Native Hawaiian Covid Cases & Mass Incarceration
In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Although it is clear that the largest population of Native Hawaiians live in this state, they have been affected disproportionately to their share of the population. According to a study from the University of Hawaii, several risk factors among this population contribute to their disproportionate infection rate. These include overrepresentation as “essential workers” in industries such as the military, security, customer service and healthcare; high rates of chronic disease; high rates of smoking and vaping; lower overall economic status, and overrepresentation in the homeless and incarcerated population.
An interesting story idea would be to examine the affect of mass incarceration of Hawaiians on their Covid rates. In the lower 48, both mass incarceration and disproportionate coronavirus infections affect the Black population at scale. In Hawaii, the same thing appears to be happening with the NHPI population. While roughly 21% of Hawaii’s population identifies as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, this group makes up 40-60% of its incarcerated population. Additionally, most of Hawaii’s incarcerated people are imprisoned outside of the state — and most of these people are Native Hawaiian. This can create both an illusion of fewer Native Hawaiians imprisoned in the state of Hawaii and a disproportionately high number in other states — particularly in Arizona, where two private prisons for Hawaiian inmates are located.
Source ideas:
- Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, professor and chair of the department Native Hawaiian Health at the University of Hawaii Manoa
- Families of incarcerated Native Hawaiians
- Hawaii Dept. of Health epidemiologists
Length: depending on sources and their availability, 1000-1500 words