Census offers
close-up view
inside Hawaii
households

The survey tells where the
smallest and largest families
live, among other data

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Want to live among people who live alone? Try the Fern Forest section of the Big Island's Puna district, where 43.7 percent of the population are people who live by themselves.

Where will you find the least number of households with single mothers? Kaumakani, Kauai, has none.

Those are some of the numbers that can be culled from the Census 2000 numbers released Friday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The statistics reflect geographic regions defined by the Census Bureau as "census designated places." Information released Friday reflects population, gender, race, living arrangements and housing types. Other information is expected to be released in the future.

>> Living together out-of-wedlock surged in popularity in the 1990s. A16

These statistics should not be considered a reflection of everything in Hawaii because the CDPs in Census 2000 failed to take into account some new sections of the state such as Kapolei and Mililani Mauka.

The numbers do, however, offer some interesting snapshots.

For instance, among the most unusual places in Hawaii is the resort town of Maalaea near Kihei, Maui. It boasts the oldest median age in the state (52.9) and the smallest average family size (2.27).

The statistics below reflect CDPs with populations of 100 or more people:

>> Average family size: The largest average family size was in Laie with 4.75 people, followed by Nanakuli (4.74), Kahuku (4.63), Waimanalo Beach (4.5) and Ewa Beach (4.47).

The smallest average family sizes were mostly in resort communities on the neighbor islands. Following Maalaea (2.27) were Puako (2.43), Poipu (2.65), Kawela Bay (2.65), Wailea-Makena, Maui (2.68), and Kahaluu-Keauhou (2.68).

Hawaii's average family size was 3.4. Across the United States, the average family had 3.14 family members living together.

>> Median age: The places with the oldest people also were mainly in neighbor island resort towns. Following Maalaea were Paukaa, Hawaii (49.9), Kahaluu-Keauhou (49.4), Poipu, Kauai (48.6), Puako, Hawaii (48.1).

The areas with the youngest populations were mainly at Hawaii's military installations starting with Maunaloa, Hawaii, with an average age of 21.8. It was followed by Kaneohe Station (22), Schofield Barracks (22.1), Wheeler Air Force Base (23.1) and Laie (23.9).

Hawaii's median age was 36.2. Nationally, it was 35.3.

>> Military installations also turned up with the highest percentage of homes with married people and children. Those areas with the most were: Iroquois Point (83.6), Schofield Barracks (71.8), Wheeler AFB (69.8), Hickam Housing (67.2) and Kaneohe Station (62.2)

Leading the list of areas with the lowest percentage of homes with married people with children was once again Maalaea where only 4.2 percent of people lived in the traditional "nuclear family" setting. It was followed by Puako (9.3), Kahaluu-Keauhou (11.2), Fern Forest (13.5) and Pepeekeo, Hawaii (14.4).

The Hawaii percentage was 24. The national percentage was 28.4.

>> Four of five of the areas with the highest number of people living alone were in the Big Island's Puna District. Following Fern Forest was Maalaea (42.6), Volcano (34.7), Hawaiian Ocean View Estates (33.7) and Eden Roc (33.3).

The areas with the lowest percentage of people living alone, not surprisingly, were at the military installations headed by Kaneohe Station (1.5), Wheeler AFB (1.9), Iroquois Point (1.9), Schofield Barracks (2.0) and Hickam Housing (2.5).

The percentage of households statewide with only one person was 21.9. Across the United States, the figure was 25.8.

>> Nearly 21 percent of households in Makaha Valley had single women with children. Also high on the list were Nanawale Estates (14), Makaha (13.7), Ainaloa (13) and Mountain View (11.2).

Areas with the lowest number of households with single women and children were Kaumakani, Kauai (0), Pakala Village, Kauai (0.7), Maalaea (1.5), Iroquois Point (1.6) and Kapalua, Maui (2.2).

The percentage of Hawaii households with single women and children was 5.9. The national percentage was 7.2.

>> Places with the highest percentage of unmarried partners living together were in Kapalua (6.2), Maalaea (5.3), Makaha Valley (5), Nanawale Estates, Hawaii (4.5) and Puako (4.4).

once again THE military installations had the lowest number of unmarried partners: Kaneohe Station (0.1), Wheeler AFB (0.1), Iroquois Point (0.1), Hickam Housing (0.1) and Schofield Barracks (0.1).

The percentage of unmarried partners living together in Hawaii was 1.9 percent.

The national percentage was also 1.9.

To find out more information, call up the Census Bureau's Web page at http://www.census.gov

The state Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism also has statistics available at http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/census2k/