The study addresses parental coping patterns of children with congenital heart disease in the state of Hawaii. Attention was given to geography and ethnicity as well as parental and child characteristics as factors impacting on the coping pattern. Telephone interviews with parents (N=32) obtained data concerning parent characteristics, their perception and utilization of formal and informal resources, child characteristics, family life and family relationships, social support, and understanding of the medical situation. Among findings were that this sample of children was not substantially disabled by their heart disease, that 60% of parents anticipated complete recovery of their child, and that coping mechanisms focused on family integration and understanding the medical situation. The questionnaire used, "Coping Health Inventory for Parents" was judged to be appropriate for clinical assessment of this population. (DB)