Hawaiians urged to talk about sex assault

Annelle Amaral says the rate of sex abuse within the community is high

By Jim Witty
Star-Bulletin

Because Hawaiians don't talk about sexual assault enough, it's not perceived to be a problem, says Annelle Amaral, a native Hawaiian and former executive director of the Hawaii State Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

But it is, she says, and it's time for Hawaiians to start talking about sexual assault.

Of 407 sex abuse victims processed through the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children Sex Abuse Treatment Center in 1996, 31 percent were Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian.

That's "quite high," said Amaral, a former state representative.

Especially when statistics for "any person of color" tend to be low because they tend not to report the crime, she said.

Hawaiians make up about 20 percent of the state's population.

But isolating any single cultural reason is difficult.

While many Asian cultures tend not to report sex crimes because of a perceived shame, "with Hawaiians it may just be the relationships within a small community," Amaral said. "But it's a mystery."

"Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of data," said Hardy Spoehr, executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi, the lead agency looking into Hawaiian health concerns.

"But I think those of us who have been active in Hawaiian issues for a lot of years know that it's there, know that it's a problem. Given the cultural ramifications, a lot of it goes unreported.

"There's a sense of shame, not wanting the world to know your problems. And if there's a family member involved, your sense of values are turned around topsy turvy."

What's clear, said Amaral, is the need for a massive educational campaign targeting the Hawaiian community.

The first step is to reach out to members of the Hawaiian clergy and health professionals and get them involved, she said.

"We need to build a model for sexual assault education that is culturally sensitive, whatever that means," Amaral said.

One thing that means is bringing more native Hawaiian practitioners on board and convincing large organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Bishop Estate and the Liliuokalani Trust "of the need to begin to understand the need for education and services with regard to sexual assault," she said.

The alternative is unacceptable, Amaral claimed.

"The child who grows up and gets no treatment can potentially grow up to be a rapist in the future or have long lasting mental and physical problems as a result of the assault," Amaral claimed. "As human beings, that should concern us."

Spoehr blames modern-day pressures for many of the ills.

"I think a lot of it has to do with the pressures of being in today's society," said Spoehr.

"That's not being able to make ends meet, not being able to make it economically. And alcohol and drug abuse," she added.