Tiva M. Aga, founder and executive director of Urban Development Programs in Hawaii, has been selected by Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to serve on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Advisory Committee on the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population.

     As a member of the nine-person committee, the Honolulu resident will advise the Census Bureau on the new American Community Survey and ways to achieve a more accurate count of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in the 2010 Census.

     “The Race and Ethnic Advisory Committees play a vital role in ensuring that we make the best effort possible to reach race and ethnic groups, not only during the 2010 Census, but also the American Community Survey that is conducted throughout the decade,” Census Bureau Director Steve H. Murdock said.

     As a community builder, Aga is a strong advocate for Pacific Islander communities within Hawaii in areas of health and social services, public awareness and building relations. She develops programs to assist Pacific Island women through health and education, with the goal of empowering women to become independent of public assistance and into homeownership.

     Aga earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Chadron State College in Nebraska.

     Five race and ethnic advisory committees — African-American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander —advise the Census Bureau on issues affecting minority populations. The committees are assembled from the public at large and representatives of national, state, local and tribal entities, as well as nonprofit and private sector organizations. Members of the committees are academicians, community leaders, policy makers and others interested in an accurate count for their communities.