Experiences of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women in Utah

As part of its “Belonging in Utah” research, the Utah Women & Leadership Project in partnership with the Center for Economic Belonging, convened a community conversation this fall with Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander (NHPI) women who live in Utah

Utah’s population of more than 60,000 Pacific Islanders is the third-largest in the nation (per 2020 decennial U.S. Census). Only Hawaii and Alaska have higher proportions.

Facilitators of the conversation asked NHPI women to share their experiences of belonging, focusing specifically on participants’ emotional connection to Utah, feeling welcomed and included, and their perceptions of their ability to influence decision-making.

Emotional Connection

While no participants expressed feeling emotionally connected to Utah specifically, many women described emotional connection to groups within Utah, most often commenting on home, family, and church, though many described the challenges of finding connection outside of home and family environments.

NHPI women expressed feeling emotionally disconnected to their children’s schools, both because of the lack of diversity in student populations, and the absence of NHPI’s contributions and experiences in curriculum. “The focus on belonging, and all of this push is necessary because [belonging] is absent; however, it is really frustrating to see it in action,” said one participant, noting recent legislation (HB 261) that has pulled funding and resources away from cultural and women’s centers and programs (specifically on college and university campuses) that created safe, culturally- informed environments.

One aspect of emotional connection and belonging that came up throughout the conversation was the feeling of responsibility. A participant commented, “it is up to us as individuals, as mothers, as community members, to make space and time for being able to continue to thrive and grow within our cultures and in our identities, and to support our youth as they continue to take pride in who they are and their identities.”  Some participants felt their advocacy for the NHPI community, and for NHPI youth in particular, nurtured a sense of emotional connection.

Being Welcomed and Included

Most of those attending the conversation said they do not feel welcomed and included. “We are invited based on the value we bring, and that is often as the entertainment.” Multiple participants shared examples of their families being asked to host luaus, provide hula dancing, or perform music at community or church events.

While most of the discrimination and racism described was experienced as a series of ongoing microaggressions, participants also described a few situations of overt discrimination and racism, including being denied an application for a rental property. One participant described being dismissed as a “diversity hire” the accompanying feeling of obligation to “work twice as hard to prove” her value provoked by such a statement.

Ability to Influence Decision-Making

Those attending encouraged others to register, vote, and be actively engaged in local elections. While some participants felt they had opportunity to voice the needs of the NHPI community, others felt that they, or those close to them, were not able to speak up or act. Some members of the community feel hesitant to speak up because of a lack of trust. All agreed that decision-makers who are genuinely interested in understanding the experiences of the NHPI community must first invest in creating and nurturing a relationship, and through that building trust.

The participants felt they had some influence and that their ideas were valued, but that the lack of credit they receive for their efforts indicates they themselves are not valued.  While many members of the group felt that they did have some influence in Utah, they also expressed the need for much more work to be done.

The full summary is available here and includes resources that communities, businesses, and schools and educators can use to evaluate and adjust practices and environments to increase feelings of belonging among all Utahns.