College of Social Sciences, UH Mānoa
College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at MānoaCollege Logo
College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at MānoaCollege Logo

The Social Sciences Effect

In this cooperative effort involving CSS and its business and community partners, the Social Sciences Effect series strives to solve Hawaiʻi’s most urgent societal challenges through bold, collaborative action. The end goal is to provide evidence-based social sciences research to local leaders so they can make more compassionate and informed policy and business decisions.

Recent developments, trends, and how to address food insecurity for Hawaii families with children is the subject of a recent study led by a team of researchers at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Social Sciences as part of its Health Policy Initiative. According to the “Addressing Hunger and Food Insecurity among Hawaiʻi’s Families” report, sustained intervention and system-level changes will be key.

  • Part 2 in the Social Sciences Effect webinar series
  • March 25, 2021
  • Download Full Report

Report Authors

  • Anna Pruitt, research associate and faculty affiliate, Department of Psychology
  • Wei Zhang, professor and chair, Department of Sociology
  • Yanyan Wu, associate professor, Office of Public Health Studies
  • Omar Bird, doctoral candidate, Department of Sociology
  • Brad Nakamura, co-director, Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy; professor, Department of Psychology
  • Jack Barile, interim director, Social Science Research Institute; associate professor, Department of Psychology

Webinar Video

Webinar Materials

Background

The Social Sciences Effect series is aimed toward solving Hawaiʻi’s most urgent societal challenges through bold, collaborative action. The series is presented by the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in partnership with First Insurance Company of Hawaiʻi.

Presented by First Insurance Company of Hawai‘i and the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences. All papers are circulated to stimulate policy discussion and comment. The views expressed are those of the individual authors.

Now that COVID-19 vaccines are more readily available, the next major public health challenge facing the state is getting people vaccinated. According to a recent study by a team of researchers led by the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences (CSS) as part of their Health Policy Initiative, targeted communications strategies may hold the key to encouraging more eligible people to get vaccinated.

  • Part 1 in the Social Sciences Effect webinar series
  • March 22, 2021
  • Download Full Report

Report Authors

  • Jessica Gasiorek, associate professor, Department of Communicology
  • Amy Ebesu Hubbard, professor and chair, Department of Communicology
  • Hye-ryeon Lee, professor, Department of Communicology
  • Ruben Juarez, professor, Department of Economics and UHERO
  • Jack Barile, interim director, Social Science Research Institute; associate professor, Department of Psychology

Webinar Video

Webinar Materials

Background

The Social Sciences Effect series is aimed toward solving Hawaiʻi’s most urgent societal challenges through bold, collaborative action. The series is presented by the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in partnership with First Insurance Company of Hawaiʻi.

Presented by First Insurance Company of Hawai‘i and the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences. All papers are circulated to stimulate policy discussion and comment. The views expressed are those of the individual authors.

Insightful virtual panel discussion on the newest developments in both visitor industries, with an examination of economic revival and what’s on the horizon.

  • Co-sponsored by Japan-America Society of Hawaiʻi
  • In Hawaiʻi: Wednesday, October 28, 2020, 4-5 pm (HST)
  • In Japan: Thursday, October 29, 2020, 11am-12pm (JST)

Description

Under the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining economic ties between Japan and Hawaiʻi is an unprecedented challenge. What are the prospects of economic exchange between the two regions? What new initiatives are in place to foster the bonds? Join us for a panel discussion on pragmatic ways to enhance the Japan-Hawaiʻi relationship. We will have brief presentations by the three speakers, followed by discussion and a Q&A session.

Speakers

  • Takaho Iwasaki has rich professional experience at Fuji Television, a major media company in Japan, and at her family business in Kagoshima. After completing her MBA at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she started her own company, MajiConnection, in 2019. She helps to connect small and medium enterprises in Japan and Hawaiʻi that are interested in startups, innovation and technology.
  • Sumner La Croix is a research fellow at the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and a former UH professor of economics. He is the author of numerous journal articles and books, and has extensively investigated Hawaiʻi’s pandemic response, what it takes to reopen Hawaiʻiʻs economy in an efficient manner, and the economy under a new normal.
  • Yasuo Tanabe is the CEO of Global Link Lab Ltd., senior advisor to the U.S.-Japan Council, and a visiting scholar at UH Mānoa. He has valued experience bridging Japan and U.S. economies at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (formerly MITI); and Hitachi Ltd. He is an expert on policy and market issues in Asia, in particular on energy and smart city development, and was involved in the JumpSmartMaui Project.

Moderator

  • Denise Konan is Dean of the College of Social Sciences and a professor of economics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. A noted international trade economist, she has worked extensively in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. She has served as a consultant to the World Bank, the Council of Foreign Relations and other international organizations, and is co-founder of the UH Economic Research Organization.

Webinar Video

Webinar Materials

HPI has already begun sponsoring research related to the covid-19 pandemic, and its effects on Hawaiʻi.

Identifying Drivers of Health and Socioeconomic Disparities and its Implications During COVID-19
Wei Zhang Ph.D. and Margaret Walkover, Department of Sociology

COVID-19 Impacts on Homeless Service Provision: Assessing Frontline Workers’ Stress and Barriers to Service Provision
Anna Pruitt, Ph.D., Department of Psychology

Potential Ramifications of COVID-19 for COFA Migrants in Hawaii
Timothy J Halliday, Ph.D., Department of Economics and UHERO

Exploring Best Practices for Communication Strategies During a Public Health Crisis
Ji Young Kim, Ph.D., School of Communications

Resetting the Table: Keeping and Bringing Back Hawaii’s Restaurants
Lawrence H. Nitz, Ph.D., Department of Political Science

Workers at the Table – Recommendations for Best Practices for the Hotel Industry as it Recovers from COVID-19
Monisha Das Gupta & Richard Cullen Rath, Department of Ethnic Studies
In collaboration with UNITE HERE! Local 5 and Hawaiʻi Workers Center

Grounding Post-COVID 19 Economic Recovery in ʻĀina Momona (abundant & self-sufficient) Systems
Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor, Ph.D., Department of Ethnic Studies, Center for Oral History
In collaboration with KUA – Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo

Re-orienting Agriculture in a Post-Pandemic Economy
Krisna Suryanata, Ph.D., Department of Geography and Environment
Nicole Milne, Ph.D., The Kohala Center

Examining Best Practices for Virtual Participatory Planning and Policy-Making Processes
Dan Milz, Ph.D., Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution