Cancer and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

National data is limited for this population. Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders generally have lower cancer rates than the total population. However, health gaps still exist within certain types of cancer.

In 2014:1

  • Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander females were diagnosed with breast cancer 38% more frequently than the total population. American Samoans were diagnosed 3.85 times more frequently than the total population.
  • Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders adults were diagnosed with colorectal cancer 60% more frequently than the total population. Guamanians/Chamorros were diagnosed 3.8 times more than the total population.

From 2019-2021:2

  • Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander males were diagnosed 80% less frequently with prostate cancer than the total male population.
  • Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults were diagnosed 70% less frequently with any kind of skin cancer.

Visit MedlinePlus for more health information about Cancer and Living with Cancer in multiple languages.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute for information about cancer screening.

Looking for curated searches on cancer within minority and tribal populations, including Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander populations, in the United States and its territories? Check out the OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides.

Diagnosis

Cancer among adults ages 18 and over, age-adjusted percentage, 2019–2021
CancerNon-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific IslanderTotal PopulationNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander /
Total Population Ratio
All SitesNot Reported9.6Not Reported
BreastNot Reported1.7Not Reported
Cervical (Female)Not Reported1.0Not Reported
Prostate (Male)0.52.50.20
Any skin0.93.20.30
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults by Detailed Race and Ethnicity.
Adults ages 18 and over with diagnosed cancer (any) by Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander single race subgroup, age-adjusted percentage, 2014
PopulationPopulation /
Total U.S. Population Ratio
U.S. Total7.91.00
All NH/PI5.70.72
Native Hawaiian6.30.80
Pacific Islander5.20.66
Samoan8.31.05
Guamanian or Chamorro5.40.68
Other Pacific IslanderNot ReportedNot Reported
Source: CDC, 2017. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 8.
Adults ages 18 and over with diagnosed breast cancer by Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander subgroup, age-adjusted percentage, 2014
PopulationPopulation /
Total U.S. Population Ratio
U.S. Total1.31.00
All NH/PI1.81.38
Native Hawaiian1.81.38
Pacific Islander2.82.15
Samoan5.03.85
Guamanian or ChamorroNot ReportedNot Reported
Other Pacific IslanderNot ReportedNot Reported
Source: CDC, 2017. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 8.
Adults ages 18 and over with diagnosed cervical cancer, age-adjusted percentage, 2014
PopulationPopulation /
Total U.S. Population Ratio
U.S Total1.01.00
All NHPI0.60.60
Native Hawaiian0.90.90
Source: CDC, 2017. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 8.
Adults ages 18 and over with diagnosed prostate cancer, age-adjusted percentage, 2014
PopulationPopulation /
Total U.S. Population Ratio
U.S Total2.01.00
All NHPI1.60.80
Native Hawaiian2.01.00
Source: CDC, 2017. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 8.
Adults ages 18 and over with diagnosed colorectal cancer by Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander subgroup, age-adjusted percentage, 2014
PopulationPopulation /
Total U.S. Population Ratio
U.S. Total0.51.00
All NH/PI0.81.60
Native HawaiianNot ReportedNot Reported
Pacific Islander0.71.40
SamoanNot ReportedNot Reported
Guamanian or Chamorro1.93.80
Other Pacific IslanderNot ReportedNot Reported
Source: CDC, 2017. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 8.

Cancer incidence rates for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (1998–2002)

Cancer Incidence among males, rate per 100,000 population, 1998–2002
Population
CancerNative HawaiianSamoanTongan
All Sites531.6566.7428.8
Colon & Rectum65.743.1Not Reported
Liver & IBD16.354.5Not Reported
Lung109.8111.9107.0
Prostate119.7144.185.0
Stomach18.853.0Not Reported
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2008. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Patterns among Specific Asian and Pacific Islander Populations in the U.S. Appendix 1.
Cancer Incidence among females, rate per 100,000 population, 1998–2002
Population
CancerNative HawaiianSamoanTongan
All Sites488.5472.0504.7
Breast175.8102.5118.0
Cervical12.318.1Not Reported
Colon & Rectum44.038.6Not Reported
Lung69.756.9Not Reported
Stomach14.5Not ReportedNot Reported
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2008. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Patterns among Specific Asian and Pacific Islander Populations in the U.S. Appendix 1.

5-year survival rate

No national data available as of July 23, 2025.

Death rates

Cancer death rates among males, rate per 100,000 population, 1998–2002
Population
CancerNative HawaiianSamoanTongan
All Sites263.7293.9Not Reported
Liver & IBD11.832.9Not Reported
Lung87.774.0Not Reported
Stomach14.140.9Not Reported
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2008. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Patterns among Specific Asian and Pacific Islander Populations in the U.S.
Cancer death rates among females, rate per 100,000 population, 1998–2002
Population
CancerNative HawaiianSamoanTongan
All Sites198.9209.3Not Reported
Breast33.536.2Not Reported
Cervical5.2Not ReportedNot Reported
Liver & IBD6.4Not ReportedNot Reported
Stomach10.3Not ReportedNot Reported
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2008. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Patterns among Specific Asian and Pacific Islander Populations in the U.S.

Screening

Breast cancer

Women aged 40 and over who had a mammogram within the past 2 years, percentage, 2019 (crude)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific IslanderTotal PopulationNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander /
Total Population Ratio
Not Reported79.8Not Reported
Source: CDC, 2023. Health United States, 2020–2021. Table CanBrTest.

Cervical cancer

Females aged 21 to 65 years received a cervical cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines, percentage, 2021
Native Hawaiian/Pacific IslanderTotal PopulationNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander /
Total Population Ratio
Not Reported73.9Not Reported
Source: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP). Healthy People 2030. Increase the proportion of females who get screened for cervical cancer in 2021.

Colorectal cancer

Adults aged 45-75 receiving colorectal cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines, 2023
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific IslanderTotal PopulationNon-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander /
Total Population Ratio
Not Reported63.5Not Reported
Source: ODPHP. Healthy People 2030. Increase the proportion of adults who get screened for colorectal cancer in 2023.

1 CDC, 2017. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 8. (Back to top)

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults by Detailed Race and Ethnicity. (Back to top)


Date Last Reviewed: September 2025