Population of Hawaii

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: