LIHUE — An analysis of U.S. Census data reveals Hawaii has the largest Asian population in the nation. Asians account for 56.9 percent of the state’s total population, with California as a distant second with an Asian population of 15.8 percent,
LIHUE — An analysis of U.S. Census data reveals Hawaii has the largest Asian population in the nation.
Asians account for 56.9 percent of the state’s total population, with California as a distant second with an Asian population of 15.8 percent, according to the research division of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The data shows Honolulu County has the largest percentage of people identifying themselves as Asian with 60.9 percent, followed by Kauai County at 51.4 percent, Maui County at 47.7 percent and Hawaii County at 45.7 percent.
Officials say 16.1 percent of the population on Kauai is age 65 or older, the highest share for the age group in the state. The 65-year-plus population in Hawaii accounts for 15.1 percent, a 4.1 percent increase from July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012. The state’s total population increased 1 percent during that time frame.
Additionally, Kauai has the highest median age at 41.8 years, with the state averaging 38.3 years.
According to an official at the county’s Agency on Elderly Affairs, it is not surprising Kauai has a large senior population because the agency keeps track of Kauai’s senior population. The agency uses this data to plan for the needs of seniors.
“The needs of our community as a whole are evaluated on a regular basis, and our decision-makers do their best to allocate county resources where they are needed,” said Kealoha Takahashi, an executive at the agency.
Although the agency doesn’t have data to support a reasoning behind the large senior population, Takahashi speculates people find Kauai to be a very peaceful place and like to retire here.
With a population of just under 1.4 million, Hawaii ranks fifth in the country in its raw population of nearly 792,000 Asians.
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders accounted for 26.2 percent of Hawaii’s total population, with Kauai County at 25.8 percent.
People who identified themselves as white accounted for 43 percent of the state population — the smallest share in the U.S. state’s total population. Kauai County has a 51.3 percent white population.
The state has about 48,500 people who identify themselves as African American, and about 36,000 people who identify themselves as American Indian or Alaska native.
The data reveals 77.2 percent of Hawaii’s population identifies themselves as minorities, which is defined as something other than a non-Hispanic white race alone. Honolulu County has the highest minority population with 80.6 percent, followed by Kauai County with 69.9 percent, Hawaii County with 69.3 percent and Maui County with 68.4 percent.
Honolulu County has the highest minority population with 80.6 percent, followed by Kauai County with 69.9 percent.
The mixed race population in Hawaii is 23 percent, while the mix race population in the nation was only at 2.4 percent.
The data also revealed 50.4 percent of Hawaii’s total population consisted of males and 49.6 percent are females.
• Andrea Frainier, managing editor, can be reached at 245-0427 or afrainier@thegardenisland.com.
