Pono Health Legacy Study in Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans
Official title: The Pacific Ocean Native Observational (PONO) Health Legacy Study
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11378764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study in Hawai‘i will follow Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans to understand how genes, environment, and behavior influence heart, lung, and metabolic health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $624,450 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3HL169657-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in Hawai‘i who are Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American, and who are willing to participate in long-term health data collection.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not belonging to NH, PI, or AsA groups or not participating in follow-up activities may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will enroll a multi-generational group in Hawai‘i to track cardiopulmonary and metabolic health over time, using technology-driven methods to capture diverse factors contributing to disease risk. Researchers will collect health data, environmental information, and biological samples to understand how race/ethnicity, lifestyle, and biology shape diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes. The study is designed to address gaps from previous research by focusing on NH, PI, and AsA communities in Hawai‘i and using advanced analyses to uncover health disparities. Participants may be invited to provide long-term follow-up data and samples to support the cohort’s growth and insights.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this study could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for diabetes and heart disease tailored to NH, PI, and AsA communities in Hawai‘i.
How similar studies have gone: Previous NHPI studies faced sample-size and racial-aggregation challenges; this project aims to overcome those with a large, multi-generational cohort using innovative approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mau, Marjorie K. Leimomi Mala — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Mau, Marjorie K. Leimomi Mala
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.