Native Hawaiians

Native Hawaiians (in Hawaiian, kanaka ‘oiwi or kanaka māoli) are the indigenous Polynesian peoples of the Hawaiian Islands who trace their ancestry back to antiquity before the arrival of British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. According to the U.S. Census Bureau report for 2000, there are 476,000 people who identified themselves as being native Hawaiian, part native Hawaiian and mixed native Hawaiian. Most native Hawaiians are residents of the United States in California, the State of Hawaii, Nevada and Washington. Two-thirds live in the State of Hawaii while the other one-third is split among mainland states. Almost half of the mainland share of the population is in California.

Notable native Hawaiians

• James Aiona, politician
• Daniel K. Akaka, politician
• Eddie Akau, famous surfer
• Akebono, sumo wrestler
• D. G. Anderson, politician
• S. Haunani Apoliona, activist
• Donne Dawson, head of Hawai‘i Film Office
• Brickwood Galuteria, entertainer and party chairman
• Clayton Hee, politician
• Don Ho, entertainer
• Hoku Ho, singer
• Maren Jensen, actress
• Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, olympian and World Ambassador of Surfing
• Samuel M. Kamakau, historian
• Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, entertainer
• Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, descendant of ali‘i
• Samuel Wilder King, politician
• James Kealoha, politician
• Brook Mahealani Lee, Miss Universe 1997
• Lauren (Peters) Moriarty, U.S. Ambassador
• Keanu Reeves, actor
• William S. Richardson, jurist
• Haunani-Kay Trask, activist
• Mililani Trask, activist
• John D. Waihee III, politician