Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 12, 1 December 2009 — Census in Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE]

Census in Hawaiʻi

By Momi Imaikalani Fernandez n the November issue, we looked at early census processes, applieations and results from Moloka'i. This month let's take a glimpse at Kaua'i census history. When reviewing census practices on Kaua'i, one is confronted with muhiple stories from precontact demographic data that includes Menehune. As Robert C. Schmitt describes, Menehune were "the legendary race of small people who worked at night building fishponds, roads, and temples." Traditional accounts on Kaua'i describe a Menehune population of 480,000, not including children under 17 years old. The gender count of men to women was 320,000 men to 160,000 females. Schmitt continues to note that Luomala calculated their density islandwide at 902 per square mile prior to 1778. Let's put that into modern-day perspective. Similarly, the density in the Makiki area on O'ahu from the 2000 decennial census was just over 1,000 people per square mile. The precontact Menehune outnumber the average density of Lualualei Homestead residents reported in Census 2000 as 731.3 persons per square mile. This comprehensive report of

complete count includes gender data, age groups that ean relate to potential population growth, and oeeupahon

of a workforce that changed the landscape of Kaua'i with industrious skill. This Menehune story has been documented in mulhple resources. As mentioned by Lydgate in the Hawaiian Ahnanae anel Annual for 1913, the Mū (Mū-'ai-Mai'a) were described as an allied race of older extraction, standing 2- 1/2 to 3 feet tall, who survived specifically on bananas in the deep recesses of Wainiha valley. Referred to as Lā'au people, living a secluded, simple lifeSee CENSUS on page 20

mo'olelo

Census 2010 0HA's TV show Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha - To Raise A Beloved Nation will focus on Census 2010 in two hourlong roundtable discussions airing at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 and March 18 on 'Ūlelo TV Ohannel 53. Shows will repeat Jan. 21 and March 25, respectively, and may also be viewed online by visiting olelo.org just before airtime and clicking on Ohannel 53. Copies of the shows will be supplied to Neighbor lsland public access stations, with the request thattheyairon the same dates. Neighbor lsland Public, Educational and Governmental channels are Akakū: Maui CommunityTV, Moloka'i Media Center, Hō'ike: Kaua'i CommunityTelevision and Nā Leo 0 Hawai'i on Hawai'i lsland. Checkyour loeal listings.

www.oha.org/kwo

CENSUS Continued from page 09 style without the use of fire, the Mū had a less playful demeanor when compared to Menehune. Lydgate was certain to distinguish these two groups of residents. The Mū were credited as being sure-footed agricultural engineers who constructed the multiple-level terraces found on the mountainous terrain. During the reign of Kaumuali'i, between 17941810, konohiki were sent throughout Kaua'i to gather a complete count of the population. The konohiki were directed to conduct an exact census of nine "communities" by ahupua'a in Wainiha. The isolated Mū population numbered as many as 2,000 as determined by actual encounters of konohiki traversing the rugged terrain. Although detailed as ordered within ahupua'a boundaries, the census report was later revised to a questionable 65 Menehune. The terraced mountainsides and walledlo'i credited to the Mū remained visible after the 1900s, further supporting the census results. This census report and others were discredited after missionary arrival. In reviewing the census chronicles, the Kaumuali'i census set an

exemplary standard for detailed enumerations for Kaua'i. How mueh easier it would have been for konohiki to merely estimate the Mū population and save the challenging trip for another time. Kaumuali'i's purpose for collecting this data was for governance, workforce environment information and future taxation. The konohiki put forth a commendable effort and commitment in "hard-to-count" areas while this "database" example exceeds today's standard because it includes average height of individuals and food resources. A commendable job indeed! These Kaua'i examples of old remind us of the task ahead. Let us all work together to uphold the high standards established on all mokupuni. A complete count is necessary by April 1, 2010, in order to mālama all residents. Nāu ke kuleana. ■ Momi Imaikalani Fernandez is the director ofthe Data and lnformation/Census Information Center at Papa Ola Lokahi, a Native Hawaiian Heahh nonprofit. Shannon K.K. Lineoln, M.P.A., Hawai'i Isīand, contributed editing. This is the second in a series on the history ofcensus in Hawai'i, \eading up to Census 2010.