Survey of Business Owners (SBO)

Survey of Business Owners - Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Firms: 2007

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders owned 37,957 nonfarm U.S. businesses operating in the fifty states and the District of Columbia in 2007, an increase of 31.1 percent from 2002. These Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms accounted for 0.1 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States, employed 38,750 persons (less than 0.1 percent of total employment) and generated $6.5 billion in receipts (less than 0.1 percent of total receipts).

These findings come from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 Survey of Business Owners (SBO) and were collected as part of the 2007 Economic Census. The SBO includes a sample of more than 2.3 million nonfarm businesses filing 2007 tax forms as individual proprietorships, partnerships, or any type of corporation, and with receipts of $1,000 or more. The SBO defines Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses as firms in which Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders own 51 percent or more of the equity, interest or stock of the business.

Table 6 [pdf, 146K; csv, 6K] shows the number of firms and sales and receipts for all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses in 2007 and the changes from 2002 to 2007.

Employment size and receipts size data for Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms are shown in Chart 7 [pdf, 169K] and Chart 6 [pdf, 170K].

Based on standards developed by both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Federal Government, Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses are also classified by detailed group:

• Native Hawaiian-owned. Fifty-one percent or more owned by persons of Native Hawaiian origin.
• Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned. Fifty-one percent or more owned by persons of Guamanian or Chamorro origin.
• Samoan-owned. Fifty-one percent or more owned by persons of Samoan origin.
• Other Pacific Islander-owned. Fifty-one percent or more owned by persons of Other Pacific Islander origin [for example, Fijian or Tongan]

Among the detailed Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups, Native Hawaiians owned 21,111 firms (55.6 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms), with receipts of $4.2 billion (64.4 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firm receipts). Guamanians or Chamorros owned 3,650 firms (9.6 percent), with receipts of $624.6 million (9.6 percent). Samoans owned 3,029 firms (8.0 percent), with receipts of $381.9 million (5.9 percent). Other Pacific Islanders owned 9,321 firms (24.6 percent), with receipts of $1.4 billion (21.1 percent). Chart 8 [pdf, 169K] and Chart 9 [pdf, 169K] show by detailed group the number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms and the receipts of these firms respectively.

Table 6 [pdf, 146K; csv, 6K] shows the changes in the number of firms and sales and receipts for all U.S. businesses from 2002 to 2007 by detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander group.

KIND-OF-BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS

In 2007, Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms were distributed relatively evenly across a number of different NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) sectors. Among sectors of interest, 4,991 firms operated in the construction (NAICS 23) sector; 3,723 firms operated in the health care and social assistance (NAICS 62) sector; 3,655 firms operated in the professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54) sector; 5,320 firms operated in the repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services (NAICS 81) sector; and 3,909 firms operated in the retail trade (NAICS 44-45) sector. Table 4 [pdf, 158K; csv, 8K] and Chart 1 [pdf, 170K] show the distribution of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms by sector. Chart 2 [pdf, 169K], Chart 3 [pdf, 169K], Chart 4 [pdf, 168K], and Chart 5 [pdf, 169K] show by detailed group the distribution of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms by sector.

Construction (NAICS 23) and retail trade (NAICS 44-45) accounted for 44.1 percent of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned business revenue.

GEOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Businesses

Hawaii had the largest number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms at 11,383 (30.0 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms), with receipts of $2.4 billion (36.7 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firm receipts). Map 1 [pdf, 38K] shows the distribution of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms as well as firm receipts across the different counties in Hawaii. California was next with 9,255 (24.4 percent) Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms, with receipts of $1.2 billion (18.3 percent). Table 1 [pdf, 140K; csv, 5K] shows, for each state, the number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms as a percentage of the total number of firms in that state in 2007. Table 5 [pdf, 217K; csv, 19K] shows, for each state, the change in the number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms from 2002 to 2007.

