Hawai‘i Island, Maui lead
state’s population growth

According to population estimates for Hawai‘i released June 28 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the largest growth in population from 2000 to 2005 was in Hawaii County at 15.1 percent, followed by Maui County at 10.3 percent. Kauai County’s population growth was 7.8 percent and statewide the population grew 6.1 percent.

The Honolulu CDP moved up to 46th largest in the U.S. from 47th largest among 258 incorporated places with population over 100,000. However, urban Honolulu’s population grew only 1.5 percent, from 371,657 in April 2000 to 377,357 in July 2006. This growth rate is the smallest compared with other counties, except Kalawao County (the Kalapapa Peninsula on Molokai) where population actually decreased by 18.4%.

The Honolulu metropolitan census-designated place consists of the area between Red Hill and Makapuu Point, south and southwest of the crest of the Koolau Mountains. It also includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The rest of Oahu, outside the Honolulu metropolitan CDP, gained 5.6% in population during the same time period, reflecting new residential construction outside the urban area. The percentage of Oahu's population located in urban Honolulu decreased from 42.4 percent to 41.5 percent between 2000 and 2005.

Census Bureau used building permits for the population estimate. The Bureau said New York City is still the most populous city in the U.S. with 8.2 million people, followed by Los Angeles with 3.8 million people and Chicago with 2.8 million. Houston is fourth largest with 2.1 million and Phoenix is in fifth place with 1.5 million people.