Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Workplace Wellness Survey?

The purpose of Community Survey is to better understand the status of critical topics affecting the quality of life and well-being of individuals living in Hawai'i. Your answers will be combined with others to create reports and dashboards that can inform and improve local programs and policies. Similarly, the State Worker Survey asks state government employees about similar topics and their workplace well-being.  

What topics are covered by the survey?

The survey covers a broad range of quality of life topics and asks individuals about their home neighborhoods, disaster preparedness, food security, housing, family and community supports and resources, education, workplaces, physical and mental health, adverse childhood experiences, and access to services. Topics will be viewable across a range of sociodemographic factors, including: race and ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, education, language, veteran status, and more. 

Who is eligible to take this survey?

What can I expect when taking this survey?

In this survey, you will be asked a series of multiple-choice and open-ended questions about the topics listed above. All questions are optional, and you may skip any sections that make you uncomfortable.

How long does it take to complete this survey?

Completing this survey should take approximately 15-20 minutes.

How will data from this survey be used?

Findings from this survey will assist in the creation of reports and dashboards that can identify strengths and challenges in critical topics affecting quality of life statewide. Policymakers, state agencies, providers, community organizations, advocacy groups, foundations, researchers, and many others will be able to access aggregate data tools to guide their decision-making for local policies, programs, and reforms. 

In addition, the Office of Wellness and Resilience will examine patterns and findings from aggregated state employee responses to improve worker well-being by building support for trauma-informed care training and technical assistance.

How do I know you will keep my information confidential?

Your privacy is a top priority for us. We take great care in ensuring that we do not collect identifiable information from you. All of your responses will be held securely and anonymously by the university research team and all of our team members are required to be trained in policies and procedures to protect your confidentiality. We also plan to suppress small cell sizes in public-facing reports and dashboards. Both of these surveys have been approved by the Institutional Review Board. 

What can I do if I feel uncomfortable while taking the survey?

If you become stressed or uncomfortable answering any of the questions in the survey, you can skip the question or take a break. You can also stop taking the survey or you can withdraw from the project altogether. If you need further support, we have gathered a list of community wellness resources and listed them in the survey and on our website.

Who leads this project?

The Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Workplace Wellness Survey is conducted by the Health Policy Initiative in the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

This project is part of a collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in the Office of the Governor, under the direction of Executive Director Tia L.R. Hartsock

Jack Barile, Ph.D. serves as the Principal Investigator and is the Director of the Social Science Research Institute. As a Professor in Community Psychology, he has decades of experience examining ecological determinants of health. 

Trina Orimoto, Ph.D. is the Project Director and is a licensed clinical psychologist, with expertise in community mental health and dissemination and implementation science.

We are also fortunate to partner with a team of talented, ethical, staff and graduate students, who care deeply about community.

Do you provide accomodations for survey completion?

Individuals who are visually impaired have the option of completing the survey over the phone. Please call our office (808-956-6806) and a lab staff member will obtain verbal consent from you, read the survey aloud, and record your answers in the online form in real-time. 

Unfortunately, we have not translated the current version of the survey into additional languages. However, we hope to do this in the near future.

Who can I contact if I have questions about the survey?

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or comments by filling out this form. You may also email Jack Barile, PhD (barile@hawaii.edu) or Trina Orimoto, PhD (trinao@hawaii.edu) or call our office at (808) 956-6806.