# Puipuia le Ola: Increasing reach and uptake of COVID-19 testing among Pacific Islanders in Hawaii and Guam

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2021 · $958,613

## Abstract

Abstract
Non-Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (PI), defined as indigenous people having origins in Guam, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of
the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau, have among the highest COVID-19-associated morbidity and
mortality rates in the U.S. PI also suffer from medical co-morbidities known to increase their risk of severe
COVID-19. In addition, PI have poor access to health care, inadequate or no health insurance, live in
multi-generational or multi-family overcrowded housing, and have low-paying service jobs that expose them to
the infected public. Hawaii is experiencing a dramatic surge in COVID-19, with triple-digit daily counts and more
than 10,000 cases. PI, who comprise only 4% of the State’s population, account for 32% of COVID-19 cases.
Our long-term goal is to reduce COVID-19 disparities among PI. The overall objective of the proposed research
is to use culturally resonant community-engagement strategies to increase the reach and uptake of COVID-19
testing to better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection patterns among PI in Hawaii and on Guam. Our central
hypothesis is that culturally appropriate and linguistically correct strategies will increase uptake of COVID-19
testing among PI, resulting in more precise SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence rates. Our
multi-disciplinary investigative team comprises physicians and community health workers, community-engaged
researchers and basic and applied scientists. The objective will be achieved by the following specific aims.
Specific Aim 1. Develop and evaluate culturally tailored community-engaged strategies to increase
COVID-19 testing among PI in Hawaii and Guam.
Approach: Engage PI communities to jointly design a strategy with culturally and linguistically appropriate
content to promote COVID-19 testing and mplement the strategy and evaluate its effectiveness.
Specific Aim 2: Determine SARS-CoV-2 infection patterns in asymptomatic PI in Hawaii and Guam.
Approach: Perform COVID-19 RT-PCR and SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgM testing of asymptomatic adult PI
in Hawaii and Guam to ascertain infection rates and seroprevalence.
A highly committed Community and Scientific Advisory Board, comprising prominent leaders in the PI community
and academicians who are dedicated to improving IP health, will provide guidance to design culturally relevant
strategies to mitigate COVID-19 disparities among PI. Strong support from the community, academia and
government attest to the to the urgency of this Community-Engaged Testing Research Project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10259631
- **Project number:** 3P30GM114737-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD YANAGIHARA
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $958,613
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-11-17 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10259631

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10259631, Puipuia le Ola: Increasing reach and uptake of COVID-19 testing among Pacific Islanders in Hawaii and Guam (3P30GM114737-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10259631. Licensed CC0.

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