Census Tract

Census Tract 78.09 In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lays the biggest chain of islands, the Hawaiian Islands, and on the Island of Oahu within census tract number 78.07 (figure 1) is my home. This tract is in the southern part of the island and its east boundary is Aiea. This tract is also between two main roads: on the north there is the H-1 freeway, and from the south Moanalua Rd., which is also bordered with Pearl Ridge Shopping Center. This tract, even though it may not seem like it, is somehow in the middle of the island. It is located off the freeway which makes it convenient to reach other parts of the island. It is about a fifteen minute drive to down town, Waikiki, Kaneohe (east side), and Waipahu. A 25-30 minute drive will bring
you to the North Shore or Ko Olina, which is located on the western end of the island. This tract appears to be a high-order central place that includes one of the four major malls on the island. In addition, Straub Clinic & Hospital is less than a mile away, and there are many restaurants, car repair shops, gas stations and schools nearby. The residents of this tract and other tracts nearby can find answers to almost all their needs and wants at a walking distance. With the help of the U.S. Census Bureau I am able to analyze and understand better the nature and characteristics of this tract. Census tract number 78.07 is more than just a street and road map; it is a map that states the boundaries of different social demographic and economic components. With the updated information and data the U.S Census Bureau provides and with the field survey I have performed, I am able to analyze and describe the environment and people I live around. In this tract there are 5,351 people and the number of males and females is relatively even with 47.1% female and 52.9% male. The majority of people are between the ages of 25-44: 23% are 25 to 34 years old and 20.5% are 35 to 44 years old, which makes a total of 2,309 people at this age group. It is obvious this area is home to younger adults with children than older people (the median age is 34.5). There are 304 children under the age of 5 (5.7%) while there are only 132 who are 75 years old and older. Indeed, when walking around the area you notice more young children with their parents, or groups of teenagers, than people in their older years. It seems that this tract is more appealing for younger families (45.4% are married compared to 12.9% who are divorced) with children under the age of 18 (490), than a household with individuals 65 years and over (96). Big portions of the people in this tract (4,562) are 16 and over, which makes them eligible to hold a job and become part of the labor force. 79.5% of this group is part of the labor force. Within this number, 4.5% are unemployed (204 people), and 10.8% are in the armed forces. Women over sixteen represent almost half of the total population with 2,145 in number. The female labor force is smaller with only 72.8% participant, and only 63% employed. With today’s economic rollercoaster these numbers are relatively very good. The data on the average income supports and corresponds to the information mentioned above. 63% of working people are private wage and salary workers mainly in the management, professional, and other related occupational fields (34.8%) or in sales and office occupations (32.7%). Since this area is urban, there are only a few (only 5 people) who practice farming, fishing, or forestry occupations. In deed most of the people I meet in the elevator or see in that area are dressed up with suits, briefcases, and laptops on their shoulders. As for 1999, the median income for households was $41, 696 when 22.1% earned $50,000 to $74,999, 18.6% made $35,000 to $49,999, and only 5.6% made less than $10,000 a year. According to the make, model, and shape of cars and the people’s appearances, those numbers seem to be fairly accurate. Income and employment rates are often times an indicator of the educational level and number of graduate and degree holders. In this tract the percentage of educated people is quite high. Out off all children age of 3-4 years 52.6% are enrolled in school, in the 5 to 14 years group 95.9% are in school, and more encouraging information is that all kids ages 15-17 years are attending school. The busy traffic and crowded sidewalks with kids and their parents around eight in the morning and between 2:00-3:00 p.m. is living proof of accurate statistics. Out of the 613 people between the ages of 18-24 there are 520 (84.8%) high school graduates and 191 who are enrolled in college or graduate school. The overall education of that section is somehow similar to the number of the younger generation. 90.5% of people over 25 have graduated from high school or higher, and 31.4% hold a bachelor degrees or higher. Most people in this tract hold American citizenships (81.9%) and the rest are mainly from Asia. 43.1% of those with American citizenships were born in Hawaii, 34.9% were born in the continental United States, and 3.8% were born outside of the US in Porto Rico, US Island areas and born abroad to American parents. The majority of the foreign born population is from Asia (86.7%), especially from Eastern and South Eastern Asia. From Eastern Asia (58.8%) there are mainly 7.1%from China, 11.2%from Japan and 40.5% from Korea. South Eastern Asia (26.6%): 22.1% from the Philippines, 3% from Vietnam, and 1.8% from Thailand. This information appears to be correct. Even though it is sometimes hard to distinguish where a person is from, it is obvious they are somewhere from Asia. The rest of the foreign born people are from different countries from around the world, but they represent a smaller number, and are barely noticeable. On the other hand there are only 252 (4.7%) who are native Hawaiian or from other South Pacific islands. Surprising information indicates that there are 7.9% Hispanic or Latino people. I have been living in this area for about a year now, and have worked here for over three years, and I do not recall recognizing or interacting with Hispanic or Latino people. All the White, Asian, Hawaiian, Latino, and any other race seem to live together in harmony. There are no visual signs (like graffiti or fights) of any cultural or race issues. When walking in my neighborhood taking my dog for a walk, I often times notice couples that are not from the same ethnic background. The same observation is true for the groups of kids hanging out in parks, the mall, and the bus stations. Hawaii in general is a huge collection of cultures, ethnicities and religions. While sometimes local people like to make fun of “white” people, they are a welcoming society who accepts cultural differences with open hearts. I can say from my own experience that whenever my neighbors or other people nearby hear that I am from Israel, they show no sign of rejection, but of acceptance. I believe that this attitude among people is what helps the crime level. We are no different than other places in the world; we have our own casualties and problems. Every once in a while I hear about a car that was broken into or stolen, or I hear about suspicious rumors of drug dealing going on in the area. But the overall feeling is that this is a considerably safe, low crime area (especially compared to other areas on Oahu). This tract may seem small, but it is in the center of Aiea. There are two elementary schools within walking distance and few more located less than a mile away. The mall is just a cross the street which provides a variety of stores, services (banking, medical, post office, etc.) and restaurants. Even though it appears to by a busy urban locale, the people in this area do not neglect their religious practices. There are four different churches in less than a half mile radius of that tract. I am usually not awake and outside on Sunday mornings, but every once in a while my shift starts early and I get to watch my community on their way to the different churches. Due to the area the tract is located in, one would expect to see a concentration of high rise buildings.
