Ka`u News Briefs Dec. 15, 2010

The majority of Pahala houses are owner-occupied, and the majority
of people are of Asian and Hawaiian descent.

THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY was released yesterday. The ACS survey is a new program with population estimates that will be released each year. They are separate from the census numbers that will be released starting next week. ACS figures are for small communities to keep up with changes. The survey gives the populations of each Ka`u town. Throughout Ka`u, the bulk of the population is between 18 and 65, a statistic that has not changes since the 2000 survey.

PAHALA’S POPULATION, in 2000, was estimated to be 1,466 with about half male and half female. Now the estimated population is 1,373, with the majority being female.  In 2000, the majority of people were of Asian extraction, followed by two or more races, then Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders. Now the majority is of two or more races, followed by Asian, then by Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders. 166 Caucasians lived in the town in 2000, compared to 81 now. 362 of the 543 houses were owner-occupied in 2000, compared to 242 of 478 now.

     

Statistics for Na`alehu and its surrounding Discovery Harbour, Green Sands
and South Point Road neighborhoods show it is a multi-ethnic community.

NA`ALEHU’S POPULATION in 2000 was estimated to be 1,930 with more male than female. Now it is 1,271 with more female than male. The majority of the people in 2000 were of two or more races, followed by Asian, then Caucasian, with a smaller number of Native Hawaiians. According to the survey, now the majority consists of two or more races, followed by Asian, Native Hawaiian, then white. 479 of the 802 occupied housing units were owner-occupied in 2000. Current statistics show 197 of 423 housing units being owner-occupied. There were about 125 houses unoccupied year-round in 2000, compared to 55 in the most recent survey. 

Ocean View has the highest number of Caucasian residents
and the longest commute to work.

OCEAN VIEW’S POPULATION was estimated to be 2,112 in 2000, with more males than females. Now, the estimate is 2,699 with more females than males. In 2000, the majority of the people were Caucasian, followed by two or more races, then Native Hawaiian, Asian, then some other race. About half of the 1,273 housing units were owner-occupied in 2000, compared to 957 of 1,529 currently. More than 300 housing units were unoccupied year-round, the data puts forth in 2000 and 2010.

     Ocean View residents who drive to town to work have the longest commute time in the state – about 61.7 minutes, The second and third longest in the state are also on the Big Island. They are Kukuihaele and Paauhau-Paauilo, with about 50 minutes. 

VOLCANO’S POPULATION was estimated to be 2,855 with more males than females in 2000. Today's figures are 2,231 with about half male and half female. The bulk of the population is between 18 and 65. In 2000, nearly half the population was Caucasian, followed by two or more races, Asian and Native Hawaiian. Now the majority is Caucasian, followed by two or more races, Native Hawaiian, then Asian. 805 of the 1,546 housing units were owner-occupied in 2000, compared to 632 of 1,229 now. About 400 were unoccupied year-round in 2000, compared to 333 now.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee held its first meeting in many months last night and voted for the county to distribute a draft plan written by the Placemaker consultants to the committee. The county is planning to build on portions of the plan and seek further community input before finalizing the plan with county planners doing the final draft, which will go to the public before approval.

SENIOR CITIZENS from around the Ka`u District are enjoying a big Christmas celebration at Pahala Community Center today with entertainment, showing off their own talent and ample feasting. That was set from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.