Hawaii is a state with a diverse population, and Filipinos are an important part of that mix. According to the census, 15 percent of the population of the state of Hawaii, or 170,635 inhabitants, identified themselves as Filipinos . However, the census allowed citizens to choose more than one ethnicity (mixed race), and another 105,728 were identified as partially Filipino. Collectively, Filipinos and partially Filipinos constitute 275,728, or nearly 23 percent of the state's population, slightly more than the Hawaiian and partially Hawaiian population. The total population of Filipinos was 342 095, of whom 197 497 were full-fledged Filipinos. The total population of Japanese was 312, 292 of whom 185, 502 were full-fledged Japanese. About 70 percent of the Filipino population lives on the island of Oahu. Although they are a minority population in the state, they form the majority (at least 60%) on Lanai Island, Maui County. Filipinos are the fastest-growing ethnic minority in Hawaii, due to continued immigration from the Philippines and high birth rates in the Filipino community. Some 3,500 immigrants from the Philippines, mostly children, come to Hawaii every year.
Nationally, Filipinos are second only to Chinese in terms of Asian immigration to the U. S. UU. There are approximately 2.5 million Filipinos in the United States, not counting the undocumented. Filipinos also lead in terms of foreign workers around the world.
The community remains mostly working-class, compared to other Filipino groups in the United States, such as those on the East Coast and the Midwest (see figure). However, there is now an emerging middle class and just over a fifth of adults are in this category. These professionals include doctors, nurses, therapists, lawyers, engineers and business executives. Administrative and sales support groups make up 41 percent while hotel workers, homemakers, police and other members of the service sector account for 30 percent. There are no wealthy Filipinos in Hawaii unlike other ethnic groups such as Chinese, Japanese and Koreans.
However there are now a growing number of managerial, professional and related occupations. Filipino professors at the University of Hawaii at Manoa are underrepresented in relation to the classification of the state population in particular tenured or active professors. Students of Filipino descent on Manoa and other campuses and non-teaching staff who perform administrative or outreach work are more represented. Among professionals in the Filipino community doctors constitute an important group. Other health professionals such as nurses medical technologists and medical assistants also make up a sizeable group.
It should be noted that 95 percent of the owners or operators of nursing homes in the state are Filipinos helping the state to address problems with elderly and disabled people. Public school teachers are also a sizeable group although many are relegated to temporary jobs that take care of special students or students with limited English proficiency. Many state requirements prevent Filipino professionals mostly trained in the Philippines from obtaining comparable jobs in Hawaii. A large number are hotel workers and many prominent labor leaders from hospitality industry and other industries have emerged from Filipino ranks over years. Filipino-American politicians are also on rise in both houses of state legislature. There are five state senators (out of 2) and nine representatives (out of 5) of Filipino descent in Hawaii State Legislature.
They have formed bipartisan Filipino-American caucus. It's also important that there are three members (of Filipino descent) in city and county of Honolulu. Hawaii also produced first governor of Filipino descent in United States Benjamin Cayetano (1994-200). The current Filipino community in Hawaii has its roots in 1906 when Hawaii Sugar Growers Association (HSPA) recruited 15 sakadas (contract workers) from Philippines to work on sugar plantations then U. territory of Hawaii. The vast majority of Hawaii's Filipino community at least 85 percent are Ilokanos from northern Luzon whose native language is Ilokano.
Then as now Filipinos have become very vibrant community and vital part of Hawaii's past present and future.
