According to recent population data released by the U.S. Census, more Native Hawaiians now live on the continent than in Hawaii for the first time. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) expressed concern about this shift but highlighted the growth of the Native Hawaiian population, emphasizing unity among the Hawaiian people.
OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey acknowledged that it is disheartening to note that more Hawaiians now reside outside of their homeland, known as pae ʻāina. However, Lindsey emphasized that despite this, the numbers of Native Hawaiians continue to grow, calling the demographic revival "stunning." Lindsey stated, "We are and remain one people."
The Census release confirmed long-time predictions about the demographic patterns in Hawaii. In 2020, 47 percent of Native Hawaiians were living in Hawaii, while 53 percent were residing on the mainland. This marks a change from 2010 when 55 percent called Hawaii home, and 45 percent were in other states. The data also revealed that the Native Hawaiian population on the mainland is growing at a rate five times faster than the Native Hawaiian population in Hawaii. In total, there were 680,442 Native Hawaiians counted in the United States in 2020, reflecting a significant 29 percent increase compared to 2010.
The top five states on the continent with the largest Native Hawaiian populations remain California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, and Oregon, which were also identified in 2010. In Hawaii, the proportion of Native Hawaiians in the population has remained constant from 2010 to 2020, accounting for 21.8 percent of the state's residents. This marks a modest 0.5 percentage point rise from 2010, illustrating a consistent presence of Native Hawaiians within Hawaii's population throughout the past decade.
The OHA expressed a desire to keep Native Hawaiians connected to their Hawaiian families, culture, and identity, regardless of where they reside. OHA Interim CEO Colin Kippen stated, "Let us find better ways to keep these Hawaiians connected to their Hawaiian families, to their Hawaiian culture, and to their Hawaiian identity."
While both the Native Hawaiian populations in Hawaii and on the mainland are growing, there is a potential for the existing disparity to widen in the upcoming years. The Native Hawaiian population on the mainland is expanding at a rate five times faster than that in Hawaii. The Native Hawaiian Research Hui, a collaborative effort involving organizations such as the OHA, Liliuokalani Trust, Papa Ola Lokahi, The Queen's Health System, and Kamehameha Schools, is actively working to disseminate the newly gathered data. The data sheds light on the geographic distribution of Native Hawaiians, providing valuable insights for conversations centered on establishing conducive environments for the well-being and prosperity of Native Hawaiians. Importantly, this new data release marks the first time that Native Hawaiians have been separated from other racial and ethnic groups, confirming the American Community Survey's 2021 finding that the Native Hawaiian population on the mainland surpasses that in Hawaii.