Protocol for a Qualitative Study Exploring Perspectives of Native Hawaiian Elders to Improve Health Outcomes

Abstract

This paper introduces a 48-page guide for conducting qualitative interviews with Native Hawaiian elders. The guide was developed based on work with and for Native Hawaiian elders through a partnership between ALU LIKE, Inc., a community-based service provider, and Hā Kūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Components of the guide include a brief history of research harms experienced by Native Hawaiians, a summary of advancements in Hawaiian-led research, tips for researcher self-reflection as required by community-based research, and recommendations for successfully engaging community, developing research questions, gathering and analyzing data, and reporting findings in ways meaningful to community members. Although experiences of colonization and discrimination are unique to each group, this protocol has application for qualitative research with other Indigenous and minority communities.