Utah is second in the nation only to Hawaii for the percentage of residents who are Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and two cities in the state — West Valley and Salt Lake City — claim some of the highest per-capita percentages of Pacific Islanders in the nation, according to the Census Bureau.
In 2000, 1 percent of Utah's population, or 21,367 residents, reported they were at least part Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, putting Utah right behind Hawaii, which had 23.3 percent of residents who were Pacific Islanders alone or in combination with another race. The 2000 Census was the first time people could select more than one race.
West Valley City and Salt Lake City stand out nationally as having the No. 2 and No. 4 per-capita Pacific Islander populations in the nation, respectively.
Fahina Pasi of the Tongan-American Society came to Utah from California 10 years ago with her husband primarily because his family lived in Salt Lake City and could be a support system and watch her children while she and her husband worked.
She says Pacific Islanders come to Utah to be part of a large community of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as for educational and economic purposes. And when they come, they don't come alone.
"When people come here they bring their friends and family," Pasi said. "Extended family is very important to us. . . . The Polynesian community is a very tight community."
West Valley and Salt Lake City may attract a number of Pacific Islanders because of affordable housing, proximity to downtown and the resources available to residents.
"If I moved to Roy, I'd have to travel down here to buy Pacific Islander food," she said.
West Valley claims 3.5 percent of its population as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone or in combination, and Salt Lake City claims 2.3 of its population fitting that description. The city in the nation with the highest per-capita population of Pacific Islanders was Honolulu, with 15.6 percent.
West Valley City is responding to its teeming Pacific Islander population as well as other growing minority groups in the city by planning a $20 million multicultural center. The project was born after the city was approached by members of the Pacific Islander community about five years ago requesting that the city help them find a place to hold cultural activities.
The Arts and Cultural Heritage District is planned for an 80-acre area west of Jordan River between 3000 South and 3300 South and should begin in June.
Nationally, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders alone as a race or in combination with another race make up 0.3 percent of the population. Pacific Islanders are by far most prevalent in the West, which is home to 73 percent of the nation's Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population alone or of mixed race.
"Many of them have been brought to the West through the '90s because of the booming economic conditions," said Neil Ashdown of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.
About 60 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in Utah — 9,169 — checked "other" on their 2000 Census form, with the next most common selection being Samoan, with 4,523. There are also 1,251 Native Hawaiians in the state and 202 Guamians or Chamorros.
E-MAIL: ehayes@desnews.com