Background Culturally-adapted interventions are needed to reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality among Native Hawaiian and Pacific People. Purpose To pilot test the effectiveness of a culturally-adapted diabetes self-management intervention. Methods Participants were randomly assigned in an unbalanced design to the Partners in Care intervention (n=48) or wait list control group (n=34). Assessments of hemoglobin A1c, understanding of diabetes self-management, performance of self-care activities, and diabetes-related distress were measured at baseline and 3 months (post intervention). Analysis of covariance was used to test between-group differences. The community steering committee and focus group data informed the cultural adaptation of the intervention. Results There were significant baseline adjusted differences at 3 months between the Partners in Care and wait list control group in intent-to-treat (p<0.001) and complete case analyses (p<0.0001) for A1c, understanding (p<0.0001), and performing diabetes self-management (p<0.0001). Conclusions A culturally-adapted diabetes self-management intervention of short duration was an effective approach to improving glycemic control among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.