Hawaii Ethnicity

Hawaii – an Ethnically Mixed Plate

Hawaii is one of the most racially diverse places in the world as there is no majority – everyone is in a minority. In the 2010 Census, more than 23 percent claimed multi-ethnic backgrounds, far more than any other state. You will find a “mixed plate” of ethnic groups in Hawaii, including Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Caucasian, Japanese and others. Almost 40% of Hawaii's population is Asian, about 23% is Caucasian, about 10% is Hawaiian (or other Pacific Islander), about 9% is Hispanic, about 2% is Black, and about 24% of all Hawaiian residents are of multi-ethnic background.

As Hawaii has become a home to many different ethnic groups in the last 200 years, each ethnic group has added elements of its own culture to local life. Today, contemporary culture in Hawaii is a mix of the different cultures and ethnic groups that make up its unique population.

You will also find a variety of cuisine in Hawaii, including beef stew, chow fun, man doo, sukiyaki, and Portuguese sausage. The rich heritage of cultures in Hawaii can be traced back to the old “plantation days” in the Islands, when various ethnic groups migrated to Hawaii to earn a living and support their growing families.

It's no doubt that the Hawaiian culture has left an indelible mark in the Hawaiian history. From the skillful, innovative ways of Polynesian sea voyaging, to the ancient traditions of the Hawaiian ohana (family), we continuously learn from our ancestors.

There are many ways to connect with both contemporary and historical cultural activities throughout each island. The culture of Hawaii has its origins in the traditional culture of the Native Hawaiians.

The Hawaiian language is now being taught throughout Hawaii schools and the legacy of the Hawaiian monarchy is still revered today. The revitalization of the Hawaiian culture continues to remind us that the past clearly defines the present.

Decline of Native Hawaiian Population

In 1778 when English explorer Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii, there were, according to historic estimates, between 300,000 and 400,000 Native Hawaiians (kanaka maoli) living in the Islands. However, over the following century, the Native Hawaiian population declined by 80 to 90 percent due to introduced diseases, including small pox, measles, influenza and whooping cough.

A century later, in 1878, the native population had dropped to an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people. At that time, the Native Hawaiians still comprised about 75 percent of Hawaii's total population.

However, over the last 120 years, the Native Hawaiian population (those with pure Hawaiian blood) has continued to decline. There are fewer than 8,000 pure Hawaiians living today, but the number of those who are part-Hawaiian or who consider themselves to be Hawaiian, has increased steadily over the last century.

Native Hawaiians Today

The majority of Native Hawaiians today has less than 50 percent pure Hawaiian blood. As of the 1990 U.S. Census, there were 1,108,229 people living in Hawaii. Of those people, 369,616 were Caucasian, 247,486 were of Japanese descent, 168,682 were of Filipino descent, 138,742 were of Hawaiian descent and 68,804 were of Chinese descent.

The Health Surveillance Program's figures are different, showing Native Hawaiians (205,079) to be the third largest ethnic group after Caucasians (262,605) and Japanese (222,014). The Office of Hawaiian Affairs believes that this discrepancy between the Health Surveillance Program numbers and those of the U.S. Census Bureau is due to the fact that the HSP's numbers include those of mixed Hawaiian ancestry with any measure of Hawaiian blood.

It is probable that many of these individuals, when asked to identify themselves under a single ethnic category of the U.S. Census form, chose an ethnic group other than Hawaiian. The Office of Management and Budget of the U.S. Government announced in late October of 1997 that beginning with the year 2000, Census Native Hawaiians will have their own Census category.

An Ethnically Diverse State

Hawaii is clearly the most racially integrated state in the United States. This ethnic diversity makes for a significantly different society than is seen in the rest of the country. While Hawaii is in many ways a much more culturally, ethnically and racially blended society than the rest of the U.S. it is not, however, a society without its own racial and ethnic issues.

It is often said that there are two types of Hawaiians, those of Hawaiian blood and those who are Hawaiian-at-heart. There are also those who are residents of the state of Hawaii and who also call the Islands their home. The people of Hawaii will continue to cultivate a rich legacy of culture and heritage with the passing of time – to ensure that such a legacy is carried on for generations to come.