The average life span for people living in Hawaii is roughly 80 years. For Native Hawaiians, it is 74 years. A reason several social service agencies are looking into the unique problems facing native Hawaiian Kupuna.

By the year 2020, about 30 percent of Hawaii's population will be over the age of 65. That includes Native Hawaiians. But their chances of surviving much beyond that are limited.

"They have poor health, greater disability, higher levels of impoverishment and larger families who still lack the resources for paid caregivers," said Dr. Noreen Mokuau, from Ha Kupuna.

Dr. Mokuau is with Ha Kupuna, the national resource center for Native Hawaiian Elders at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work. Ha Kupuna acts as a resource for service providers to Native Hawaiian seniors and a research arm to determine the needs of kupuna.

"Consider and develop ways to help service providers improve their care to kupuna and their caregivers through research and technical assistance," said Dr. Mokuau.

A formidable task considering 40% of Native Hawaiians live outside Hawaii.

"We have limited, no information about native Hawaiian elders outside the boundaries of our Hawaiian islands. There is simply not enough data and research collected on them," said Mokuau.

Long term and health care for the elderly is strained - but there is a particular problem when it comes to caring for Native Hawaiian seniors. Dr. Mokuau's research indicates there needs to be some sensitivity when it comes to caring for kupuna.

"Preliminary information shows that kupuna would prefer services that are culturally tailored for their specific needs. So this may be services embedded in cultural values and practices, having providers who at least live by certain cultural values and practices as well," said Dr. Mokuau.
Click here for more information on Ha Kupuna.