State and Office of Hawaiian Affairs studies document the overrepresentation of Native Hawaiian youth in Hawaii's juvenile justice system. Research identifies program features that reduce reoffending; this paper connects the two.
Abstract
Research documenting the specific drivers of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth overrepresentation in Hawaii's juvenile justice system and island-specific intervention alternatives. All ISPI research is free under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Key Findings
Hawaii's disproportionate minority contact study (2000–2010) and OHA's 2010 report document overrepresentation of Native Hawaiian youth
Lipsey's 2009 meta-analysis found therapeutic programs reduce reoffending more than control-oriented approaches
In ISPI's analysis, culturally adapted programs that engage 'ohana and wider access on rural islands are the main levers
Summary of the paper
"At-Risk Youth Intervention Policy" asks how Hawaii can reduce the overrepresentation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth in its juvenile justice system and widen access to alternatives to detention.
It draws on Hawaii's disproportionate minority contact study (2000–2010), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' 2010 report, Lipsey's 2009 meta-analysis, and MDRC's national evaluation of National Guard Youth ChalleNGe.
What the paper finds
- Documented overrepresentation. State and OHA studies document the overrepresentation of Native Hawaiian youth.
- Therapeutic approaches work better. Lipsey's meta-analysis found therapeutic programs reduce reoffending more than control-oriented ones.
- Youth ChalleNGe evidence. MDRC found gains in high school credentials, college credits and employment at three years, but no significant effect on criminal activity.
- Access and culture, in ISPI's analysis. Rural and Neighbor Island families lack local programs, and ohana engagement matters.
What it recommends
- Family Court: validated structured decision-making at detention and diversion points.
- Legislature: fund expansion of evidence-based programs, including telehealth delivery.
- DHS: cultural adaptation standards.
- National Guard and Family Court: study a Youth ChalleNGe referral pathway.
Who it's for
Family Court, juvenile justice agencies, DHS, legislators, and youth service providers.
Discipline 14 — Decolonizing Research — is mandatory for this research area. Pacific Islander youth overrepresentation in juvenile justice systems is a concern in several Pacific jurisdictions; in ISPI's analysis the drivers may share structural features.
Cite as
Pulley, Warren (2026). At-Risk Youth Intervention Policy for Pacific Island and Native Hawaiian Communities: Evidence, Gaps, and Reform for the Populations Most Underserved by Existing Juvenile Justice Frameworks (ISPI WP-09). Island Security Policy Institute, Honolulu. https://ispiglobal.com/papers-landing/wp09-at-risk-youth https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23449810
BibTeX
@techreport{ispiwp092026,
author = {Pulley, Warren},
title = {At-Risk Youth Intervention Policy for Pacific Island and Native Hawaiian Communities: Evidence, Gaps, and Reform for the Populations Most Underserved by Existing Juvenile Justice Frameworks},
institution = {Island Security Policy Institute},
address = {Honolulu, HI},
number = {ISPI WP-09},
year = {2026},
url = {https://ispiglobal.com/papers-landing/wp09-at-risk-youth},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23449810}
}Related Research
WP-07 — Community Policing →HI-07 — Native Hawaiian Rights and DHHL →PB-17 — Juvenile Justice Pacific Island Communities →Related analysis
AnalysisNative Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth in the Justice System — Decades of Disparity, Decades Without Research →AnalysisHow Foundations Use Independent Research to Strengthen Island Community Grantmaking →AnalysisState and Local Governments in Island Communities and the Research Gap →PaperWP-08 — Public Safety Workforce Development in Island Communities →PaperWP-10 — Democratic Resilience in Pacific Island Nations →GuideHawaii Law Enforcement Workforce & Recruitment: Research and FAQ →Pulley, Warren. "At-Risk Youth and Juvenile Justice in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities." Island Security Policy Institute, 2026. https://ispiglobal.com/papers-landing/wp09-at-risk-youth
