Life Themes of Native Hawaiian Female Elders: Resources for Cultural Preservation

America's aged population now totals nearly 31.8 million, or 12.6 percent of the population, and the majority of elderly people are women--19.0 million women compared to 12.8 million men (American Association of Retired Persons, 1993). However, data on the distinctions between elderly men and women remain limited. Available data suggest that differences in socioeconomic profile, health, and social status exist between older men and women (Butler, Lewis, & Sunderland, 1991; Verbrugge, 1989), with women having substantially lower incomes (Minkler & Stone, 1985; O'Grady-LeShane, 1990), more chronic ailments (Verbrugge, 1989), and less societal valuation than older men (Butler et al., 1991; Padgett, 1989). The disadvantaged status of older women is more severe when race and ethnicity are considered (Dressel, 1988; Padgett, 1989). The minority aging literature rarely provides breakdowns by gender, and literature on older women too often neglects minority issues (Gould, 1989). This serious gap in simple descriptive and epidemiological data on older women who are African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Eskimo or Aleut, and Asian or Pacific Islander affirms the critical need for research on the needs of older women of color, particularly in light of their experience with "quadruple jeopardy" (that is, to be old, female, poor, and of minority status), a term coined in the 1970s by Jackson (1971) that attributes older women's oppression to ageism, sexism, classism, and racism. A different approach to studying older women's life challenges has been to describe their strengths and adaptive life patterns (Padgett, 1989). One theme identified in research has been the value placed by older women on their strong social support systems with other women (Hess & Waring, 1983; Markson, 1983) and with members of their families (Anastas, Gibeau, & Larson, 1990; Wilson, 1990). Studies on older women of color have identified similar values on friendships and family relationships (Aschenbrenner, 1975; Husaini et al., 1991; Shomaker, 1990; Stack, 1974). These studies and others emphasize the importance of relationships and social supports as a strength and a key survival strategy in adversity. Native Hawaiians compose the largest group within the nation's Pacific Islander population. Data have documented the pivotal role women in this culture have assumed in the caretaking, support, and bonding of family relationships, yet there is a paucity of information specific to female elders in this culture. The absence of this information is especially critical because of the historical loss of cultural traditions (Blaisdell & Mokuau, 1991) and the anticipation that greater loss will occur with the deaths of these elders. This article identifies and examines life themes in the lives of native Hawaiian female elders (kupuna) through a summation of information generated in an oral history project sponsored by the University of Hawaii in Manoa. Attention has been given to the kupunas' memories of their mothers and grandmothers. This article provides general information on the lives of native Hawaiian elderly adults, describes the major themes in life experiences of native Hawaiian female kupuna, and contributes to the preservation of cultural knowledge on native Hawaiians. Implications and issues for social work policy and research are discussed. Native Hawaiian Elders The Asian and Pacific Islander population is the fastest growing population in the United States (Bryant, 1991). The population is extremely heterogeneous and includes more than 30 cultures. Data from the 1990 census noted that this population doubled from 1980 to 1990 to number 7,273,662 of the nation's nearly 250 million people (Bryant, 1991). Native Hawaiians, the Pacific Islander population indigenous to the Hawaiian islands, make up the largest subgroup (66 percent) of the Pacific Islander group, followed by Samoans (15 percent), Chamorros (12 percent), and other Pacific Island groups (Liu & Yu, 1985). …