Hawaii County’s population is now 185,079. The latest census date was released Thursday, and Hawaii County has grown 25% since the last census 10 years ago. In the 2000 census, Hawaii County’s population was shown as 148,677.
The census looks at population in regions of their own design (not based on Hawaii County’s current County Council districts). The Kea’au-Mountain View area grew most, with its population increasing just over 50%, from 22,738 to 34,266. Other fast-growing areas of Hawaii Island include North Kona, with a 32.69% population growth from 28,543 to 37,875 in the past ten years. South Kohala went from 13,131 to 17,627, an increase of 34.24%.
The population growth pattern highlights the need to redraw County Council lines. Because of the increase in population in Puna, County Council Chair Dominic Yagong said it’s likely they will warrant two County Council members of their own (they currently have one dedicated Council member and one that also represents Hilo). The Redistricting Commission members have been appointed by Mayor Billy Kenoi and are scheduled to be reviewed and confirmed by the County Council at a special meeting on Tuesday evening, March 1 at 6 p.m. The Commission has until December 31 to submit their final new redistricting plan, which must be based on the census information released yesterday.
The state population is now 1,360,301, a growth of around 8.8%. Asians still make up the largest chunk of the state, taking up 38.6 percent of the population with about 525,100 people. There are about 135,400 native Hawaiians in the state and about 336,600 Caucasians. Blacks saw the only decrease. There are 2.6 percent fewer blacks in Hawaii, with about 21,400, down from 22,000 in 2000.
The only area of the state to show a decrease in population is Kalawao County. This is a county that most people don’t even know exists. It’s the peninsula of Kalaupapa on Moloka’i and has the same boundaries as the Kalaupapa National Historic Park. The residents are those who have lived there from the time the settlement was where those with Hansen’s Disease were exiled. In 2000, the population was 147. The newest census shows the population at 90, a decrease of 57 people or 38.78%.
The complete 2010 Census Data is online, 2010.census.gov/2010census/data. Both West Hawaii Today and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald have charts showing the population breakdown.
