Big Island leads the state in population gains

  • Hawaii County population growth, based on estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau
  • Hawaii state population growth, based on estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau
  • Traffic backs up on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Some 1,480 more people lived on Hawaii Island on July 1, 2018, than the year before, bringing the total population to 200,983, according to census estimates. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

HILO — Hawaii Islanders like to say they don’t just live on the Big Island; they live on the best island.