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Isle census
participation
declines

Figures rise nationwide

Then and now

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

Nationwide more people participated in the U.S. Census in 2000 than a decade ago, but Hawaii's percentage declined.

The mail response rate for Hawaii dropped to 60 percent this year from 62 percent in 1990, compared to 1990. National mail-in responses increased from 65 percent to 67 percent.

Although more people responded to the census on neighbor islands, fewer people responded on the more populated Oahu.

A number of factors could be contributing to the percentage decrease, said Lynne Choy Uyeda, spokeswoman for the Regional Census Office that includes Hawaii.

"Many newcomers have the misconception if they're not citizens of the United States, why should I respond?" she said. People have a "fear of responding, fear of government overall."

"We know, especially in Hawaii and California, we have a lot of people that are undocumented," said Uyeda.

Honolulu ranks second in the country as far as population of Asians and Pacific Islanders, with an estimated 562,403. Los Angeles ranks first with 1.2 million.

"Some feel that by responding to any government program or any government documentation, they fear that they are putting themselves in a position that would be detrimental to themselves," said Uyeda. "They just choose to ignore the whole process to protect their whole family. They don't understand that this is merely a count of people."

Also, we have the additional hurdle of people who may not read, write or speak English, said Uyeda.

Other factors that may explain Hawaii's mail response rate is lack of awareness and apathy.

"Apathy affects everybody," she said.

If a community is not completely and accurately counted, it will affect the monies that each community will receive from the federal government, said Uyeda.

Currently, the Census Bureau has been working on an accuracy and coverage evaluation, a quality assurance operation based on data collected by census workers.

Statistical data must be submitted to the president no later than Dec. 31. Information collected will determine congressional districts and federal funding for communities.

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Hawaii census
participation,
then and now

The county breakdown of the state of Hawaii's census participation in percentages this year, compared to 1990:

		2000			1990
Hawaii County:	56 percent		54 percent
Honolulu:	63 percent		66 percent
Kauai:		57 percent		48 percent
Maui:		50 percent		44 percent