For Native Hawaiians, the 2010 Census represents their best opportunity yet to make their true presence known.

The Census Bureau has intensified its efforts to get a more accurate count of Native Hawaiians. It's a drive that deserves support, by Native Hawaiians and organizations that work on their behalf.

The Census Bureau routinely asks organizations to use their clout to help encourage full participation — through public service announcements, distribution of census literature, joining the state's Complete Count Committee, providing office space, or simply speaking out publicly to endorse the census efforts.

Such support, especially from influential Native Hawaiian organizations like Kamehameha Schools and Alu Like, could go a long way to improve participation.

The importance of the 2010 count can't be underestimated. Unlike surveys the Census Bureau takes in intervening years, the decennial census attempts to count everyone, through mail-in questionnaires and follow-up visits, if necessary.

The Census Bureau plans to open up an office where a large number of Hawaiians on O'ahu live, on the Leeward Coast. The Wai'anae office will be staffed by local residents.

Critical decisions will be based on data of the 2010 count — how and where government money will be spent, where businesses will invest, how political districts will be drawn up.

No group can afford to be underrepresented; but Native Hawaiians are, and disproportionately so.

In the 2000 Census, Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were undercounted by roughly 4.6 percent, according to bureau estimates. That's one of the worst results among the major groups. By contrast, Asians and whites were undercounted by less than 1 percent.

The most common reasons given for not participating in the census — an aversion to government agencies, a fear that questionnaire information can be used against them, or simple lack of interest — must be overcome.

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual's information with any other person or agency, including law enforcement entities.

Like other groups, Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i and the rest of the U.S. should be accurately counted and fully represented. Full participation in the 2010 Census is a key step toward that goal.