Although Hawaii has high breastfeeding initiation rates (89%), Native Hawaiian WIC* participants have much lower initiation (64%) rates. Little is known about why these disparities occur. The study's aim was to describe the breastfeeding patterns of Hawaiian/part-Hawaiian women enrolled in the WIC who had initiated breastfeeding. Retrospective descriptive data (N = 200) were gathered from WIC records. Descriptive and parametric statistics with univariate and multivariate analysis of breastfeeding patterns were completed. Mothers exclusively breastfeeding at initiation weaned significantly later and were significantly more likely to breastfeed for 6 months than were mothers who partially breastfed. Practice and policy implications of these findings are discussed. Keywordsbreastfeeding; Native Hawaiian; Women; Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program INCREASING breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration rates is a priority preventive health behavior and also a national public health goal. 1 The many infant health benefits of breastfeeding (eg, reduction in respiratory, gastrointestinal, and allergic conditions, childhood cancers, type I and type II diabetes later in life) are dose dependent; thus, infants exclusively breastfed for longer periods of time receive greater benefits. 2 Because of these increased benefits, the American Academy of Pediatrics 2 has recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding with the introduction of solid foods during the second 6 months of life. Improving children's health both in infency and in later life is possible by increasing the dose (exclusivity and duration) of breast milk during the first 6 months of life. Receiving appropriate and timely breastfeeding services has been shown to improve exclusivity and duration. 1 "Ensuring that breastfeeding mothers have access to comprehensive, up-to-date, and culturally tailored lactation services provided by trained physicians, nurses, lactation consultants and dietitians" (p19) is one of the recommendations made within the DHHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding ,1 the document setting the national agenda concerning breastfeeding. Some interpretation of who might be underserved may be projected from the maternal characteristics and breastfeeding rates collected in existing national and state databases; however, it is not a The breastfeeding initiation rate in Hawaii (89.6%) is higher than the national average (70%) and exceeds the 2010 Healthy People (2000) goals (≥75%). 2,6 Researchers have found that breastfeeding initiation for women of Hawaiian ancestry (64.0%) is well below state and national rates. 7 Healthy People 20108 sets a goal of 50% of mothers continuing to breastfeed at least 6 months; however, national rates (33%) are well below this target. 2 In Hawaii again this rate is higher than national rates, except for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander women. Many factors may influence the decreased rates (eg, increased teen pregnancies, higher rates o...