America has one of the biggest Pacific Islander communities in the world. Why?

Last week, we blogged about how the U.S. has one of the largest Pacific Islander communities in the world. It's fair to ask this question as a follow up:

Why?

A variety of factors play a role, such as a desire for economic opportunity, religion, language, and immigration policy. But in my view, here are the two biggest reasons why America has the second largest Pacific Islander community in the world.

1.) A strong and growing base of Pacific Islanders who are indigenous to land that is now part of the U.S.

The average Pacific Islander American did not "come to" the United States; the United States came to them.  The majority of Pacific Islanders who live in the 50 states are descended from the original people of Pacific Islands that are now part of the United States: Native Hawaiians (Hawaii), Samoans (American Samoa), Chamorros/Guamanians (Guam), and Mariana Islanders (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).  According to data from the 2010 Census, these four groups make up as much as 70 percent of America's Pacific Islander American community. These indigenous communities are living and growing parts of our nation.

2.) Special relationships with Pacific Island nations that allow for easy immigration into the U.S.

In addition to those Americans who are indigenous to the U.S. Pacific Islands, many Micronesian Americans have been able to immigrate to the 50 states without the restrictions that limit most non-citizens, due to the special relationship between the U.S. and the former United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was administered by the United States. (That area now consists of one U.S. Commonwealth -- The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands -- and three countries that are in free association with the United States: The Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of The Marshall Islands, and The Republic of Palau.)

When you combine the populations of Pacific Islanders who are indigenous to the U.S. Pacific Islands with those who are indigenous to the Freely Associated States, you're looking as much as three-quarters of the Pacific Islander population residing in the 50 states.

To sum it up: What are two of the biggest reasons why America has the second biggest Pacific Islander population?  1.) Most Pacific Islander Americans are indigenous to land that is now part of the United States, or 2.) land that is now in free association with the U.S.

Kawika

Want to see the breakdown of America's Pacific Islander population?  Click here, and scroll over to page 14: LINK

Note: While American Samoa is part of the United States, Samoa consists of two political bodies: the Independent State of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), and the unincorporated territory of American Samoa. 


Here's a Wiki on the term "Free Association"