Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 00, Number 1, 1 June 1982 — Bookreview [ARTICLE]

Bookreview

Current Facts & Figures A bout Hawaiians

by George Kanahele Project Waiaha, 61 pp. $3.95

The purpose of this book is to discover some of the important demographic characteristics of Hawaiians. Some of the topics include population, land, health, education, crime business and employment, ineome, welfare, voter registration, and Hawaiian agencies. These facts and figures are presented with other ethnic groups to show a comparative perspective. Among the more noteworthy fact are that between 1930 & 1970 Hawaiian as a group have the lowest life expectancy than any other ethnic group. However, the statistical suicide is the highest for Hawaiian males while very low among Hawaiian females even when compared

to other ethnic females. This study contains valuable information on Hawaiian Studies programs in the public school system, profiles of Hawaiian and other ethnicgroups, business and employment, voter registration, welfare recipients. Perhaps the most useful aspect of Kanahele's work is the section is on Hawaiian agencies, especially the number and nature of leases on Hawaiian Home lands. While the magnitude and boldness of this work are dramatic, explanations with the statistical data would have added considerable worth in answering WAIAHA's ultimate question: "Who and what is a Hawaiian?"