Experiences of Filipino women in Hawaii are examined with regard to participation in the Hawaiian work force and retention of Filipino ethnicity. Ethnicity is interpreted to include a sense of identity and consciousness based on common history, culture, and territorial origin as well as race, nationality, and color. The document is presented in four sections. Section I presents background information on Filipino women and characterizes them as one of the most recent Hawaiian racial and ethnic groups. Section II presents a historical perspective on immigration of Filipinos and offers explanations for the predominantly male Filipino migration of plantation workers before 1920. Section III examines the current socioeconomic status of Filipino women in Hawaii. In 1970, 55% of Filipino women working in Hawaii were employed in clerical and service occupations. Many Filipino professional women are unable to find suitable employment in Hawaii and proceed to the mainland where they think the job situation is not as tight. Section IV presents findings from a questionnaire on ethnicity and immigrant status of 30 Filipino women. Problems most often identified by respondents included lack of jobs, underemployment, culture shock, language barriers, and lack of access to social services. The conclusion is that additional research should be undertaken on pioneering Filipino women in Hawaii, on women of Filipino background who are part of the Hawaiian work force, and on second generation Hawaii-born Filipinos. (DB)