Newsroom Archive

     Hawaii led the nation in the number of businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders in 2007, according to new findings from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 Survey of Business Owners. In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders owned 11,383 businesses, or 30.0 percent of the national total of 37,957 Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms. Just behind Hawaii was California with 9,255 firms.

     Nationally, the number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms increased 31.1 percent between 2002, the last time these statistics were collected, and 2007. In Hawaii, the increase was 36.2 percent (not statistically different from the national increase for such firms). The overall increase in the number of all U.S. firms between 2002 and 2007 was 17.9 percent; in Hawaii, the overall increase in the number of all firms was 21.3 percent, again not statistically different from the national rate.

    Nonetheless, nationally the percent increase for Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms exceeded that for all firms (31.1 percent versus 17.9 percent).

    In 2007, businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders generated $6.5 billion in receipts, 51.6 percent more than in 2002. In Hawaii, these firms generated $2.4 billion in receipts, 65.6 percent more than in 2002 (not statistically different from the national percentage).

    These new data come from the Survey of Business Owners: Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Businesses: 2007. Conducted every five years, the survey provides detailed information on business ownership, including the number of firms, sales and receipts, number of paid employees, and annual payroll.

     “The survey is the only source of regularly collected nationwide information on businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders,” said Lee Wentela, chief of the Census Bureau's Economic Census Branch, Company Statistics Division. “Although these firms represent a small number of firms nationally, they play a significant role in the business landscape of Hawaii.”

     Honolulu County had 6,721 Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms; Maui County, 2,111 firms; Hawaii County, 1,722 firms; and Kauai County had 850 firms.

     Data are presented by geographic area (nation, state, county, city and metro area), industry, detailed race (Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan and Other Pacific Islander) and size of business and are available at <https://www.census.gov>.

     Tomorrow, Tuesday April 5, the Census Bureau, along with the Minority Business Development Agency at the Commerce Department and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, will hold an online news conference to discuss the findings in more detail. (See <https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/native_hawaiian/cb11-58.html>.)

    The Survey of Business Owners defines Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses as firms in which Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders own 51 percent or more of the equity, interest or stock of the business.

    Link to findings in American FactFinder: <http://go.usa.gov/2tu>.