Grouping Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians into one racial category in health data is hiding serious cancer disparities, according to a new American Cancer Society report. Native Hawaiians have cancer rates 150% higher than the combined group suggests — on par with white Americans. Researchers say disaggregating this data isn't optional; it's a public health necessity.
For decades, health researchers have lumped Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) individuals into a single racial category — and a new American Cancer Society report shows just how much that obscures. When the data is broken apart, the disparities are stark: Native Hawaiians have an overall cancer incidence of 474.5 per 100,000 people, compared to just 307.3 for the combined group, putting them nearly on par with white Americans (477.8 per 100,000).
The differences don't stop there. Cancer risk varies dramatically across the 24+ ethnic subgroups within the Asian American population, shaped by distinct immigration histories, languages, cultures, and social determinants of health. Researchers analyzed SEER data from 2000 to 2022 and found wide variation in cancer type and incidence across groups.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Aggregated data doesn't just obscure the truth — it actively misdirects resources and interventions. Clinicians and policymakers need disaggregated, culturally tailored data to address the real cancer burden in these communities.
