Isles losing
native population
to NevadaMembership in a Vegas Hawaiian
club boomed in the '90s
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders moved to Nevada at a much higher rate than other racial groups during the late 1990s, a new census report shows.
Nevada gained 563 native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders by 2000 for every 1,000 people of those races living there in 1995, according to the report, which was released yesterday.
During that time, as Hawaii's economy stalled and Nevada's boomed, the islands led the nation in per capita loss of people, with 65 per 1,000 residents moving out of state, while Nevada led the nation in population growth.
Sheldeen Haleamau and her husband, Gary, moved to Las Vegas in 1999 to start a church for people from Hawaii who had moved to Las Vegas. She also started a hula halau, and her husband is beginning to teach ukulele.
Leaving Hawaii
A Census Bureau report breaks down Hawaii's domestic migration between 1995 and 2000 by racial groups.
In-migration Out-migration Net change Non-Hispanic whites 76,455 109,897 -33,442 Asians 13,650 28,616 -14,966 Hispanics 11,179 16,902 -5,723 Blacks 10,576 17,779 -7,203 Total population 125,160 201,293 -76,133 Source: Census Bureau"We like living here," she said. "If we want to see Hawaii people and talk story, we just go to the Cal (California Hotel) or downtown, and we see a whole bunch of Hawaii people."
The census report looked at the racial breakdown of people who moved between states and regions from 1995 to 2000. It also showed that Hawaii had the highest net out-migration rate for non-Hispanic whites (116.3 per 1,000) and among the highest net out-migration rates for blacks (293.1 per 1,000) and Hispanics (71.4 per 1,000).
Asians moved away from Hawaii at a net migration rate of 31.5 per 1,000.
Net migration is calculated by taking the change in population, dividing the number by the population in 1995 and multiplying by 1,000.
The new census report looked at migration only among those who reported one racial group in the 2000 census and not those who identified themselves as from more than one racial background.
The Census Bureau notes that the net migration rate is sensitive to low population bases. Hawaii's military population may also be a factor.
The bureau reports Hawaii lost 4,000 residents who identified themselves as native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Nevada had a net migration gain of 2,400 native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, with 1,600 moving from Hawaii. Washington state had a similar net increase in the Hawaiian/Pacific Islander population.
Rae Pattison, a board member for the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club, moved to Las Vegas in 1995 in search of a better-paying job and the chance to buy a house.
She said membership in the club boomed in the late 1990s.
Pattison said there are perhaps a dozen hula halau, two Hawaiian churches, a canoe club, Hawaiian restaurants and stores where you can get laulau and poi, a Hawaiian music radio show and monthly community events in Las Vegas.
"It's almost like Hawaii and that's why we like it," she said.
