Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards research for Native Hawaiian Historical Trauma Scale Development

The University of Hawai’i Mānoa is leading a new initiative to address the lasting impacts of colonial trauma on Native Hawaiian communities, funded by Evidence for Action (E4A), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, through a $575,000, three-year grant. Directed by Lorinda Riley, SJD, the project will develop and validate a culturally grounded Historical Trauma and Resilience (HTR) instrument. In plain terms, the team is creating a community-informed tool that measures both the harms caused by colonization and the cultural strengths that help Native Hawaiians heal and thrive.

By partnering with Native Hawaiian community organizations across the islands, researchers will ensure the tool reflects lived experiences and cultural realities. The findings will help communities, service providers, and funders better understand how historical trauma affects mental and physical health, education, employment, and social connection while also identifying protective cultural resources that foster resilience and wellbeing. Ultimately, this project will provide practical guidance and credible data to shape policy and advance long-term healing and Indigenous equity.