Immigration and Naturalization in Hawaii

Immigration to the United States soared in the past two decades, which likely will lead to many more home purchases in the coming decade.² The U.S. population grew by roughly 20 million people since year 2000. The strong increase in immigration added 8 million people, and resulted nearly 40 percent of the rise in U.S. population since 2000.

In Hawaii, 4,521 newly admitted legal immigrants arrived in 2007. The largest group came from Philippines (4,109). Other top countries of origin include:

• China, People's Republic (718)

• Japan (523)

• Korea (298)

• Vietnam (181)

² There are contentious issues relating to swelling illegal immigration and assimilation, and here we do not attempt to delve into this difficult topic.

In 2007, 4,521 immigrants to Hawaii became U.S. citizens. Natives of Philippines led with the highest number (2,061) of newly naturalized citizens in the state last year (2006). Other top countries represented include:

• Korea (492)

• China, People's Republic (370)

• Japan (209)

• Vietnam (207)

As of 2007 there are 124,741 (9.7% of the state population) of naturalized citizens and 96,707 non-citizens (7.5% of the state population) in Hawaii. Immigration boosts the Hawaii residential real estate market for the simple reason that people need a home in which to live. So it should not be surprising that dynamic housing markets of recent years have been in those regions with significant immigrant populations. The fast growing regions of Las Vegas, Phoenix, Washington D.C. and much of Florida have seen strong housing demand – and a significant run-up in home prices – due in no small part to the fact that these markets have strong immigrant populations.³

³ A study by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank showed that home prices in immigration-heavy neighborhoods rise much more slowly than other neighborhoods in the local region. That is, the “there goes the neighborhood” reaction may be at work as established residents flee an area and newcomers move in. However, home prices in metro regions with a high concentration of immigrants in general rose at a significantly faster clip than those metro regions with little immigration. Larger number of people translates into more housing demand.

The homeownership rate of foreign-born households who came to the U.S. in the past five years is only 18 percent. The ownership rate then steadily rises over time.

Naturally, due to language, cultural and institutional adjustments, homeownership among recent immigrants lags behind that of native-born Americans and the population as a whole. However, obtaining U.S. citizenship quickly raises the odds of becoming a homeowner. In fact, among households who entered the country more than 30 years ago, the homeownership rate surpasses that of the national average, with 78% of foreign-born U.S. residents owning a home - far higher than the national homeownership rate of 69%.

Hawaii International Real Estate, LLC seizes the opportunity and help close the early-year homeownership gap through counseling and homebuyer education programs about Hawaii real estate for our foreign-born clients. We have already realized the potential business opportunities. Over the last few years, Hawaii International Real Estate, LLC has participated in a transaction involving an international element, and this trend will inevitably increase.

Population Demographics in Hawaii

	Total Population	U.S. Born Citizen	Foreign Born	(%)	Naturalized Citizen	Non USA Citizen
Male	645,483	551,697	93,786	14.5	51,745	42,041
18 and Over	497,115	410,025	87,090	17.5	50,060	37,030
Under 18	148,368	141,672	6,696	4.5	1,685	5,011
Female	637,905	510,243	127,662	20.0	72,996	54,666
18 andOver	500,508	380,043	120,465	24.1	71,082	49,383
Under 18	137,397	130,200	7,197	5.2	1,914	5,283
Total	1,283,388	1,061,940	221,448	17.3	124,741	96,707
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2007

Foreign Born Population in Hawaii by Year of Entry

	Total Population	U.S. Born Citizen	Foreign Born	Naturalized Citizen	Non USA Citizen
2000 or later	55,255	7,024	48,231	5,789	42,442
1990 to 1999	65,441	6,423	59,018	27,387	31,631
Entered 1980 to 1989	50,978	4,968	46,010	33,482	12,528
Entered before 1980	83,522	15,333	68,189	58,083	10,106
Total	255,196	33,748	221,448	124,741	96,707
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2007

Main Languages Spoken in Households

Main Language	Total Household	Linguistically Isolated	Not Linguistically Isolated
English	298,241
Spanish	15,310	1,642	13,668
Indo-European	10,481	489	9,992
Asian-Pacific	114,985	24,176	90,809
Other	668	0	668
Total	439,685	26,307	115,137
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2007

