NEWS FOR NONPROFITS

Census: Proportionately, there are now more Whites in Hawaii

On Aug. 9, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2006 population update. These are some of the highlights as identified by the State Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Ethnicity in 2006:

  • Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, either alone or in combination, together made up 21.4 percent of Hawaii’s total population, a decrease from 23.4 percent in 2000.
  • Hawaii's White population is growing faster than other groups. As of July 2006, people who classify themselves White or part-White made up 42.6 percent of Hawai‘i’s total population, a 2.3 percent increase from April 2000.
  • The White-alone population increased from 25.7 percent in 2000 to 28.6 percent in 2006.  In terms of numbers, White-alone increased an average of 9,227 persons a year from 2000 to 2006. The Mixed Race population was 19.4 percent in 2006, down from 20.1 percent in 2000.
  • Asians or part-Asians still make up the majority of the population, accounting for 55.6 percent of the state total population. This is a decrease, however, from 58.2 percent in April 2000.

Gender in 2006:

  • Overall, there were slightly more males than females – 100.2 males per 100 females.
  • There were more Asian females than Asian males, but for other races there were more males than females.

Age in 2006:

  • The proportion of older residents in Hawaii is surging. In July 2006, the population 65 years old and older made up 14.0 percent of Hawaii’s population and persons 85 and older were 2.1 percent. This is significantly higher than April 2000, when the population 65 years and above accounted for 13.3 percent of the total and those 85 and above were only 1.4 percent of the total.
  • Statewide, Hawai‘i’s 65-and-older population increased 1.8 percent per year from 2000 to 2006, faster than the growth of the total population which increased just 1.0 percent per year.
  • Honolulu has the highest percentage of people 65 years old and older, 14.4 percent. Kauai County is next with 14.2 percent; then comes the Big Island with 13.3 percent and Maui County with the fewest, only 11.7 percent 65 or older.
  • At the same time, Honolulu County’s population is, relatively, the youngest with a median age of 36.9 years in 2006. Hawaii County’s median was 37.7 years, Maui’s was 38.0 years and Kauai’s was 39.6 years.

The Census Bureau has also just released 2006 income and poverty data from its Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey. A press release and links to the new data are found on the Census Bureau's web site.  Data for past years is also available. New data is also available on the State Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism web site from the 2006 American Community Survey data, including the new statistics on income and poverty for census areas with 65,000 people or more.

Here is how Hawaii ranks in a few categories compared to the rest of the nation, according to the 2006 ACS:

  • 4th – Hawaii's rank nationally for highest median household income at $61,160 – the national median was $48,451. We have relatively high household incomes.
  • 47th – Hawaii's rank for the percentage of people living below the poverty line during the last 12 months, 9.3 percent – only four states had lower percentages. We have relatively fewer people living below the poverty line, but this is offset by the high cost of living.
  • 48th – Hawaii's rank for the percentage of children living in poverty, 11.4 percent – the national figure was 18.3 percent. Again, because of the high cost of living this excellent ranking is deceptive.
  • 25th – Hawaii's rank for percentage of senior citizens 65 and older living below the poverty line, 9.1 percent – the national figure was 9.9 percent. Older people are not as well off in Hawaii.
  • 5th – Hawaii's rank for percentage of people living with cash public assistance, 3.5 percent – nationally, 2.4 percent are on public assistance.  More people are on public assistance in Hawaii than all but four other states.

The 2006 poverty line for Hawaii is $11,270 for a one-person household. Add $3,910 for each additional person.