US Census Press Releases

CB04-FFSE.10
May 17, 2004

* Special Edition *
Native Hawaiians and
Other Pacific Islanders Honored in May

In observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, the Census Bureau presents data on the native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander population. The observance originated in 1978 when a joint congressional resolution proclaimed Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. A week in May was chosen to coincide with two important anniversaries: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (May 10, 1869). In 1992, Congress expanded the weeklong celebration to the entire month.

943,000
The estimated number of U.S. residents who say they are native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander or native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander in combination with one or more other races. This group comprises 0.3 percent of the total population. Since Census 2000, the number of people who are part of this group has increased 4 percent. (All data contained in this fact sheet pertain to the native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander alone or in combination population.)
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/hispanic_origin_population/001130.html>

Education
17%
Percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders 25 and over who have a bachelor’s degree or higher education. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

79%
Percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders 25 and over who have at least a high school diploma. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

5%
Percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders 25 and over who have an advanced degree (e.g., master’s, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Income and Poverty
$42,062
Median income of native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander households in 1999. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

16.6%
Percentage of the native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander population who were below the poverty line in 1999. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Serving Our Nation
57,000
Number of veterans who are native Hawaiian or other Pacific islander. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Population Distribution

Nation

The largest Pacific islander groups are native Hawaiian (401,000) and Samoan (133,000).
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-14.pdf>

States

271,000
The estimated number of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders residing in Hawaii, making the Aloha State home to the largest number of people of this race group of any state.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001342.html>

22%
The estimated percentage of Hawaii’s population that is native Hawaiian or other Pacific islander. Hawaii led all states with this percentage.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001342.html>

Counties

179,000
The estimated number of native Hawaiians or other Pacific islanders living in Honolulu County, Hawaii. This county has the largest native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander population in the country among counties. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001341.html>

30%
The estimated percentage of Hawaii County, Hawaii, residents who are native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander, which leads all counties. (The rankings are limited to counties with minimum populations of 100,000.)
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001341.html>

Age Distribution
36%
The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders who are under 18. At the other end of the age spectrum, only 5 percent are 65 or older.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/hispanic_origin_population/001130.html>

Families
76%
The percentage of native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander households made up of families. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Housing
47%
The percentage of native Hawaiians and other Pacific islander householders who own their own homes. <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

For a Facts for Features commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, containing data on the Asian population, go to
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/001738.html>.

From time to time, special editions of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features are issued to commemorate anniversaries or observances or to provide background information for topics in the news. Below is a listing of previous such editions:

U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans (April 10, 2003)		Cinco de Mayo (April 21, 2004)
Tax Time (April 11, 2003)		Teacher Appreciation Week (April 22, 2004)
Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial (May 12, 2003)		Dedication of National World War II Memorial (May 3, 2004)
Dialing for Dollars (Sept. 24, 2003)		53rd Anniversary of the UNIVAC Computer (May 3, 2004)
First Flight Centennial (Dec. 3, 2003)		Civil Rights Act of 1964: 40th Anniversary (May 3, 2004)
Social Security COLA (Dec. 11, 2003)
The 2004 Presidential Election (Jan. 6, 2004)
Brown v. Board of Education: 50th Anniversary (Feb. 4, 2004)
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial (March 10, 2004)
50th Anniversary of ‘Wonderful World of Color’ in Television (March 11, 2004)

Editor’s note: Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and, therefore, are subject to sampling error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: (301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.

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