Pacific Islander Community Council


Serving Pacific Islanders in Southern California


By Houkje Ross


Closing the Gap, Pacific Islander Health • June/July 2000


Last year, the Pacific Islander Community Council (PICC) asked 

local community health centers in Southern California to ident­

 ify how many Pacific Islanders they serve. What PICC found 

is that many organizations confused Pacific Islanders with Asian Americans. “They came back with numbers for how many Filipinos and 

Pacific Rim Asians they served, but Filipinos are not Pacific Islanders,” 

said Jane Ka‘ala Pang, PICC’s special projects chair. 

“Few know about Pacific Islanders—our health practices, cultural values, beliefs, and most of all, our health crisis.” 

PICC, a grassroots organization in Carson, CA, was founded in 

1991 to promote the cultural traditions, island practices, native languages, education, health, and welfare of all Pacific Islanders in Southern California. The Council represents Chamorros, Native Hawaiians, 

Samoans, Tongans, Tahitians, and other native Pacific Islanders from 

Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. 

Pang said in the last few years, health has become a main priority. 

Recent PICC surveys reveal that Pacific Islanders in the area face barriers to care because of lack of insurance or financial support, language 

and cultural barriers, and transportation. 

Pacific Islanders have also reported problems with diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. As a result, PICC 

has expanded its services on health education and care.Twenty volunteer community members serve on the council, representing Pacific 

Islanders from Ventura to San Diego. 

PICC meets monthly to plan an annual Pacific Islander festival, 

leadership development workshops, health screenings, and community assessment surveys. PICC and the ‘Ainahau O Kaleponi Hawaiian Civic Club (HCC) have initiated several projects, addressing the 

importance of drug-free communities, senior nutritional centers, and 

breast cancer awareness. 

PICC and HCC also joined together to hold a conference on 

Pacific Islander beliefs and health practices called, “Returning to Our 

Roots.” Held in 1999, the conference brought together seniors, academics, nutrition students, and service providers, and emphasized the 

importance of traditional foods for Pacific Islanders. 

The conference focused on how taro (karo), sweet potato (‘uala), 

and breadfruit (‘ulu) serve not only as a nutritional source, but as 

spiritual energy. “These roots are foods of the Gods,” Pang said. HCC 

is working on a similar project focusing on traditional Hawaiian diet. 

Upcoming PICC activities include partnering with health providers to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate care.Through 

PICC, a small network of Pacific Islander health professionals will 

continue to volunteer at community events, educate the public, and 

provide health information and referral services to Pacific Islanders. 

“This will enable the community to gain a larger voice and become 

more recognized,” Pang said. 

For more information on PICC, contact Jane Pang, 714-968­

1785.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services