Among U.S. counties, Honolulu County, Hawaii, had the largest number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms at 6,721 (17.7 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms), with receipts of $1.5 billion (22.8 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firm receipts). Table 3 [pdf, 152K; csv, 7K] shows, for selected counties and cities in California and Hawaii, the number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms as a percentage of the total number of firms in each respective county in 2007.

Among U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, Honolulu, Hawaii, had the largest number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms at 6,721 (17.7 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms), with receipts of $1.5 billion (22.8 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firm receipts). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., was next with 3,675 (9.7 percent) Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms, with receipts of $267.2 million (4.1 percent). Statistics for Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms in the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in 2007 can be found in Table 2 [pdf, 149K; csv, 8K].

Native Hawaiian-Owned Businesses

Hawaii had the largest number of Native Hawaiian-owned firms at 10,518 (49.8 percent of all Native Hawaiian-owned firms), with receipts of $2.3 billion (54.4 percent of all Native Hawaiian-owned firms' receipts). California was next with 4,054 (19.2 percent) Native Hawaiian-owned firms, with receipts of $427.7 million (10.2 percent).

Among U.S. counties, Honolulu County, Hawaii, had the largest number of Native Hawaiian-owned firms at 6,047 (28.6 percent of all Native Hawaiian-owned firms), with receipts of $1.4 billion (33.3 percent of all Native Hawaiian-owned firms' receipts).

Among U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, Honolulu, Hawaii, had the largest number of Native Hawaiian-owned firms at 6,047 (28.6 percent of all Native Hawaiian-owned firms), with receipts of $1.4 billion (33.3 percent of all Native Hawaiian-owned firms' receipts). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., was second with 1,765 (8.4 percent) Native Hawaiian-owned firms, with receipts of $125.0 million (3.0 percent).

Guamanian- or Chamorro-Owned Businesses

California had the largest number of Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms at 1,579 (43.3 percent of all Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms), with receipts of $345.8 million (55.4 percent of all Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms' receipts).

Samoan-Owned Businesses

The 3,029 Samoan-owned firms were spread out over the United States with no identifiable geographic concentration. Among selected states of interest, 166 Samoan-owned firms were in Florida; 154 firms were in Georgia; and 444 firms were in Hawaii.

Other Pacific Islander-Owned Businesses

California had the largest number of Other Pacific Islander-owned firms at 2,838 (30.4 percent of all Other Pacific Islander-owned firms), with receipts of $389.6 million (28.4 percent of all Other Pacific Islander-owned firms' receipts).

Among U.S. counties, Los Angeles County, Calif., had the largest number of Other Pacific Islander-owned firms at 856 (9.2 percent of all Other Pacific Islander-owned firms), with receipts of $71.1 million (5.2 percent of all Other Pacific Islander-owned firms' receipts).

Among U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., had the largest number of Other Pacific Islander-owned firms at 1,007 (10.8 percent of all Other Pacific Islander-owned firms) and 947 (10.2 percent) respectively. These firms had receipts of $80.5 million (5.9 percent of all Other Pacific Islander-owned firms' receipts) and $56.3 million (4.1 percent) respectively.

EMPLOYER FIRM CHARACTERISTICS

The SBO collects data from both employer and nonemployer businesses. Employer businesses are firms with paid employees, including workers on the payroll and excluding sole proprietors and partners. Nonemployer businesses are firms without paid employees, including sole proprietors and partners of unincorporated businesses that do not have any other employees on the payroll.

In 2007, there were 4,172 Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms. These firms employed 38,750 persons and had a total payroll of $1.3 billion, an increase of 32.2 percent and 54.1 percent respectively from 2002. These firms generated $5.4 billion in receipts, an increase of 54.4 percent. In 2007, employer firms accounted for 11.0 percent of the total number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms and 83.3 percent of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms' receipts. Average receipts for these Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms in 2007 were $1.3 million; average receipts in 2002 were $948,323.

