The Filipino community of Hawaii is an integral part of the evolution of these islands. As Hawaii underwent a period of change, Filipino actors, business leaders, respected community figures, church leaders, and social media influencers of the younger generation have acted as thought leaders in the Philippine community to counter the vast amount of misinformation being spread on social media. As an expert in the field, I conducted a descriptive analysis to better understand the impact, needs, and threats to the health and social well-being of Filipinos in Hawaii during the COVID-19 crisis. The results revealed that nearly one in five people living in Hawaii was born in another country, while one in seven is a native American and has at least one immigrant parent.
The majority of Filipino respondents (75.9%) were women, half were young (18 to 34 years old), more than a third were middle-aged (35 to 54 years old), and 14.4% percent were older (55 years or older). The evaluation also revealed the challenges faced by Filipino respondents in terms of prevention, care, and knowledge about the mitigation of COVID-19. To address these issues, three general recommendations are offered. Firstly, support and funding should be provided to those who are already working to address the deep and diverse needs of the Filipino community. This could include providing access to resources such as food banks, medical care, and mental health services.
Secondly, Filipino communities should have access to information on support and resources. Partnering with Filipino community organizations such as churches can help to disburse supplies directly to Filipino families, whether in central locations such as community supermarkets or churches or directly to homes. Lastly, comparison of the estimated earnings and the impact on employment and working hours of Filipinos compared to all respondents in Hawaii after COVID-19 should be conducted. In conclusion, it is essential that we better understand the impact, needs, and threats to the health and social well-being of Filipinos living in Hawaii during this pandemic. By providing support and resources to Filipino communities, we can help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on this population.
