The United States president has acknowledged some disparities in the employment, education and health status of Pacific Islanders living in the US.
Barack Obama says he has reestablished a White House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders to improve the quality of life and opportunities for those ethnic groups.
The President made the comments as he proclaimed May to be Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month.
Figures from a 2008 American Community Survey show particularly high disparities in poverty and unemployment rates for Micronesian Americans, and some disparities for other Pacific groups.
