This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Hawaii.2 All demographic data are based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in Hawaii’s Eligible Voter Population

  • The Hispanic population in Hawaii ranks 39th in the nation.4 About 121,000 Hispanics reside in Hawaii, 0.2% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • Hawaii’s population is 9% Hispanic, ranking 21st in Hispanic population share nationally.
  • There are 71,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii—ranking 31st in Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
  • Some 7% of Hawaii eligible voters are Hispanic, the 12th largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
  • Nearly six-in-ten (58%) of Hispanics in Hawaii are eligible to vote, ranking Hawaii second nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, more than more than eight-in-ten (84%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

  • Age. More than one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii (35%) are ages 18 to 29, similar to the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 21% of all Hawaii eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii, 11% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. and 14% of all eligible voters in Hawaii, but just 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Fewer than three-in-ten (28%) Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii are of Mexican origin, 34% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 38% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, six-in-ten (59%) are Mexican, only 14% are Puerto Rican, and about a quarter (26%) are of some other Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. About one-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Hawaii (12%) have not completed high school, slightly more than the 8% of all Hawaii eligible voters who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. Less than half of Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii (45%) live in owner-occupied homes, less than the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Hawaii (63%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Hawaii, by Race and Ethnicity

  • Number of Eligible Voters. Asian eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Hawaii by more than 5 to 1 and white eligible voters outnumber Hispanics by more than 3 to 1.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white and Asian eligible voters in Hawaii. Some 35% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 21% of white eligible voters and 14% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white eligible voters in Hawaii. Some 12% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 4% of white eligible voters. A similar share of Asian eligible voters (11%) has not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (45%) are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (54%) or Asian (76%) eligible voters in Hawaii.