HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Hawai'i's Census 2000

Graphics
• Population changes on O'ahu
• A snapshot of Hawai'i's population
• Difference in Population by Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin
• Population by Race for Hawai'i

Stories
• Census reveals O'ahu suburb shift
• Hawai'i a racial rainbow
• Neighbor Islands feel impact of growth
• Census lists more 'Native Hawaiians' than ever

Resources
• Downloadable data
• County Information
• Census Bureau

Posted on: Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Census lists more 'Native Hawaiians' than ever

By Robbie Dingeman and Tanya Bricking
Advertiser Staff Writers

More people than ever in Hawai'i identified themselves — at least in part — with the "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander" category in the 2000 Census.

The first detailed statistics from the Census for Hawai'i also shows an increasingly diverse population, where more people see themselves as a member of more than one race.

A shift in the way the statistics were collected allowed people to describe themselves for the first time as a member of more than one race.

The 2000 Census showed 282,667 people identified themselves as at least part Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander — an increase of 74.2 percent from 1990. But 113,539 described themselves solely as a member of that group, a decrease of 30 percent.

In Hawai'i, 21.4 percent of the population now identify themselves by two or more races. And nearly 7 percent of Hawai'i's people — 84,091 — describe themselves as three or more races.

There are aspects of the data that are encouraging, said Haunani Apoliona, chairwoman of the board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

"It's a plus for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders where we have our own category," she said.

Apoliona served as chairwoman of the Census Advisory Committee on the Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders Population.

There had been a push among some Hawaiian advocates to chose one race only, something that apparently didn't appeal to a lot of people.

"In a way, it's very Hawaiian, not to deny any of your heritage," said Hartdy Spoehr, executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi, a Native Hawaiian health system supported by federal money as well as a consortium of public and private nonprofit Native Hawaiian organizations.

Spoehr, whose agency is a clearinghouse for information about Hawaiians and health, said he's encouraged by the increasing numbers that identify themselves as Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and was not surprised that many residents chose the mixed-race option.

"People have felt strongly both ways: They are Hawaiian and that's it, or they're Hawaiian, Irish and Chinese and all their ethnicities are important to them," he said.

The data shows a larger number of Hawai'i residents consider themselves to be at least part Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, a category that includes people of Samoan, Chamorro, Tahitian and other island ancestries.

In 1999, state Department of Health records estimated 223,193 Hawaiians and part Hawaiians throughout the state.

Across the country, 2.4 percent of the nation's 281.4 million people chose mixed-race categories.

The racial revisions reflect not just changing demographics but a changing political climate. The results will reveal how Americans define themselves and how the government will respond to questions about which groups deserve more federal money and which ones need better enforcement of civil-rights protections.

Hawai'i has led the way in changing the face of America because of its history of diversity and mixed marriages and children who are a blend of several races. Slowly, the rest of America is noticing the same kinds of changes, said Levonne Gaddy, a social worker in Tucson, Ariz., who is president of the Association of Multiethnic Americans.

"I don't think it will be long before we're looking more and more alike," she said. "Hawai'i has a head start in diversity. This Census more closely reflects the nature of people in America, and I think what it might do for Hawai'i is show that Hawai'i may have more in common with the Mainland."

Three in 10 people in the United States are minorities, and Hawai'i reflects a pocket of the nation where it's getting harder and harder to define people by race alone, said Stephen Klineberg, a sociology professor at Rice University who studies how ethnic communities are perceived by others and by themselves.

"We're moving away from race as a defining characteristic and toward class," said Klineberg, director of an annual demographic survey in Houston. "This Census is showing how rapidly we are moving toward a majority minority."

Demographers have mixed views about whether self-identification on the 2000 Census will complicate rather than clarify the racial picture, said Carl Haub, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington.

Pie charts of race groups in America no longer add up to 100 percent because so many people are claiming to be part of more than one piece of the pie, he said.

