What do we know about implicit bias in Hawaiʻi?

Hawaiʻi is a state widely known for its diversity. This diversity extends from its environment to its communities, and it is often an aspect that is celebrated. Nevertheless, racism, discrimination, and bias are still problems here. Hawaiʻi’s unique history and sociocultural context may generate biases that are different in some ways than those in other U.S. communities. Research on implicit bias in our state may help us to reduce biases and increase equity in our islands.

There are only a small number of peer-reviewed published studies that examine discrimination, explicit and implicit bias in Hawaiʻi, but they suggest that the diversity observed in the state does not expunge social hierarchies, stereotypes or negative associations with certain groups. More research in Hawaiʻi on implicit biases can improve our understanding of the formation of biases and their impact on individuals and communities. It may also help us to identify effective interventions for reducing biases and help others learn more about how bias can be assessed and addressed. 

Research in Hawaiʻi to date using implicit association tests to examine biases 

• The first study published by the Hawaiʻi Implicit Bias Initiative research team examined racial implicit biases among over 200 undergraduate students in Hawaiʻi. Across a variety of tests (Filipino/Japanese, Micronesian/White, Native Hawaiian/White), the majority of test-takers held some bias. Statically significant differences were seen by race categories (White vs non-White and Japanese & White vs Other) in the majority of tests. The length of residency was significant only in the Native Hawaiian/White test, which identified more preference for Native Hawaiian with longer time in Hawai‘i. The results also suggested that established social hierarchies may influence implicit racial biases (Delafield et al., 2023).
• One study that examined biases using an implicit association test to examine attitudes and associations toward Native Hawaiians compared to Whites among a sample of residents of Hawaiʻi found no difference in attitudes towards the two groups, but found significant negative stereotypes associated with Native Hawaiians compared to Whites and toward Micronesians compared to Japanese Americans (Levinson et al., 2015).
• Other work has suggested slight implicit bias favoring Whites over Micronesians in a small sample of physicians (Delafield et al., 2022). 

So what?

Understanding the biases present in Hawaiʻi and how they operate in our diverse community can help us to address inequities observed in many sectors of our society. Learning more about biases in our Hawaiʻi communities may also help other communities in the United States face challenges addressing biases toward new or different groups in their communities as diversity increases.

References

Delafield, R., Kwon, H., Mar, A., Hermosura, A. H., Chapman De Sousa, E. B., Levinson, J., & Pauker, K. (2023). Examining implicit racial attitudes among college students in Hawai ʻi, a project of the Hawaiʻi Implicit Bias Initiative. Hawai’i Journal of Health & Social Welfare, 82(10, Suppl 1), 29–35.

Levinson, J. D., Hioki, K., & Hotta, S. (2015). Implicit Bias in Hawai’i: An Empirical Study. University of Hawai’i Law Review, 37, 429–456.

Delafield, R., Hermosura, A., Ahn, H. J., & Kaholokula, J. K. (2022). Implicit racial attitudes and associations among obstetricians in Hawai’i: a pilot study. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10.1007/s40615-021-01176-4.