Isle census data to The U.S. Census Bureau today released detailed information on Hawaii that will be used by state and local planners for the next 10 years.
aid planners for years
Businessmen can check area
Isle income, poverty steady
income to forecast viabilityBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.comThe data, taken from Census 2000, consists of 813 tables of social, economic and housing characteristics down to the census block group or grant.
"These quality data are invaluable to decision-makers in everything from putting schools where students are to getting an ambulance to the door when an emergency strikes," said Louis Kincannon, Census Bureau director.
For example, the new data show that Waialae-Iki has the highest median household income on Oahu at $127,000 annually, while Kuhio Park Terrace has one of the lowest, at $11,758.
The Kalihi federal housing project also has the state's highest percentage of people below the U.S. poverty level at 68 percent. Areas such as Diamond Head and Red Hill have 0 percent below the poverty threshold, said Pearl Imada Iboshi, state statistician.
"Basically, these numbers allow you to look at the census tract level to see where you have pockets of poverty, and these are used by various organizations, even our own enterprise zone programs, to check for eligibility and look for funding resources," she said.
Imada Iboshi added planners need this information to gauge an area's characteristics and determine what types of developments could be supported there. For example, a small businessman might check the area's income distribution to see what kind of restaurant it would support.
Also, the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization will use the data to determine future transportation needs for the island planned around federal government requirements, she said.
The data released today are based on responses to the 52-item long-form questionnaire that was sent to 19 million households, or 1-in-6 of all American households.
The results include 484 population tables that give detailed information on subjects such as citizen status and year of entry, grandparents as caregivers, employment, class of worker, income and poverty status.
There are also 329 tables on housing that cover subjects such as the number of rooms, the year moved into a unit, household size, the year a structure was built, utilities, value of home and monthly rent.
These tables are available by state, county, subdivision, place, census tract, congressional district and zip code. Hawaii is among the last states to have this data released.
This data, known as Summary File 3 for 2000, is on the Internet at www.census.gov.
Here's an example of detailed information about Hawaii from Census 2000, released today by the U.S. Census Bureau: Census breaks down isle income
Median Household income, highest and lowest tract by island
>> Hawaii: Kawailani, $60,313; Villa Franca-Kaikoo (Hilo) $25,792
>> Kauai: Puhi-Hanamaulu, $55,781; Kealia-Moloaa, $35,777
>> Lanai: Entire island, $43,271
>> Maui: Spreckelsville, $93,688; Puunene, $13,750
>> Niihau: Entire island $25,927
>> Molokai: East Molokai, $34,398; Kalawao, $9,333
>> Oahu: Waialae Iki, $127,000; Kuhio Park Terrace, $11,758.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau BACK TO TOP |
Hawaii's income and poverty levels remained about the same as last year, unlike the rest of the nation, which saw income declines and an increase in the poverty level, the Census Bureau reported. Hawaii fares better
than nation with income
and poverty steadyBy Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.comNationwide, the Census Bureau estimates more than 32.9 million people lived in poverty last year, 1.3 million more than in 2000.
Median income declined 2.2 percent to $42,228 a year after remaining flat the previous year.
Median income refers to the point at which half of households earn more and half earn less.
In Hawaii, the average poverty rate over the two-year period covering 2000 and 2001 remained about the same -- rising slightly to 10.2 percent from 9.9 percent in 1999-2000. Median income rose to $50,212 from $50,129 a year.
The poverty threshold, according to the government, was $18,104 for a family of four; $14,128 for a family of three; $11,569 for a family of two, and $9,039 for individuals.
Local economists say the results of the Census survey are not surprising.
"The economy obviously peaked in 2000," said economist Michael Sklarz. Nationwide, it started to decline in 2001.
Hawaii, on the other hand, began coming out of a period of recession or no growth during the '90s, he said.
"We've been obviously out of sync with the rest of the country," he said. "We're out-performing (the nation) but we certainly under-performed throughout much of the '90s."
The numbers also show how Hawaii's economy is much more influenced by global factors like the Asian economy, than the rest of the country, said Bank of Hawaii economist Paul Brewbaker.
"This just adds to the accumulating body of evidence to show Hawaii's economy is in relatively good shape, even though we should be in better shape," Brewbaker said.
Star-Bulletin wire services contributed to this story
