A new University of Hawaii study reveals a stark 19-year gap in life expectancy between Hawaii’s longest- and shortest-living ethnic groups. While the state overall ranks among the healthiest in the nation, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders continue to experience the most severe health disparities.
Researchers found that Chinese residents live an average of 88.2 years, and Japanese residents 84.9 years. In contrast, Native Hawaiians average 77.4 years, and other Pacific Islanders just 69.9 years. “Life expectancy for Native Hawaiians continues to be 10 years less than the life expectancy for the longest-living group,” said researcher Yan Yan Wu. “Also, this is the first year we included other Pacific Islanders in our estimates, and their life expectancy is even lower.”
The study, published in the Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, links these disparities to social and economic conditions. Kathryn Braun, one of the researchers, emphasized the importance of breaking down public health data by ethnicity. “This study underscores the importance of disaggregating public health data so that programs can be developed and tailored for populations most in need of assistance,” she said.
The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted health interventions and policies that address the unique challenges faced by Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, whose shorter lifespans reflect deeper systemic inequities.
See: “UH study highlights 19-year life expectancy gap, health disparities in Hawaii” (October 24, 2025)