"Hawai'i may be impacted the most of any other state," he said. "The divisions (of race) may not be as stark as they once seemed."



Graphics • Population changes on O'ahu • A snapshot of Hawai'i's population • Difference in Population by Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin • Population by Race for Hawai'i Stories • Census reveals O'ahu suburb shift • Hawai'i a racial rainbow • Neighbor Islands feel impact of growth • Census lists more 'Native Hawaiians' than ever Resources • Downloadable data • County Information • Census Bureau		Posted on: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 Census lists more 'Native Hawaiians' than ever By Robbie Dingeman and Tanya Bricking Advertiser Staff Writers More people than ever in Hawai'i identified themselves — at least in part — with the "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander" category in the 2000 Census. The first detailed statistics from the Census for Hawai'i also shows an increasingly diverse population, where more people see themselves as a member of more than one race. A shift in the way the statistics were collected allowed people to describe themselves for the first time as a member of more than one race. The 2000 Census showed 282,667 people identified themselves as at least part Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander — an increase of 74.2 percent from 1990. But 113,539 described themselves solely as a member of that group, a decrease of 30 percent. In Hawai'i, 21.4 percent of the population now identify themselves by two or more races. And nearly 7 percent of Hawai'i's people — 84,091 — describe themselves as three or more races. There are aspects of the data that are encouraging, said Haunani Apoliona, chairwoman of the board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "It's a plus for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders where we have our own category," she said. Apoliona served as chairwoman of the Census Advisory Committee on the Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders Population. There had been a push among some Hawaiian advocates to chose one race only, something that apparently didn't appeal to a lot of people. "In a way, it's very Hawaiian, not to deny any of your heritage," said Hartdy Spoehr, executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi, a Native Hawaiian health system supported by federal money as well as a consortium of public and private nonprofit Native Hawaiian organizations. Spoehr, whose agency is a clearinghouse for information about Hawaiians and health, said he's encouraged by the increasing numbers that identify themselves as Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and was not surprised that many residents chose the mixed-race option. "People have felt strongly both ways: They are Hawaiian and that's it, or they're Hawaiian, Irish and Chinese and all their ethnicities are important to them," he said. The data shows a larger number of Hawai'i residents consider themselves to be at least part Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, a category that includes people of Samoan, Chamorro, Tahitian and other island ancestries. In 1999, state Department of Health records estimated 223,193 Hawaiians and part Hawaiians throughout the state. Across the country, 2.4 percent of the nation's 281.4 million people chose mixed-race categories. The racial revisions reflect not just changing demographics but a changing political climate. The results will reveal how Americans define themselves and how the government will respond to questions about which groups deserve more federal money and which ones need better enforcement of civil-rights protections. Hawai'i has led the way in changing the face of America because of its history of diversity and mixed marriages and children who are a blend of several races. Slowly, the rest of America is noticing the same kinds of changes, said Levonne Gaddy, a social worker in Tucson, Ariz., who is president of the Association of Multiethnic Americans. "I don't think it will be long before we're looking more and more alike," she said. "Hawai'i has a head start in diversity. This Census more closely reflects the nature of people in America, and I think what it might do for Hawai'i is show that Hawai'i may have more in common with the Mainland." Three in 10 people in the United States are minorities, and Hawai'i reflects a pocket of the nation where it's getting harder and harder to define people by race alone, said Stephen Klineberg, a sociology professor at Rice University who studies how ethnic communities are perceived by others and by themselves. "We're moving away from race as a defining characteristic and toward class," said Klineberg, director of an annual demographic survey in Houston. "This Census is showing how rapidly we are moving toward a majority minority." Demographers have mixed views about whether self-identification on the 2000 Census will complicate rather than clarify the racial picture, said Carl Haub, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington. Pie charts of race groups in America no longer add up to 100 percent because so many people are claiming to be part of more than one piece of the pie, he said. "Hawai'i may be impacted the most of any other state," he said. "The divisions (of race) may not be as stark as they once seemed."