In 2007, there were 2,465 Native Hawaiian-owned employer firms. These firms employed 26,034 persons and had a total payroll of $796.7 million. These firms generated $3.5 billion in receipts, an increase of 44.1 percent. In 2007, employer firms accounted for 11.7 percent of the total number of Native Hawaiian-owned firms and 84.8 percent of Native Hawaiian-owned firms' receipts. Average receipts for these Native Hawaiian-owned employer firms in 2007 were $1.4 million; average receipts in 2002 were $1.1 million.

In 2007, there were 494 Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned employer firms that employed 4,068 persons, had a total payroll of $177.6 million, and generated $547.8 million in receipts. Employer firms accounted for 13.5 percent of the total number of Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms and 87.7 percent of Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms' receipts. Average receipts for these Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned employer firms were $1.1 million.

In 2007, there were 351 Samoan-owned employer firms. These firms employed 1,974 persons and had a total payroll of $58.0 million. These firms generated $283.0 million in receipts. In 2007, employer firms accounted for 11.6 percent of the total number of Samoan-owned firms and 74.1 percent of Samoan-owned firms' receipts. Average receipts for these Samoan-owned employer firms in 2007 were $806,197; average receipts in 2002 were $783,692.

In 2007, there were 954 Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms. These firms employed 8,527 persons and had a total payroll of $262.5 million(259.3 percent increase from 2002). These firms generated $1.1 billion in receipts, an increase of 284.2 percent. In 2007, employer firms accounted for 10.2 percent of the total number of Other Pacific Islander-owned firms and 80.8 percent of Other Pacific Islander-owned firms' receipts. Average receipts for these Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms in 2007 were $1.2 million; average receipts in 2002 were $392,205.

NONEMPLOYER FIRM CHARACTERISTICS

In 2007, 33,785 Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms had no paid employees, an increase of 33.8 percent from 2002. These nonemployer firms generated $1.1 billion in receipts. In 2007, nonemployers accounted for 89.0 percent of the total number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms and 16.7 percent of receipts. Average receipts for these Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned nonemployer firms in 2007 were $31,991; average receipts in 2002 were $30,783.

In 2007, 18,646 Native Hawaiian-owned firms had no paid employees, an increase of 27.7 percent from 2002. These nonemployer firms generated $634.7 million in receipts, an increase of 64.5 percent from 2002. In 2007, nonemployers accounted for 88.3 percent of the total number of Native Hawaiian-owned firms and 15.2 percent of receipts. Average receipts for these Native Hawaiian-owned nonemployer firms in 2007 were $34,038; average receipts in 2002 were $26,430.

In 2007, 3,156 Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms had no paid employees and generated $76.8 million in receipts. Nonemployers accounted for 86.5 percent of the total number of Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned firms and 12.3 percent of receipts. Average receipts for these Guamanian- or Chamorro-owned nonemployer firms were $24,322.

In 2007, 2,678 Samoan-owned firms had no paid employees, an increase of 42.0 percent from 2002. These nonemployer firms generated $99.0 million in receipts. In 2007, nonemployers accounted for 88.4 percent of the total number of Samoan-owned firms and 25.9 percent of receipts. Average receipts for these Samoan-owned nonemployer firms in 2007 were $36,951; average receipts in 2002 were $26,477.

In 2007, 8,367 Other Pacific Islander-owned firms had no paid employees, an increase of 48.8 percent from 2002. These nonemployer firms generated $263.3 million in receipts, an increase of 104.9 percent from 2002. In 2007, nonemployers accounted for 89.8 percent of the total number of Other Pacific Islander-owned firms and 19.2 percent of receipts. Average receipts for these Other Pacific Islander-owned nonemployer firms in 2007 were $31,469; average receipts in 2002 were $22,853.

DATA COMPARABILITY TO PRIOR SURVEYS

The 2007 and 2002 SBO data were published according to the 2007 and 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) respectively. Prior to the 2002 SBO, data were published according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. Additional changes affecting data comparability are discussed in detail in Methodology, in the section titled "Comparability of the 2007 and 2002 SBO Data."