Hawaii Culture

The native culture of Hawaii is Polynesian. Hawaii represents the northernmost extension of the vast Polynesian triangle of the south and central Pacific Ocean. While traditional Hawaiian culture remains only as vestiges influencing modern Hawaiian society, there are reenactments of the ceremonies and traditions throughout the islands. Some of these cultural influences are strong enough to have affected the culture of the United States at large, including the popularity of luaus and hula.

As of 2005, Hawaii has an estimated population of 1,275,194, which is an increase of 13,070, or 1.0%, from the prior year and an increase of 63,657, or 5.3%, since the year 2000. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 30,068 people. The center of population of Hawaii is located directly between the two islands of Oahu and Molokai.

A large proportion of Hawaii’s population are of Asian ancestry (especially Chinese, Japanese and Filipino). Many of whom are descendants from those waves of early foreign immigrants brought to the islands in the nineteenth century, beginning in the 1850s, to work on the sugar plantations.

In recent decades, the state government has implemented programs to promote indigenous Hawaiian culture. The Hawaii State Constitutional Convention of 1978 created specific programs including the
creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to promote indigenous language and culture.

Looking for more detailed information? Click on the topics below: