The development of an acculturation scale for Native Hawaiians is presented. The Hawaiian ethnicity survey entitled “Nā Mea Hawai'i Scale” or “Hawaiian Ways” was developed in two phases. In Phase 1, 15 Hawaiian leaders and residents were asked for their definitions and examples of Hawaiian culture Their responses were worded as survey items measuring Hawaiian culture. In Phase 2, the 34-item Nā Mea Hawai'i Scale was administered to a sample of 50 Hawaiian, 50 Japanese, and 50 Caucasian respondents. Analysis indicated that Hawaiian subjects responded significantly differently from the Japanese and Caucasian subjects on 20 of the 34 items. Implications of using a functional measure of ethnicity in research are discussed.
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