Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (also known as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Pacific Islander Americans): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/10/30/97-28653/revisions-to-the-standards-for
NIH MeSH · D044468Named Groups
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Also known asNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander · Pacific Islander Americans · Pacific Islander American · Pacific Island Americans · Pacific Island American · Native Hawaiians · Hawaiian, Native · Native Hawaiian
Definition
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/10/30/97-28653/revisions-to-the-standards-for-the-classification-of-federal-data-on-race-and-ethnicity). In the United States it is used for classification of federal government data on race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity terms are self-identified social construct and may include terms outdated and offensive in MeSH to assist users who are interested in retrieving comprehensive search results for studies such as in longitudinal studies.
MeSH classification
M01.270.906.750
M01.270.968.750
M01.686.477.625.594.625
M01.686.493.500.800.500
Need clinical context, treatments, or patient-language explanation?
Common questions about Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
What does Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander mean in medicine?
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/10/30/97-28653/revisions-to-the-standards-for-the-classification-of-federal-data-on-race-and-ethnicity). In the United States it is used for classification of federal government data on race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity terms are self-identified social construct and may include terms outdated and offensive in MeSH to assist users who are interested in retrieving comprehensive search results for studies such as in longitudinal studies. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander known by any other names?
Yes. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander is also referred to as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Pacific Islander Americans, Pacific Islander American, Pacific Island Americans in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander sit in the medical classification?
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander falls under the broader medical category "Named Groups" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: M01.270.906.750, M01.270.968.750, M01.686.477.625.594.625). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander?
For a plain-language explanation of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander" above.