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The People of Hawaii
The astounding beauty of Hawaii is matched only by the
beauty of its people, each contributing to the
aloha spirit that makes Hawaii a place unmatched around
the world. Hawaii is the embodiment of diversity, a veritable
melting pot of cultures from near and far and everything
in between. Hawaii’s modern make-up of such grand diversity
gives us a glimpse at the beginnings of settlement of the
Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians thousands of years ago.
Christian missionaries from New England arrived in the islands
in 1820, dramatically impacting the native Hawaiian population
with disease and steadily growing the Caucasian or “haole”
(foreigner) population. The present
cultural mix is thanks in part to the pilgrimage of
migrant sugarcane and
pineapple workers from Portugal, Japan, China and other
Eastern nations in the mid to late 1800s. Other immigrants
that followed included Puerto Ricans, Filipinos and Koreans.
An estimated 43.5% of Hawaii’s current residents were born
elsewhere, and it’s easy to see why people travel from all
around the world to call Hawaii their home.
Today, the island of Oahu, which boasts more residents and
visitors than all other islands combined, is affectionately
nicknamed “The Gathering Place.” Samoans, Tongans, Hawaiians,
Chinese, Japanese, Maori, Canadians, Tahitians, Vietnamese,
Spaniards, Scottish, Irish, Italians and other ethnicities
combine to form the amazing lifeblood that is the Hawaiian
Islands. Whatever island you’re on, you’re sure to meet
a cast of characters with different backgrounds, locals
and travelers, with wisdom and stories to share.
With Hawaii’s intriguing mix of cultures, it is not uncommon
to hear a variety of languages being spoken on the streets,
including Samoan, Portuguese, Japanese, Hawaiian, Chinese
and Pidgin, a local dialect that combines a mix of Hawaiian
and English languages with incorporated slang.
Tourism and the Military in Hawaii
The late 1800s also marked the beginning of lucrative tourism
in the islands, an industry that grew wildly when Hawaii
experienced statehood in 1959 and the jet airliner hit the
skies. The year 2000 hit all time record highs with 6.9
million visitors that year to Hawaii’s 6,423 square land
miles (16,635 sq. km). Although the devastating September
11 attacks affected tourism quite drastically, the economy
was just about back to normal with a booming tourist industry
recovery in 2004.
As the gateway to the Pacific, Hawaii is home to a variety
of military installations, all based on
Oahu, creating a high military personnel population
in the islands: Marine Corp Base (MCB) Hawaii, Wheeler Army
Airfield, Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter Army Bases,
Barbers Point Coast Guard Air Station, MCBH Kaneohe Bay,
Hickam Air Force Base and Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Population Steadily Growing
In 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Hawaii 10th in the
nation for population growth, a statistic attributed largely
to consistent migration to the islands, a stable economy
and a low unemployment rate. Hawaii’s current population
of over 1.3 million is due largely to high military and
tourist presence, with around 72% of Hawaii’s residents
living in metropolitan areas like Honolulu. The population
of Hawaii can swell around cultural and sporting events,
such as the statewide Aloha Festivals from August to October,
the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo in February, the
Honolulu Marathon in December, or the Triple Crown of Surfing,
which brings thousands from around the world to the North
Shore of Oahu each November and December.
Millions travel to the beautiful shores of Hawaii each year
to take advantage of the unique cultural exposure found
here as well as the distinctive landscape. Hawaii is the
perfect place to enjoy the best of many worlds – from bustling
city and nightlife fun to quiet and secluded beach strolls,
Hawaii has it all. During your island travels, visit the
Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu’s North Shore, explore
the intricate and bold artwork of a handcrafted Buddhist
temple, or simply sample the amazing Pacific cuisine creations
to get a taste of the rich cultural diversity found only
in Hawaii.
Population Statistics:
Statistics courtesy of the U.S. Census
Bureau
State of Hawaii
Population (2004):
1,262,840
Population Density (2000):
188.62
Median age (2004): 36.0
years
2000 resident census population:
Male: 608,671 (50.2%)
Female: 602,866 (49.8%)
Caucasian: 294,102 (24.3%)
African American: 22,003
(1.8%)
American Indian: 3,535
(0.3%)
Asian: 503,868 (41.6%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander: 113,539 (9.4%)
Other race: 15,147 (1.3%)
Two or more races: 259,343
(21.4%)
Hispanic/Latino: 87,699
(7.2%)
Military personnel (July, 2004):
44,496 military personnel in July 2004, or 3.5 percent of
Hawaii total population
Military presence:
- Army 14,692
- Navy & Marine Corps
13,179
- Air Force 4,483
- Coast Guard
1,170
- Active Duty Military
32,354
- Reserve and National Guard
12,043
- Total Personnel
45,567
City of Honolulu
Population (2004): 377,
260
Median age: 39.7
2000 resident census population:
Male: 182,628 (49.1%)
Female: 189,029 (50.9%)
Caucasian: 73,093 (19.7%)
African American: 6,038
(1.6%)
American Indian and Alaska Native:
689 (0.2%)
Asian: 207,588 (55.9%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander: 25,457 (6.8%)
Other race: 3,318 (0.9%)
Two or more races: 55,474
(14.9%) Hispanic/Latino: 16,229 (4.4%).
Population Density:
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Oahu: |
1,545 persons per square mile
596 persons per square kilometer |
Big Island of
Hawaii: |
42 persons per square mile
16 persons per square kilometer |
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Maui: |
215 persons per square mile
83 persons per square kilometer |
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Kauai: |
136 persons per square mile
53 persons per square kilometer |
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Molokai: |
31 persons per square mile
12 persons per square kilometer |
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Lanai: |
30 persons per square mile
12 persons per square kilometer |
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Niihau: |
2 persons per square mile
1 person per square kilometer |
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