Objective. We examined differences among seven major ethnic groups in Hawaii in life expectancy at birth (e[0]) and mortality at broad age groups. Methods. We constructed life tables for 2000 for Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, and Samoan ethnic groups in Hawaii. We partitioned overall mortality into broad age groups: <15 (representing premature mortality), 15-65 (representing working age), and 66-84 and ≥85 (representing senescent mortality). Results. The overall e(0) in Hawaii was 80.5 years, but the difference between the longest-living group (Chinese) and the shortest-living group (Samoan) was 13 years. Chinese had the lowest mortality rates in each age group except the ≥85 category. In this last age group, we observed anomalously low rates for some new immigrant groups (especially Samoan males) suggesting, as a cause, that elders in these immigrant groups may return to natal countries in their old age and die there. In the <15 age group, mortality rates for Samoans and Koreans were highest, especially for Korean girls, suggesting some continuance in the U.S. of a preference for boy children. Outside of these anomalies, ethnic differences in e(0) were likely explained by socioeconomic and behavioral variables known to affect mortality levels, which are closely associated with ethnicity in Hawaii. Conclusions. These findings confirm the need to disaggregate Asian and Pacific Islander data, to conduct ethnic-specific research, and to address socioeconomic disparities. ©2009 Association of Schools of Public Health.

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Samoan Islands birth immigrant Chinese Filipino Asian Japanese control group Life Tables Caucasian health disparity Health Status Disparities human middle aged ethnic group controlled study priority journal Aged Health Surveys ethnology groups by age United States Young Adult Humans ethnic difference Adolescent life table life expectancy male female Pacific Islander Behavior socioeconomics Article adult senescence Hawaii mortality Korea health survey