Hawaii International Real Estate

For Foreign Buyers (Second Home or Imvestment)

For Foreign Buyers (Immigrant and Non-Imigrant Visas)

Top of the Page

Home

Ask Me a Question

Immigration and Naturalization Trend in Hawaii

Year	Admitted Immigrants	Naturalization
1998	5,458	4,480
1999	4,292	3,596
2000	6,047	4,358
2001	6,282	2,875
2002	5,478	2,881
2003	4,899	2,287
2004	6,405	2,050
2005	6,480	4,663
2006	7,499	5,276
2007	7,236	4,521

Source: Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2007

Hawaii International Real Estate

2007 Immigration to Hawaii by Country of Birth

Total: 7,236

Europe 266	Asia 6,227	Africa 65	North America 243	South America 140	Oceania 291
United Kingdom 52 Germany 46 Italy 16 Soviet Union, frm 16 Sweden 13 France 12 Bulgaria 10 Ukraine 9 Russia 8	Philippines 4,109 China 718 Japan 523 Korea 298 Vietnam 181 Thailand 104 Taiwan 76 Hong Kong 53 India 25	South Africa 14 Ethiopia 10 Kenya 8 Nigeria 7 Egypt 5 Ghana 4 Morocco 3 Zambia 3	Canada 103 Mexico 71 Guatemala 34 El Salvador 14 Costa Rica 3 Dominican Republic 3 Trinidad -Tobago 3	Brazil 56 Argentina 21 Colombia 17 Peru 16 Venezuela 9 Chile 5 Ecuador 5 Bolivia 3 Uruguay 3	Tonga 104 Samoa 81 Australia 33 New Zealand 29 Fiji 14 French Polynesia 14 Marshall Islands 4

Source: Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2007

2007 Immigration to Hawaii by Origination Region

Africa 1%, North America 3%, South America 2%, Oceania 4%, Europe 4%, Asia 86%

Hawaii International Real Estate

For Foreign Buyers (Second Home or Imvestment)

For Foreign Buyers (Immigrant and Non-Imigrant Visas)

Top of the Page

Home

Ask Me a Question

2007 Naturalization in Hawaii by Country of Birth

Total: 4,521

Europe 232	Asia 3,683	Africa 49	North America 278	South America 96	Oceania 183
United Kingdom 44 Germany 35 Russia 19 France 18 Bulgaria 10 Italy 10 Netherlands 9 Serbia-Montenegro 8 Sweden 8	Philippines 2,061 Korea 492 China 370 Japan 209 Vietnam 207 Hong Kong 78 Thailand 54 Taiwan 50 Laos 36	South Africa 8 Egypt 5 Kenya 5 Nigeria 5 Ghana 4 Liberia 4 Tunisia 4	Mexico 107 Canada 80 Jamaica 14 El Salvador 10 Nicaragua 9 Panama 9 Guatemala 8 Trinidad-Tobago 8 Dominican Republic 6	Brazil 43 Peru 21 Ecuador 13 Guyana 7 Argentina 4 Bolivia 3	Tonga 41 Samoa 40 American Samo 36 New Zealand 18 Australia 16 Palau 8 Fiji 7 French Polynesia 7 Micronesia, Fed 5

Source: Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2007

2007 Naturalization in Hawaii by Origination Region

Africa 1%, North America 3%, South America 2%, Oceania 4%, Europe 4%, Asia 86%

Hawaii  International Real Estate

Nonimmigrant Visitors to Hawaii

	2005	2006	2007
Total Foreign government officials and families Temporary visitors: for business Temporary visitors: for pleasure Transit aliens Treaty traders and investors Students and dependant family Representatives to international organizations and families Temporary workers and trainees, dependent family Representatives of foreign information media and families Students and exchange visitors, and dependant family Fiances/spouses of U.S. citizens and their children Intracompany transferees and dependant family Vocational students and dependant family NATO officials and families NAFTA professional workers and dependant family Fiances/spouses of permanent residents and their children All other classes	1,787,138 3,497 52,418 1,697,285 3,978 2,267 8,740 98 2,215 589 1,738 690 647 436   396 155 11,803	1,669,783 3,925 81,616 1,551,966 3,360 2,347 9,349 92 2,499 563 1,985 662 742 558 53 393 61 9,602	1,596,336 3,761 66,275 1,500,464 4,047 2,449 9,078 123 2,610 668 2,323 696 768 590 30 406 19 2,029

