Research

✨ The 2025 ʻImi Pono Hawaiʻi Wellbeing Survey is now open! Share your voice on relationships, cultural activities, community, education, and health. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and is open to all Hawaiʻi residents aged 18 and older. Your insights will help shape the future of wellbeing in Hawaiʻi—join us in making a difference!

Referring to the search for wholeness and balance, ‘Imi Pono seeks a more complete picture of wellbeing among Native Hawaiians and Hawai‘i residents. As the source and outcome of multiple factors, wellbeing feeds, and is fed by, many streams. Native Hawaiian perspectives of wellbeing emphasize relationships, interconnections, and balance.

Increasing and sustaining wellbeing requires relevant and actionable data. ‘Imi Pono examines wellbeing from holistic and strengths-based perspectives. The results will inform organizational planning and improve community services for Native Hawaiians.

This interactive dashboard provides results for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 survey administration. Results can be explored for each survey question and further broken out by respondent demographics.

We believe that Indigenous communities govern the collection, ownership, and application of their own data. Updated surveys and datasets are coming soon!

ʻImi Pono offers a range of publications designed to share our insights with the community. These include videos, research briefs, infographics, and other accessible formats that present key findings and stories of wellbeing through Native Hawaiian perspectives.

Imi Pono Partners

ʻImi Pono is supported by a network of Native Hawaiian organizations dedicated to advancing the wellbeing of Native Hawaiian communities. Our partners are committed to conducting meaningful research and evaluation, ensuring that data is both accessible and impactful, helping to guide improvements in services, programs, and our broader understanding of wellbeing.

Publication Highlights

Media Coverage

Indigenous Wellbeing and Data Sovereignty: Season 3, Episode 2, Indigenous Insights: An Evaluation Podcast, September 2024
After the Fires, Native Hawaiians Find Strength in Spirituality, Cited in New York Times, August 2023
Highlighting the power of the Hawaiian vote, KITV 4, October 2022
Survey to study impact of pandemic on Native Hawaiian community, KITV 4, April 2022
The 2022 ʻImi Pono Survey, KHON 2, March 2022

Research Publications and Conference Presentations

Ledward, Brandon C.; Kekahio, Wendy; Lee, Pālama; Tibbetts, Katherine; Hostetter, Carla; Watkins-Victorino, Lisa; Cherasaro, Trudy; Tedeschi, Steven; and Germeroth, Carrie (2025). Amplifying Indigenous Wellbeing: ‘Imi Pono Survey Development and Validation. Journal of Indigenous Research, Vol. 13, Iss. 2025, Article 1. Read the full article.
Developing Indigenous-Focused Indicators of Wellbeing Among Native Hawaiians, Round table session presented at the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance Summit 2024, April 2024

2024 Findings

Beyond the Islands: Outmigration Among Native Hawaiians

This digital brief explores the reasons behind outmigration, revealing how financial strain, housing affordability, and other challenges are related to decisions to move.

Civic Engagement and Leadership Among Native Hawaiians

This digital brief explores how Native Hawaiians are leading through civic engagement, advocacy, and community leadership.

2023 Findings

Housing Stress and Relief Among Hawai‘i Families

This brief examines sources of housing stress and relief among Hawai‘i residents.

View video

Food Security and Behaviors Among Hawaiʻi Residents

This infographic explores residentsʻ beliefs regarding food security and food behaviors such as where they obtain food and considerations in choosing what to eat.

View video

Community and Civic Engagement Among Hawai‘i Residents

This infographic explores residentsʻ voting habits, trust in government, engagement in civic activities, and demonstrated leadership within their community.

View video

Assessing Health from a Native Hawaiian Perspective

This brief examines health outcomes among Hawai‘i residents from a Native Hawaiian perspective, which emphasizes spiritual, interpersonal, and land-based connections.

View video

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Among Native Hawaiians

This infographic examines the use, frequency, and proficiency of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i among Hawai‘i residents, and provides recommendations to promote the continued proliferation of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i.
‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i version | English version