Pacific Islander American
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Pacific Islander Americans represent the smallest racial group counted in the U.S. census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or .3 percent of the United States population. They are most concentrated in Hawaii, Alaska and to a lesser extent the West Coast of the United States, specifically California.
Definition
In the 2000-2010 US 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 2000-2010 US Census Bureau counts Filipino Americans, Indonesian Americans, Taiwanese Americans and Japanese Americans as Asian Americans even though they have original origins from islands in the Pacific Ocean.Pacific Islander Americans today
In politics
Mufi Hannemann was a mayor of Hawaii. Mufi Hanneman is a Samoan American who was originally a history teacher. He became mayor of Hawaii in January 2, 2005 and is still serving his term.In the media
Pacific Islander Americans have media portrayal mostly as professional wrestlers, but are also portrayed as regular people too. The Rock has been the most notable Pafic Islander American professional wrestler, branching out into movies like the The Scorpion King. Other Pacific Islander Americna professional wrestlers include Samoa Joe and Solofa Fatu. Lilo Pelekai and Nani Pelekai are Native Hawaiian Americans in the Disney show called "Lilo & Stitch". Al Harrington was an actor who portrayed "Det. Ben Kokua" in the CBS television series Hawaii Five-O.
In sports
Pacific Islander Americans are well represented in American football, but are also represented in sumo wrestling. Nuu Faaola, Mosi Tatupu and Junior Seau are professional football players. Akebono Taro is a famous sumo-wrestling Yokozuna of Native Hawaiian ancestry.See also
External links
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