Health disparities in Hawaiʻi are linked to our history of colonization. In fact, the legacy of displacement and marginalization in 'ōiwi communities is embedded in our health care systems and service modalities. The social circumstances in which we exist today are the direct result of this legacy, and they greatly influence health outcomes. The disease experience of HIV at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels offers a snapshot of some of the most varied and stark ways in which disparity exists in health care. Additionally, providing HIV care in ʻōiwi communities is best accomplished when we can equitably address our needs and deconstruct systems that don't serve us. This session will provide an overview of colonization in Hawai'i, a brief focus on the sociology of colonization, and bring these two concepts together to talk about systemic barriers to positive health outcomes. This presentation offers a robust background to talk about the issues today in context of our history, but will offer tangible solutions to service providers.
