This study will research and attempt to decrease interpersonal youth violence (IYV) in Filipino, Hawaiian, and Samoan youths in the Kailua-Waimanalo Community. The study will examine the specific roles of culture and gender in IYV, and consists of four phases: Phase 1 – qualitative investigation into contemporary relationships of gender roles and ethnocultural identity to IYV; Phase 2 – large-scale, quantitative research to build an empirical, predictive model of IYV; Phase 3 – intensive collaboration with the community to develop culturally immersed, gender-based prevention programs for Filipino, Hawaiian, and Samoan youths; and Phase 4 – pilot-testing and evaluation of the new IYV prevention programs. The results of all phases of this project – qualitative, quantitative, program development and program implementation and evaluation – will serve as prototypes for work with other ethnocultural groups, and will be particularly useful for adaptation to other API and indigenous communities that demonstrate rising prevalence of IYV.

 

This study serves as a national prototype for other ethnocultural communities by pilot-testing and evaluating an innovative ethnic studies curriculum for Kailua High School students as a way of decreasing IYV in the community. The importance of this study is that it addresses reasons that Kailua High School (2004) identified for violence that occurs in school, including: racial conflicts, personal relationships (family, friends, partners), drugs, alcohol, home violence, lack of anger management/impulse control, and media influences. Suggestions for reducing violence include promoting cultural tolerance and culturally relevant programs. The goal is to pilot-test and evaluate an ethnic studies curriculum to reduce IYV through decreasing pro-violence attitudes through critical thinking, conflict resolution, and understanding diversity. This project was completed during the 2005-2006 school year.

The research will (1) entail a qualitative study to identify youths’ and adult community members’ perceptions of the interpersonal youth violence (IYV) problem in their community; (2) encourage youths to take ownership of IYV solutions by informing and contributing to the design of an IYV prevention program that responds to their everyday-IYV experiences; and (3) obtain youths’ and community members’ ideas for ways to involve and empower them in the implementation of future IYV prevention programs. As indicated by Ms. Honda, Kailua High School Principal, importance is noted in turning to youths themselves not only for a detailed description of IYV problems that they confront, but also to solicit their input, advice, and ideas for tailoring “proven” programs to fit the risk-protective factors that they describe. The end goal of effectively reducing IYV among Hawaiian, Samoan, and Filipino youths will be achieved by helping to develop a program that reflects both youths’ perceptions of their unique IYV prevention needs and adults’ perceptions of youth IYV problems in their community.

 

Hui Malama o ke Kai is an after-school program that targets 5th and 6th graders with the goal of creating safe schools and communities through youth violence prevention and substance use prevention. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of an existing IYV prevention program in Kailua-Waimanalo and strengthen Hui Malama o ke Kai’s ability to assess ethnocultural factors, family connectedness, and substance abuse as correlates of IYV for existing program participants (5th & 6th grader) and their families. The importance of this study is in designing IYV interventions that are community-wide and involve families. Hui Malama o ke Kai (“the group who takes care of the ocean”) is a grassroots youth violence prevention program that addresses the community priorities in the “Vision Waimanalo Plan.” The APIYVPC will be able to identify significant relationships, risk-protective factors, and mediators of IYV. Newly developed measures for culture and violence will add to our knowledge of IYV and mediating outcomes (e.g., ethnocultural identity, drug, alcohol, and tobacco use).

This study will expand an innovative ethnic studies curriculum previously pilot-tested and evaluated for Kailua High School students, to include curricula for “at-risk” students as an effective way of decreasing IYV in the community. The importance of this study is that it addresses reasons that Kailua High School (2004) identified for violence that occurs in school. IYV will be reduced through students’ increased levels of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to ethnic diversity and social skills, conflict resolution, and impulse control. At present, there are approximately 90 students in the ethnic studies classes.