Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders to be
focus of group’s visit

The presidential commission seeks to aid
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

---

By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

The President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is expected to visit here Thursday and Friday to gather data on those populations.

The 15-member commission will hold a town-hall meeting at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the state Capitol auditorium.

An official announcement of the visit was expected to be made in Washington, D.C., today, said state Rep. Barbara Marumoto (R, Kahala-Waialae-Maunalani Heights), a commission member.

Honolulu will be the last stop in a series of commission visits to various states with large Asian and Pacific Islander populations.

Marumoto said she is pleased the commission is coming here "to see some of the good work we do and what we need to do.

"We're appointees but our job is nonpartisan," she said, explaining the group will look at health issues, education, economic development and immigration services affecting Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.

The commission will have a full two-day schedule, she said, including meetings with federal agencies and visits to various health facilities, such as Kokua Kalihi Valley, Pacific Gateway and possibly the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

The commission's mission is to gather data to try to help underserved Asian-American and Pacific Islander groups, Marumoto said.

"We can't address the problem without knowing the size and dimensions and where it is. The census is basic to us."

She said she believes "with a critical mass of people, with numbers, we could have a greater voice in Washington," similar to the Hispanic and black communities.

"Without gathering together the Asian-Pacific community, it's a very small voice."

Some minority groups probably do not need the assistance of federal programs, Marumoto said.

However, many others, such as native Hawaiians, Southeast Asians, Filipinos, Micronesians and Marshall Islanders may need services such as English as a second language, economic development and health, she said. "Health is an especially big issue.

"So there is a real need, which I have just learned myself. It has been an eye-opening experience for me."

The commission was established under the Clinton administration, and reauthorized by President Bush, to address needs, grievances and priorities of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The chairman is John Tsu of Milbrae, Calif., regent for the John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, Calif.

The group will advise Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on ways to improve the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through increased participation in federal programs and public, private and community involvement.