HONOLULU -- Census numbers released Thursday could literally reshape political and education district boundaries around the state. The data help government officials make decisions that will affect Hawaii for the next 10 years, until the next census.

The Big Island recorded the largest population growth of any island over the past decade, up 24.5 percent, to just over 185,000.

Maui followed with a jump to roughly 145,000 in 2010, nearly a 21 percent hike.

The increase in populations could shuffle political divides, to ensure fair representation among the different districts.

“Politically each district should have similar number of people that they have representative to represent them in our political system,” said Sarah Yuan with the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Center on Family.

Molokai and Lanai are the only islands to record a slight decrease in population, while Niihau increased from 160 residents to 170.

Dr. Yuan said the growth likely came from outside Hawaii.

On Oahu, the census reported an increase of nearly 9 percent, up to more than 953,000.

For the first time, the census counted two thriving communities on the westside: Makakilo and Kapolei.

Education and Native Hawaiian Funding

The 2010 census gives the state's Department of Education accurate information to use when determining whether or not to close a school based on a neighborhood's population.

“Schools will be very interested in this, in drawing their lines for school boundaries for DOE and of course there are some schools that are on the slate right now for being closed. I think this will help the administrators of DOE to make those types of decisions,” said Momi Fernandez, an advocate for Native Hawaiians.

The census shows a large increase in state population of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Fernandez said she is hopeful the census numbers will mean more federal money for the Native Hawaiian community and the state in general.

“We will definitely be in touch with our congressional team for federal funding. I hope it will make a difference. In the past, it certainly did but during these times of budget drought we'll see what happens,” said Fernandez.