This tract is no exception, there are high rise buildings but at the same time there are also low rise units. This tract is a combination of high rise building (like the one I live in) and some town houses on the other side of the road. This gives people the ability to live in an urban area with the opportunity to choose to live in a smaller more affordable apartment, or in a bigger more suburban style home, all within the city. 87.7% of the units are in 20 or more units structure, 5.1 in 5-9 units per structure, and 4% 3-4 units in a structure. Most of the units were built more than thirty years ago. 59.3% were built in the seventies and the majority of the rest in the eighties. The data may indicate that the buildings in the area are quite old, but have been well taken care of. As part of the board of directors of my building, I know that the residents and the association are doing a good job to maintain our property, and make it look as new and as attractive as they can. The outside of the units in the tract are always clean and painted. Each association has its own landscaping that contributes to the warm friendly environment of the neighborhood. At Christmas time, the entire track is glowing with Christmas lights and colorful
decorations.
Out of the 2,666 occupied units, more than half (64.3%) are renters and are usually a one person household (43%). It seems like the renters are younger people (36% are between the ages of 25-34), perhaps students, people at their beginning of their careers, or soldiers. The location of the tract is centralized to military bases. On the east end is Marine Corps Base Hawaii which is about 18 miles away. On northwest end is Schofield Barracks with a 13 mile distance, and on the south end there are Pearl Harbor Navel Station and Hickam Air Force Base about 5 miles away. There are a few smaller military facilities that are even closer to the tract. Many people who are part of the armed forces find this location very convenient. More so, most roads in that area are not as congested as other main roads in other parts of the island (H-1 for example). Even in rush hour traffic there is no heavy traffic unless there is an unusual event (car accidents, event in the stadium, etc.), cars are moving smoothly and traffic in general is open. Over the past year I have attended Windward Community College, which is on the other side of the island (about 14 miles from my house). I leave for school at 7:45 A.M. and come back at 3:00 P.M and I experience no typical rush hour bumper to bumper traffic. In general, it is easy to navigate in and out of the tract. According to the U.S.
Census Bureau, the average gross rent is between $500-$1500 when the majority 50.7% falls in $750-&999 ranges. This may have been accurate for 2000, but it is undoubtedly not the price range today in 2009. A two bedroom one bathroom apartment in my building can start from $1400 a month. Other data that in my opinion does not match today is the occupants per room. In 2000, both renters and owner occupied units was mostly between 0.5-1 per room. With increasing rent and decreasing resources, like the situation in the past year, people cannot afford to splurge and enjoy the connivance of each having his/her own room. More and more I hear about families moving in together, young couples seeking for a roommate to help with the monthly payment, and single parents looking for one bedroom for them and their
child.
It is obvious from the information above that census tract number 78.07 is located in a central urban area. It is a mix of cultures, people of different races and ages. Although the data suggests that the population is relatively young, there are still many older people who probably moved to this area many years ago when it was not as developed and commercialized as it is now. When it comes to analyzing an island, it is a bit more difficult than if analyzing a state on the mainland. On Oahu there is the main and only city Honolulu, and the other areas are considered to be more like a town due to its size and number of people. If Hawaii was just like any other state, Aiea which is where the tract is will be considered a city. Other than Waikiki, there is no other area on the island that provides as many services and goods as Aiea do. The tract is being transformed into a more modern area that in few years from now will contain mostly young small families and individuals who want to live in a more centralized location. This area may not offer new luxurious homes, but it will offer the fast paced and energetic life style a city creates.