Source: Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2007

Hawaii International Real Estate

Foreign Direct Investment Established in Hawaii

Industry	U.S.	Hawaii
All industries	11,8588	990
Mining	1,107	0
Utilities	815	5
Construction	1,082	19
Manufacturing	10,322	15
Wholesale trade	15,798	84
Retail trade	30,540	302
Transportation and warehousing	5,468	20
Information	5,046	33
Finance: Depository credit intermediation	3,263	63
Finance: Insurance	3,709	32
Real estate and rental and leasing	1,890	47
Professional and technical services	4,275	22
Accommodation and food services	15,255	181
Other	16,824	145

Source: Department of Commerce, Foreign Direct Investment in the United States Establishment Data for 2002

Hawaii International Real Estate

For Foreign Buyers (Second Home or Imvestment)

For Foreign Buyers (Immigrant and Non-Imigrant Visas)

Top of the Page

Home

Ask Me a Question

Hawaii Exports by Product

_{(Unit: $1,000)}

Product	2004	(%)*	2005	(%)	2006	(%)	2007	(%)	% Change, ** 2006-2007
Hawaii Exports Total	404,774	0.0%	1,028,167	0.1%	705,744	0.1%	560,426	0.0%	0.0%
Petroleum & Coal Products	109,335	27.0%	99,109	9.6%	152,920	21.7%	186,561	33.3%	33.3%
Transportation Equipment	57,896	14.3%	682,584	66.4%	291,695	41.3%	88,464	15.8%	15.8%
Waste & Scrap	42,938	10.6%	53,544	5.2%	56,014	7.9%	74,442	13.3%	13.3%
Beverage & Tobacco Products	25,513	6.3%	33,700	3.3%	37,723	5.3%	42,324	7.6%	7.6%
Computers & Electronic Prod.	38,570	9.5%	29,228	2.8%	14,710	2.1%	30,200	5.4%	5.4%
Processed Foods	30,263	7.5%	25,553	2.5%	31,447	4.5%	29,014	5.2%	5.2%
Crop Production	14,768	3.6%	15,116	1.5%	18,362	2.6%	16,250	2.9%	2.9%
Misc. Manufactures	10,895	2.7%	8,198	0.8%	10,735	1.5%	13,049	2.3%	2.3%
Fabricated Metal Products	1,167	0.3%	953	0.1%	4,538	0.6%	10,746	1.9%	1.9%
Fishing, Hunting, & Trapping	8,623	2.1%	8,931	0.9%	12,508	1.8%	10,694	1.9%	1.9%
Machinery Manufactures	12,891	3.2%	2,632	0.3%	18,542	2.6%	9,941	1.8%	1.8%
Spec. Classification Provisions	17,294	4.3%	32,321	3.1%	19,073	2.7%	7,665	1.4%	1.4%
Elec. Eq., Appliances & Parts	1,909	0.5%	3,700	0.4%	4,632	0.7%	7,042	1.3%	1.3%
Chemical Manufactures	7,003	1.7%	8,406	0.8%	6,780	1.0%	6,829	1.2%	1.2%
Used Merchandise	3,639	0.9%	5,632	0.5%	6,017	0.9%	5,189	0.9%	0.9%
Leather & Related Products	1,903	0.5%	1,357	0.1%	1,867	0.3%	3,616	0.6%	0.6%
Apparel Manufactures	3,460	0.9%	3,510	0.3%	3,146	0.4%	3,337	0.6%	0.6%
Printing & Related Products	2,926	0.7%	3,771	0.4%	2,831	0.4%	3,195	0.6%	0.6%
Animal Production	5,358	1.3%	1,953	0.2%	2,299	0.3%	2,466	0.4%	0.4%
Paper Products	2,802	0.7%	3,733	0.4%	3,744	0.5%	2,324	0.4%	0.4%
Primary Metal Manufactures	240	0.1%	531	0.1%	2,129	0.3%	2,309	0.4%	0.4%
Fabric Mill Products	867	0.2%	985	0.1%	750	0.1%	1,353	0.2%	0.2%
Non-Metallic Mineral Mfgs.	704	0.2%	329	0.0%	201	0.0%	727	0.1%	0.1%
Plastic & Rubber Products	622	0.2%	622	0.1%	1,027	0.1%	686	0.1%	0.1%
Mining	229	0.1%	223	0.0%	533	0.1%	502	0.1%	0.1%

