Do you ever wonder how Hula dancing found its way to Hawaii? Polynesians brought the dance to the island when they settled there many years ago, but they weren’t the only settlers to inhabit the island.
Hawaii’s rich culture is the foundation of what makes the islands so diverse and unique. So, it’s no surprise that the Aloha state ranked in the top of the U.S. for population diversity for another year in a row. Not only did the state top the charts, but several Hawaiian counties also ranked in the top 15 when the index was broken down into smaller regions.
HISTORY OF HAWAIIAN DIVERSITY
Many Hawaiian residents have multi-ethnic backgrounds, more so than any other U.S. region. Hawaii’s diverse culture goes back hundreds of years to the plantation days back in the early 1800s. People from all different geographical and cultural backgrounds worked together to keep the farms running.
Fast forward to today, many of these unique cultures continue to work in Hawaii, making the island one of the most diverse in the nation.The Hawaiian Islands are a melting pot full of so many backgrounds as immigrants from Asia, Europe, and Latin America have moved to the island over the years.
Asia: Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos and Koreans have all migrated to Hawaii since the 1800’s. Many worked in the sugar industry or on sugar plantations when they settled on the island.
North America & Europe: Americans and Portuguese immigrants came to Hawaii in the late 1800’s and blended with other cultures. American businessmen took to the area on plantations which needed laborers, thus increasing immigration to the area.
Latin America: Puerto Ricans came to the island around the 1900’s and became a major part of the cultural identity, especially in the agricultural industry.
Even today, the many cultures that worked together hundreds of years ago are still prominent on the island. The wide array of cultures and backgrounds have become such a big part of why Hawaii is still among the highest for diversity across the nation.
LARGEST VARIETY OF ETHNICITIES
Hawaii has landed itself as the top diverse state in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By using a diversity index, it tracks the likelihood of two random people in an area being from different ethnic backgrounds. The state of Hawaii topped the list at 76%, followed by California- 69.7% and Nevada- 68.8%. Hawaii’s majority population is Asian, followed by White, Native Hawaiian, and Hispanic or Latino.
DIVERSE HAWAIIAN COUNTIES
Not only does the state of Hawaii top the list for diversity, but several island counties also took home awards as well this year. Four counties in Hawaii landed themselves spots on the Top 15 Diverse Counties list.
Hawaii County- Located on The Big Island, Hawaii County took home 1st place with a diversity index of 77.7%.
Maui County- Located on Maui, 2nd place with a diversity index of 77.1%.
Kauki County - Located on Kauki with a diversity index of 76.6% taking home 4th place
Honolulu City & County - Located on Oahu, Honolulu City was ranked 11th.
As Hawaii has become home to many different ethnic backgrounds, people have relocated across the state, causing this diverse spread in the counties. Past and present cultures have mixed over the years, forming the modernized culture we see today.
BECOME A PART OF THE CULTURE
If you want to experience this incredibly diverse heritage and culture, then it’s time to move to Hawaii. Come live in paradise and become immersed in all the beautiful history the state has to offer. Contact me today to make the Rainbow state your home.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.