Native Hawaiian population rising

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer

The number of U.S. residents who say they are at least part-Hawaiian or other Pacific islander is approaching 1 million, the U.S. Census Bureau reported yesterday.

The nation's population of Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders rose by 4 percent to 943,000 in the two years following the 2000 Census, the agency said. A similar growth rate would push the population past 980,000 today.

The Census Bureau yesterday released a variety of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander data as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The numbers indicate that the nation's largest Pacific islander group is Native Hawaiians (401,000), while Samoans are No. 2 (133,000).

Hawai'i is home to the largest population (271,000) of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, and boasts the country's largest proportion, with 22 percent of the population falling into that category.

Honolulu is home to more Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (179,000) than any other county in the nation, while Hawai'i County has the largest proportion (30 percent of its population) among counties of least 100,000 people.

Other numbers:

• 79 percent of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders 25 years of age and over have at least a high school diploma, while 17 percent earned a bachelor's degree or higher. That compares to the statewide figure of 27.9 percent with a bachelor's degree or higher.
• 57,000 Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders are military veterans.
• 36 percent of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders are under 18 years of age, while only 5 percent are 65 or older.
• 76 percent of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander households are made up of families, and 47 percent of householders own their own homes.

Reach Tim Hurley at 808 244-4880 or at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.