Everything about Pacific Islander American totally explained
Pacific Islander Americans (also called
Austronesian} are residents of the United States with original ancestry from the Pacific Islands. They represent the smallest
racial group counted in the
United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the
United States population. They are most concentrated in
Hawaii,
Alaska and the
West Coast, specifically
California, although they're to be found in other US States as well.
Definition
In the 2000–2010 U.S. Census the term "'Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander' refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands. ... They are of Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian cultural backgrounds." The US Census counts
Indigenous Australians and
Maori, the natives of
New Zealand, as part of the Pacific Islander race.
The U.S. Census Bureau counts
Filipino Americans,
Indonesian Americans, and
Taiwanese Americans as
Asian Americans even though they've ethnic origins from islands bordering the
Pacific Ocean and the former two are
Austronesians also.
Individuals
In politics
Mufi Hannemann is the current mayor of
Honolulu. Mufi Hanneman is a German and
Samoan American who was originally a history teacher. He became mayor of Honolulu in
January 2,
2005 and is still serving his term.
Media
Pacific Islander Americans have media portrayal mostly as
professional wrestlers, but are also portrayed as regular people too.
The Rock, with a Samoan mother and a
Black Canadian father, has been the most notable Pacific Islander American professional wrestler, branching out into movies like the
The Scorpion King. Other Pacific Islander American professional wrestlers include
Samoa Joe and
Solofa Fatu.
Lilo Pelekai and
Nani Pelekai are Native Hawaiian Americans in the
Disney show called "Lilo & Stitch". Pacific Islander Americans portrayed two major supporting characters on the
CBS television series Hawaii Five-O—Native Hawaiian
Zulu as Kono Kalakaua and Samoan American
Al Harrington as Det. Ben Kokua. Also, Hawaiian-American
Jason Momoa plays
Ronon Dex on the popular science-fiction TV show
Stargate Atlantis.
Vili Fualaau is a Samoan-American boy who made headlines with his controversial relationship with
Mary Kay Letourneau.
The most famous stage character is
Bloody Mary (South Pacific) of the
South Pacific musical and movie. She is a souvenir trader to US Sailors stationed in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Though originally cast as
Juanita Hall, an
African American, she's often also cast as an Asian or Pacific Islander American in newer local productions.
Sports
Pacific Islander Americans are well represented in
American football:
Peter Tuipulotu,
Reno Mahe,
Vai Sikahema,
Nuu Faaola,
Jesse Sapolu,
Troy Polamalu,
Maake Kemoeatu,
Mosi Tatupu and his son
Lofa,
Manu Tuiasosopo and his sons
Marques and
Zach, and
Junior Seau are current or former professional football players.
Ken Niumatalolo, a Samoan American who was named after the
2007 regular season as the new head coach of
Navy, is believed to be the first Pacific Islander American to head a
major college program.
Many Pacific Islander Americans also play the most popular sport of their homeland, rugby, and have a strong influence in US rugby, with many going on to represent the USA, including Salesi Sika, David Niu, Vahafolau Esikia, Fifita Mounga, Olo Fifita, Thretton Palamo (the youngest player ever in the
Rugby World Cup), Albert Tuipolotu, and Vaea Anitoni (the all-time leader in
tries for the USA national team).
Pacific Islanders are also represented in
sumo wrestling.
Akebono Taro is a famous sumo-wrestling
Yokozuna of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
Diving great
Greg Louganis, although often identified with his adoptive Greek-American heritage, is of Samoan and Swedish ancestry.
Population
Pacific Islander American Ancestries in the 2000 US Census>
| Ancestry |
990 |
990% of US population |
000 |
000% of US population |
ercent change from 1990 to 2000 |
| Chamorro |
negligible (no data) |
negligible (no data) |
177,000 |
0.06% |
negligible (no data) |
| Polynesian |
negligible (no data) |
negligible (no data) |
616,162 |
0.2% |
negligible (no data) |
| TOTAL |
negligible (no data) |
negligible (no data) |
793,162 |
0.3% |
negligible (no data) |
Polynesian Americans
Polynesian Americans are Americans of
Polynesian descent.
Large subcategories of Polynesian Americans include
Native Hawaiians and
Samoan Americans. In addition there are smaller communities of Tongan Americans and Maori Americans.
Population
Polynesian American Ancestries in the 2000 US Census>
| Ancestry |
990 |
990% of US population |
000 |
000% of US population |
ercent change from 1990 to 2000 |
| Native Hawaiian |
negligible (no data) |
negligible (no data) |
401,162 |
0.13% |
negligible (no data) |
| Samoan |
negligible (no data) |
negligible (no data) |
215,000 |
0.07% |
negligible (no data) |
| TOTAL |
negligible (no data) |
negligible (no data) |
616,162 |
0.2% |
negligible (no data) |
Samoan Americans
A
Samoan American is an American who is of ethnic Samoan descent and may be from either the independent nation
Samoa or the
American territory of
American Samoa. Many Samoans live in
Los Angeles,
Carson,
Long Beach,
San Jose,
San Francisco,
Salt Lake City,
Portland (Oregon),
Houston,
Seattle and in the state of
Hawaii.
Since the end of
World War II, persons born in American Samoa are United States
nationals, but not United States
citizens. (This is the only circumstance under which an individual would be one and not the other.) For this reason, Samoans can move to Hawaii or the mainland United States and obtain citizenship comparatively easily.
Samoan American is a subcategory of Polynesian American. Alike Hawaiian Americans, the Samoans arrived in the mainland in the 20th century as agricultural laborers and factory workers.
Culture
As a result of the rise of Samoan communities in highly concentrated
hip hop areas such as
Los Angeles, CA, American Samoans have built up a reputation for themselves of being highly skilled dancers and athletes. This stereotyping based on physicality put pressure on Samoan communities in the United States because of nervous law enforcement officials who would frequently assault the Samoan men and women. Despite this racial stereotyping, dance was a way through which young Samoans could gain respect and earn social status. It acted as a diasporic currency where dance styles and mastery of hip hop breakdancing skills of
locking, and
popping signified a connection of this community which was assumed to be 'foreign' with its fellow Americans.
While women were mostly restrained from their expression of hip hop dance, many Samoan men became professional dancers and entered the American music industry. Suga Pop, and
Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. are examples of this.
The involvement of Samoans in street dance and hip hop music in America has impacted the Samoan cultural production in other places where Samoans have settled. A transmission of culture between the American Samoan community and its Pacific origin (i.e
New Zealand,
Hawaii) took place. This resulted in a mimicking of not only music and dance styles but of the fashion of American hip hop as well. Samoan dance crews copied the popping and locking dance forms while wearing Adidas track suits- a style very commonly associated with
Queens based hip hop group
Run DMC. As a result of the American Samoan community's rising recognition, performers such as
Snoop Dogg and
Lord Tariq have collaborated with various American-based Samoan and Pacific artists.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Pacific Islander American'.
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