Census

December 19, 2018. Today the U.S. Census Bureau released its 2014-2018 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. During the 2014-2018 period, the Census Bureau surveyed a total of 47,500 households in Hawaii, an average of 9,500 households per year.  Nine percent of Hawaii’s population were surveyed between this 2014 to 2018 period.

Data for smaller areas such as census tracts are only available from the 5-year dataset.  Compared to the 2013-2017 five-year dataset, there were multiple modifications to foreign-born population and group quarters. The 2014-2018 ACS dataset also includes new tables on income and earnings, occupation and citizen voting-age population.

The 2014-2018 ACS five-year estimates are available on data.census.gov, which is the Census Bureau’s new platform to access data and digital content. The new platform replaces American FactFinder.  American Community Survey data for 2018 and beyond are only available via the new data platform, and American FactFinder will be fully retired next summer.  The Census Bureau is working to improve the user experience, and any issues with the new data tool are encouraged to be reported to [email protected].

Hawaii data are available on our DBEDT website.

Selected small area rankings

The following analyses were based upon the ranking of the 316 census tracts in Hawaii which had a population.  For reference, the State of Hawaii and four counties are also presented.  The numbers presented below are averages over the 2014-2018 time period.  Tables included in these highlights display only the top-ranking census tracts.

• Seven census tracts in Hawaii, all located on Oahu, had an average household size of 5 or more people.  Southeast Kahului had the largest average household size on the island of Maui at 4.27.  Puhi-Hanama’ulu had the largest average household size on Kauai at 4.00.  Kealakehe had the largest average household size on the island of Hawaii at 3.77. 
• Median housing values are self-reported and include all owner-occupied housing stock, both single family homes and condominiums.  It is a different measure than the median home sale price.  Diamond Head had a median housing value of $2 million or more.  Twenty other census tracts had median values between $1 and $1.9 million.  Seventeen of the tracts were on Oahu, and three census tracts were on Maui.  Ha’ena-Hanalei had the highest median housing value on Kauai at $895,800, and Hualalai had the highest median housing value on the island of Hawaii at $698,500. 

More highlights with Hawaii data and the ranking tables referred to above are available on our DBEDT website.

Source:  U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-year dataset; compiled by the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Research and Economic Analysis Division.