Implications of status exchange in intermarriage for Hawaiians and their sovereignty movement

Intermarriage, which is common in Hawai'i, has had a profound effect on Haw aiians. Ethnic Hawaiians have comparatively low socioeconomic status compar ed with other groups in Hawai'i, and status exchange in intergroup marriage s often prompts high-status Hawaiians to marry out. This article examines m arriage certificate data in the state of Hawai'i from 1983 to 1994 and focu ses on status-based selective outmarriage of Hawaiians. Evidence suggests t hat Hawaiians with higher status are significantly more likely to marry int o high-status groups while those who marry endogamously tend to have low st atus. Along with continued interethnic marriage, the process of status exch ange is expected to have a negative impact on the social well-being of futu re generations of Hawaiians and on the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.