Intermarriage in Hawaii, 1950-1983

This paper examines intermarrige in Hawaii 1) longitudinally from 1950 to 1983 2) for its relationship with heterogeneity and 3) for sex-specific measures of heterogeneity and group size. Using Hawaiian vital statistics data matched to census data the authors compared group size and outmarriage with age prior marital status and place of residence. The rate of outmarriage across age groups is constantly high across the period hovering at about 60%. Outmarriage for occupational groups declined over the period from 90% to 75%. These high rates were partly because of the many women in the no occupation category. Outmarrige rates for prior marital status increased from 22% in 1960 to 28% in 1983 partly because of the increased numbers of divorcees entering the marrige market. Marriages between people from different islands are rare and have remained constant over time. Interethnic marriges increased from 1950 to 1983 but the increases are less striking than expected. Part of the reason for this slower-than-expected growth in interracial marriages is due to Caucasian population growth in Hawaii. Caucasian men are the least likely to marry women from another ethnic group and military Caucasian men are even less likely to marry women from other ethnic groups. Caucasian population growth is the most striking demographic trend in Hawaii. By ethnic group the Japanese show the largest increase in intermarrige rates. Hawaiians part-Hawaiians Chinese Filipinos and Puerto Ricans all increased their intermarriage rates. Intermarriage for Caucasians increased and then declined. Much more Caucasian intermarrige exists in Hawaii than on the mainland. In 1983 22% of Caucasian grooms and 16% of Caucasian brides intermarried as compared to less than 1% on the mainland. Heterogeneity is positively related to outmarriage for age and prior marital status. The results for race and residence contradict this pattern so heterogeneity does not in itself explain outmarriage.