'
Pacific Islander Americans' are residents of the United States with original ancestry from the Pacific Islands. They represent the smallest
racial group counted in the
United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the
United States population. They are most concentrated in
Hawaii,
Alaska and to a lesser extent the
West Coast, specifically
California.
Definition
In the 2000–2010 U.S. Census the term "'Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander' refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands. ... They are of Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian cultural backgrounds." The US Census counts
Indigenous Australians as part of the Pacific Islander race.
[2][University of Michigan. Census 1990: Ancestry Codes. August 27, 2007. [2]]
The U.S. Census Bureau counts
Filipino Americans,
Indonesian Americans,
Taiwanese Americans and
Japanese Americans as
Asian Americans even though they have ethnic origins from islands bordering the
Pacific Ocean.
Individuals
In politics
Mufi Hannemann is the current mayor of
Honolulu. Mufi Hanneman is a German and
Samoan American who was originally a history teacher. He became mayor of Honolulu in
January 2,
2005 and is still serving his term.
Media
Pacific Islander Americans have media portrayal mostly as
professional wrestlers, but are also portrayed as regular people too.
The Rock, the son of a
Black Canadian and a Samoan, has been the most notable Pacific Islander American professional wrestler, branching out into movies like the ''
The Scorpion King''. Other Pacific Islander American professional wrestlers include
Samoa Joe and
Solofa Fatu.
Lilo Pelekai and
Nani Pelekai are Native Hawaiian Americans in the
Disney show called "Lilo & Stitch".
Al Harrington was an actor who portrayed "Det. Ben Kokua" in the
CBS television series ''
Hawaii Five-O''; Hawaiian-American
Jason Momoa plays
Ronon Dex on the popular science-fiction TV show ''
Stargate Atlantis''.
Vili Fualaau is a Samoan-American boy who made headlines with his controversial relationship with
Mary Kay Letourneau.
The most famous stage character is
Bloody Mary (South Pacific) of the
South Pacific musical and movie. She is a souvenir trader to US Sailors stationed in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Though originally cast as
Juanita Hall, an
African American, she is often also cast as an Asian or Pacific Islander American in newer local productions.
Sports
Pacific Islander Americans are well represented in
American football:
Nuu Faaola,
Jesse Sapolu,
Troy Polamalu,
Maake Kemoeatu,
Mosi and
Lofa Tatupu, and
Junior Seau are professional football players.
Many Pacific Islander Americans also play the most popular sport of their homeland, rugby, and have a strong influence in US rugby, with many going on to represent the USA, including Salesi Sika, David Niu, Vahafolau Esikia, Fifita Mounga, Olo Fifita, Thretton Palamo, Albert Tuipolotu, and Vaea Anitoni.
Pacific Islanders are also represented in
sumo wrestling.
Akebono Taro is a famous sumo-wrestling
Yokozuna of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
Diving great
Greg Louganis, although often identified with his adoptive Greek-American heritage, is of Samoan and Swedish ancestry.
Population
' Pacific Islander American Ancestries in the 2000 US Census'[3]| Ancestry | 1990 | 1990% of US population | 2000 | 2000% of US population | Percent change from 1990 to 2000 |
|---|
| Chamorro | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 177,000 | 0.06% | negligible (no data) |
| Polynesian | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 616,162 | 0.2% | negligible (no data) |
| 'TOTAL' | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 793,162 | 0.3% | negligible (no data) |
Polynesian Americans
'Polynesian Americans' are Americans of
Polynesian descent.
Large subcategories of Polynesian Americans include
Native Hawaiians and
Samoan Americans. In addition there are smaller communities of Tongan Americans.
Population
' Polynesian American Ancestries in the 2000 US Census'[4]| Ancestry | 1990 | 1990% of US population | 2000 | 2000% of US population | Percent change from 1990 to 2000 |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 401,162 | 0.13% | negligible (no data) |
| Samoan | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 215,000 | 0.07% | negligible (no data) |
| 'TOTAL' | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 616,162 | 0.2% | negligible (no data) |
Samoan Americans
A 'Samoan American' is an American who is of ethnic Samoan descent and may be from either the independent nation
Samoa or the
American territory of
American Samoa. Many Samoans live in
Los Angeles,
Carson,
Long Beach,
San Jose, San Francisco, California,
Salt Lake City,
Independence (Missouri),
Houston,
Seattle and in the state of
Hawaii.
Since the end of
World War II, persons born in American Samoa are United States
nationals, but not United States
citizens. (This is the only circumstance under which an individual would be one and not the other.) For this reason, Samoans can move to Hawaii or the mainland United States and obtain citizenship comparatively easily.
Samoan American is a subcategory of Polynesian American.
External links
★
US Census PDF on Pacific Islanders
References
1. US Census Bureau, racial breakdown of the United States in 2005
2. University of Virginia. Geospatial and Statistical Data Center. "1990 PUMS Ancestry Codes." 2003. August 30, 2007.[1]
3. Brittingham, Angela. Ancestry 2000:Census Brief. 2004. October 30, 2006. [3]
4. Brittingham, Angela. Ancestry 2000:Census Brief. 2004. October 30, 2006. [4]
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