Filipino Americans are more likely than other immigrants to have a good command of English and to naturalize in the United States. Compared to immigrants in general and those born in the US, Filipino immigrants are more likely to have a college degree and higher incomes, and are less likely to lack health insurance. Filipino immigrants also tend to be older than these groups. In the health sector, Filipino nurses and health professionals have played a decisive role in providing quality care to the population of Hawaii. Dr.
Jose Rizal's visit to Hawaii helped inspire and galvanize the Filipino community, encouraging them to fight for their rights and to embrace their cultural heritage. However, the problem of underrepresentation is much worse for Filipino teachers in the university system, where progress has been much slower in increasing their numbers. In 1920, Japanese organizers joined Filipino, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese workers and later formed the Hawaii Workers Association, the first multi-ethnic union in the islands and a harbinger of the inter-ethnic solidarity to come. Hawaii's vibrant music and entertainment scene owes much to the creativity and talent of Filipino artists. Today, the Filipino community continues to thrive, enriching Hawaii's cultural fabric and leaving an indelible mark on its history. Despite the deprivations of life on the plantations and the injustices of a stratified social hierarchy, since the 1880s, Japanese Hawaiians had lived in a multi-ethnic society in which they played a majority role.
The arrival of the first Filipino workers marked an important turning point in the history of Hawaii. The roots of Filipino culture are deeply embedded in Hawaii, and the impact of Filipinos on the islands is undeniable. The Filipino population has had a major influence on Hawaii's culture and economy over the past century. Philip Vera Cruz Manlapit, a Filipino union organizer, fought tirelessly for the rights of Filipino workers and played a decisive role in leading strikes and negotiations with plantation owners. One of the most visible impacts of Filipinos in Hawaii is their influence on the local culinary scene. In addition, Filipinos have excelled in several professional fields such as medicine, law, engineering, and finance, making valuable contributions to Hawaii's workforce and economy. It can be said that Filipino Americans succeeded in politics when Ben Cayetano became governor in 1994 - the first of them to be elected to state office - and was re-elected four years later.
In addition to these individual efforts, for the past 50 years Filipino Americans have collectively sought to alleviate their underrepresentation as students and teachers in the university system. The economic policies implemented by both local and federal governments have had a significant impact on Filipino Americans living in Hawaii. These policies have shaped their access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare services, housing options, and other resources that are essential for their well-being. For example, federal immigration policies have made it difficult for many Filipinos to obtain legal status or citizenship. This has resulted in limited access to higher education or employment opportunities that require legal status or citizenship. In addition, economic policies have also had an impact on wages earned by Filipinos living in Hawaii.
Despite having higher educational attainment than other immigrant groups, Filipinos often earn lower wages than other immigrant groups due to discrimination or lack of access to higher paying jobs. This has resulted in lower incomes for many Filipinos living in Hawaii. Finally, economic policies have also had an impact on healthcare services available to Filipinos living in Hawaii. Despite having higher educational attainment than other immigrant groups, Filipinos often lack access to quality healthcare services due to limited insurance coverage or lack of access to healthcare providers who understand their cultural needs. Overall, economic policies implemented by both local and federal governments have had a significant impact on Filipino Americans living in Hawaii. It is important for policymakers to consider these impacts when crafting economic policies that will benefit all members of society.
