New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show a continuing trend of faster population growth on the Neighbor Islands compared with O'ahu.

The data released yesterday for "metropolitan" and "micropolitan" areas refer to Hono-lulu, Hilo, Kahului/Wailuku and Kapa'a, but actually represent population totals for the counties of Honolulu, Hawai'i, Maui and Kaua'i, respectively.

Hilo, with a 12.5 percent increase in population from April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2005, was the 24th fastest-growing entry among 560 "micropolitan" areas in the nation, while Kahului/Wailuku ranked 56th and Kapa'a 79th.

The Big Island's population was estimated at 167,293, an increase of 18,616 residents over the five-year period. Relatively low real estate prices and a hot job market have been credited with attracting new residents.

Maui's population grew 9.2 percent to 139,884, an increase of 11,790. Kaua'i's population was estimated at 62,640, an increase of 7.1 percent — or 4,144 new residents — over the five-year period.

During the same time, Hono-lulu's population grew 3.3 percent, placing it 219th on the list of 362 fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The Census Bureau estimated O'ahu's population at 905,266, an increase of 29,110 from 2000.

Under census standards, each "metropolitan" statistical area must have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more inhabitants, and each "micropolitan" statistical area must have at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 population. Outlying communities are included in an area's population numbers if a large number of residents commute to the main urbanized area.

St. George, Utah, was the fastest-growing metropolitan area, with a population increase of 31.6 percent from from April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2005. Palm Coast, Fla., south of Jacksonville, was the fastest-growing micropolitan area, with an increase of 53.3 percent.