Source: Department of Commerce, State by State Exports: 2007

* % of State export total is the share of entire U.S. export, and others are shares of state export. ** (Z) means that % change is greater than 500%, and (-) means that the product is a new export.

Hawaii International Real Estate

Hawaii Exports by Trading Partner Countries

_{(Unit: $1,000)}

Country	2004	(%)*	2005	(%)	2006	(%)	2007	(%)	% Change,** 2006-2007
World Total	404,774	0.0%	1,028,167	0.1%	705,744	0.1%	560,426	0.0%	0.0%
Japan	117,147	28.9%	138,844	13.5%	192,552	27.3%	156,476	27.9%	27.9%
New Zealand	23,378	5.8%	7,775	0.8%	870	0.1%	3,199	0.6%	0.6%
Singapore	48,043	11.9%	520,862	50.7%	232,250	32.9%	105,716	18.9%	18.9%
Australia	16,779	4.1%	2,658	0.3%	9,099	1.3%	38,323	6.8%	6.8%
South Korea	44,239	10.9%	53,598	5.2%	23,546	3.3%	51,072	9.1%	9.1%
Canada	23,675	5.8%	17,158	1.7%	16,106	2.3%	21,040	3.8%	3.8%
Taiwan	11,169	2.8%	1,371	0.1%	2,432	0.3%	5,268	0.9%	0.9%
Hong Kong	15,475	3.8%	5,720	0.6%	6,942	1.0%	18,793	3.4%	3.4%
China	33,941	8.4%	132,624	12.9%	33,224	4.7%	29,124	5.2%	5.2%
Malaysia	97	0.0%	7,931	0.8%	8,730	1.2%	15,738	2.8%	2.8%
Philippines	6,874	1.7%	9,760	0.9%	10,960	1.6%	11,505	2.1%	2.1%
Germany	7,385	1.8%	6,878	0.7%	6,195	0.9%	4,765	0.9%	0.9%
Thailand	14,645	3.6%	18,057	1.8%	15,242	2.2%	9,521	1.7%	1.7%
Mexico	1,152	0.3%	999	0.1%	3,600	0.5%	2,559	0.5%	0.5%
France	3,228	0.8%	2,439	0.2%	2,159	0.3%	2,432	0.4%	0.4%
Netherlands	2,115	0.5%	1,249	0.1%	3,761	0.5%	2,805	0.5%	0.5%
United Kingdom	9,028	2.2%	10,058	1.0%	19,447	2.8%	16,462	2.9%	2.9%
Italy	605	0.1%	459	0.0%	1,226	0.2%	1,715	0.3%	0.3%
Indonesia	888	0.2%	12,864	1.3%	23,158	3.3%	2,073	0.4%	0.4%
Sweden	750	0.2%	411	0.0%	1,370	0.2%	1,500	0.3%	0.3%
French Polynesia	597	0.1%	267	0.0%	228	0.0%	6,324	1.1%	1.1%
Viet Nam	352	0.1%	7,802	0.8%	1,049	0.1%	2,478	0.4%	0.4%
Costa Rica	34	0.0%	2,366	0.2%	3,044	0.4%	8,232	1.5%	1.5%
South Africa	30	0.0%	28	0.0%	1,023	0.1%	1,570	0.3%	0.3%
El Salvador	119	0.0%	0	0.0%	24,542	3.5%	28,947	5.2%	5.2%

Source: Department of Commerce, State by State Exports: 2007

* % of State export total is the share of entire U.S. export, and others are shares of tate export. ** (Z) means that % change is greater than 500%, and (-) means that this is a new partner.