Two U.S. counties saw the largest increase in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders last year. The two counties are County of Hawaii, Big Island and Clark County, Nevada.
WEBMASTAH'S NOTE:
Census reports have noted that there is an estimated 17,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Clark County. AlohaValley.com believes the numbers are significantly higher than what was reported by the census. The Honolulu Advertiser article also makes note of Aloha Valley's claim.
By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
Of the two U.S. counties that saw the largest increase in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders last year, only one of them — the Big Island — is in Hawai'i.
The other? Clark County, Nev., home to Las Vegas and a growing number of Island transplants gambling on cheaper home prices and a more reasonable cost of living.
Both counties saw their Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations grow by roughly 900 people from July 2005 to July 2006, according to Census Bureau data released yesterday.
The numbers don't indicate whether the Clark County population increase was due to births or newcomers from Hawai'i, but previous Census reports have noted the area has been a magnet for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the past five years, with the number of residents estimated at more than 17,000.
Tamar Hoapili, who left Honolulu for Las Vegas in 1997, suspects the population of Islanders is undercounted.
"It's unbelievable," she said of the influx of former Hawai'i residents. "Initially the draw was the economy and lifestyle, but only in the last five or six years have Hawaiians been planting their roots here."
Hoapili works as community relations and video production manager for Cox Communications and is active in the 100-member Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club, which sponsors cultural events, genealogy classes and a newly created canoe club. She said most transplants from Hawai'i talk of eventually returning to the Islands, no matter how long they've been living in Las Vegas, which has become known as "the ninth island."
"I've been here 10 years now and I still consider Hawai'i home," she said.
Francis Ganon, 41, started the Web site www.alohavalley.com shortly after moving to Las Vegas six years ago. The Web site provides information on businesses catering to Islanders, entertainment and community events, and news from back home.
Ganon, a Waiakea High School graduate and Air Force veteran who now works for the Transportation Security Administration, left the Big Island and spent almost five years in Illinois before relocating to Las Vegas with his family, largely because of job opportunities, cheaper housing and a familiar feeling.
"I had some classmates here already and I came out to visit them and that same weekend there was a Hawaiian festival and I went to that. I was surprised there were so many local people up here," Ganon said. "I was living in Illinois and I was having a hard time adjusting, but when I came to Las Vegas, I could sense, 'Oh, they got some aloha spirit here.' "
He said he was able to buy a three-bedroom home for $140,000, although real estate values in Las Vegas have been fast rising, doubling or tripling home prices in his neighborhood.
Still, that's a bargain when compared with the median single-family home price on O'ahu of $640,000.
Reach Christie Wilson at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Unformtunately we can't affored to live in Hawaii. All the mainlanders are going there and we are coming here to Las Vegas.....They have the money from their million dollar homes they sold in California!!!!How sad we can't afford to live in our OWN LAND!!!
9th Islanders written by Haunani , August 14, 2007
Due to "unaffordable" homes on Maui, I will be relocating my family to LV. The cost of living in Las Vegas is just about 34% lower than Hawaii. I can't believe a gallon of milk on Maui is $8.00. We really pay the price to live in paradise!
Auwe! What a shame! written by Shima Ohana , September 10, 2007
What a shame that us islanders cannot afford to live in our own islands. We too relocated from Hawaii, the Big Island, 2 years ago because Las Vegas is cheaper then back home and lots of Hawaii people live here. How I miss the ocean though and the local people of Hawai'i.
Hawaiian Transplants written by Ron "Kapua Bruns , September 13, 2007
Every problem has a solution. We need to educate ourselves as to how the "rich" are who they are.
A Hui Hou, Ron Kapua Bruns
What to do? stay in Hawaii or Go to LV? written by auntybunnie , September 13, 2007
Yes. I agree with the majority of the people who read this! Hawaii is the Best Place to live but, it takes money and 2 jobs to just get by. The ocean and climate won't pay my bills, besides, we go to the beach once a year, maybe! Half of me says to re-locate to LV and the other says,,,,Hummmm I don't know.
HELP Mahalo
Don't know what to do! written by Mahialani , September 16, 2007
I agree with all of you. It is just too much to live here in Hawaii. I live on Maui and my husband and I are battling with the thought of relocating to Vegas. We have friends that moved there years ago. I am jus tired of paying high rent and not having enough money left over to enjoy life. HELP
I agree! written by Little Dee , September 17, 2007
my wife and i cannot afford the high cost to live in Honolulu. how is it possible that an average one bedroom condo can can sell for over $300,000? the mainland people and foreign investors have created a place where only the rich can live. it's sad but true.
It's a real shame!! written by moanilei , September 24, 2007
My family and I just relocated to Las Vegas on Sept. 19th, 2007. It's a real shame that we can't afford to live on our aina because the cost of living is too high. I know that someday we will be back home on Maui.
Homesick written by Moana Fisher , September 25, 2007
A recent trip to Maui 2 months ago showed me that Las Vegas prices are slowly creeping up to that of Hawaii. I am a Realtor transplanted to Las Vegas 12 years ago and I am looking for ways to move back all the time. A lot of locals we know here in Vegas are moving BACK to Hawaii... No amount of money can fill that empty space in your heart. P.S. There is more like 100,000 "Hawaiians" in LV.
You can take the hawaiian out of the islands, but you can't take the islands out of the hawaiian. No matter where we go, it will always call us back in our heart. Cost of living is the main reason we are leaving. Not really by choice, but for survival and a better quality of life not just paycheck to paycheck. New adventures are to be embraced, to learn and grow, and God willing, one day we will return home again.
Born and raised in Hawaii, I cannot afford to stay here. The cost of living in Las Vegas is nearly 40% less than Hawaii. I want to raise my family living comfortably and not paycheck to paycheck. Hawaii will always be my home, but the rising costs of everyday necessities is driving me away.
I have been living in LV since 1994 and I've always hated it here - I hate the hot, hot summers, and the predjudice I've seen here (and never in Hawaii), but where else would I be able to own a Condo and even be able to buy a house while I am on disability?? Not in Hawaii! I really miss the tropical air, hospitality and beaches! It is so Aloha!
