Hawaii, not surprisingly, is No. 1 among states for the percentage of its overall businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders. But the state that ranks No. 2 may be less predictable: Utah. Still, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates released on Tuesday show that the number of businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Polynesians in Utah is relatively minuscule, even if it is good enough to finish second in the nation.
They owned an estimated 692 out of Utah’s 246,393 businesses in 2007, or just 0.28 percent of them. Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders owned 9.5 percent of all businesses in Hawaii.Just behind Utah in the rankings — but essentially in a statistical tie with it — were Alaska and California (both at 0.27 percent) and Nevada (0.26 percent).
In looking at overall numbers of firms owned by Pacific islanders, and not just percentages, the 692 owned by Pacific Islanders in Utah ranked No. 8 among states. Hawaii had the most, 11,383, followed by California (9,255) and New York (1,854). Salt Lake Tribune
Note: For more information from the U.S. Census Bureau on this topic, click here.
