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Maui County's minority population percentage was 69.5 percent last year -- the lowest in the state, according to a study of U.S. Census Bureau and other data released last month by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism's Research and Economic Analysis Division.
The study defines "minority population" as members of the population identifying their race and ethnicity as something other than non-Hispanic white race alone.
People identifying themselves as minorities made up 77.9 percent of Hawaii's population, the study reported. By county, the City and County of Honolulu had the highest minority population at 81.4 percent, followed by Kauai County at 70.4 percent and Hawaii County at 69.8 percent.
People reporting themselves as white (alone or in combination) made up 43.3 percent of the state's total population. The county breakdown showed Hawaii County had the largest white population, by percentage, at 56.5 percent, followed by Maui and Kauai counties, both at 51.7 percent, and Honolulu with 38.7 percent.
Asians (alone or in combination) accounted for 57 percent of the state's population. Honolulu had the highest percentage, 61.3 percent, followed by Kauai at 51.3 percent, Maui at 47.8 percent and Hawaii at 45.1 percent.
Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (alone or in combination) were 26.7 percent of the islands' population. Hawaii County had the largest share of Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders at 35.1 percent, followed by Maui County at 28.4 percent, Kauai at 26 percent and Honolulu at 24.7 percent.
The state's mixed race population stood at 23.7 percent.
The state's overall population grew 5 percent from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2016, according to the study. And, there was an average growth rate of 0.8 percent annually.
Meanwhile, the elderly population -- those 65 years old and older -- rose 25 percent in the same time period, with an average growth rate of 3.6 percent annually. The average annual elderly growth rate was 5.7 percent for Hawaii County, 5.4 percent for Maui, 4.9 percent for Kauai and 2.9 percent for Honolulu, the study reported.
The state's median age was 38.6 years last year, the same as it was in 2010. Hawaii County had the oldest median age at 42.2 years, followed by Kauai at 41.6, Maui at 40.8 and Honolulu at 37.4 years old.
Between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2016, there was an increase in Hawaii's ratio of dependent-age population (people younger than 18 and 65 and older) to the working-age population (18 to 64). In 2010, the state had 58 dependent-aged people for every 100 working-age people, but in 2016, there were 63 dependent-age people for every 100 working-age ones.
In the state overall in 2016, males had a slight lead over females -- 50.2 to 49.8 percent. Maui County's percentage of males was 49.9 percent.
The population and its characteristics were U.S. Census Bureau estimates based on the 2010 census, vital statistics, administrative records, federal tax returns and the results of its American Community Survey.
* Brian Perry can be reached at bperry@mauinews.com.