectives of Filipino community health and wealth, resulting in 2 categories-self and relationships, 14 thematic codes and 7 definition components. These components informed the development of a new holistic health framework. The proposed framework may inform the development of more effective health programs rooted in extant community assets.

This study sought to empower Filipino residents by acknowledging their views on wellness and prosperity that may not be reflected in conventional health care models. Further research is needed to deepen the understanding of the complex cultural relationships between health and wealth in communities of color.