1. Marriage:
Hawaii’s No. 1 Weapon
Against
Childhood Poverty
How the Collapse of Marriage Hurts Children
and Three Steps to Reverse the Damage
A Heritage Foundation Book of Charts • 2012
Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society

2. Growth of Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing in Hawaii, 1960–2010
Throughout most of Hawaii’s PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
history, out-of-wedlock childbear-
ing was rare. 50%
In 1964, when the federal gov-
ernment began the War on Pov-
erty, only 6.6 percent of children in
40.8%
Hawaii were born outside mar- 40%
riage. However, over the next five 37.8%
decades, the number rose rapidly.
By 2010, 37.8 percent of births in
Hawaii occurred outside of mar- 30%
riage.
National
Note: Data on non-marital births in Hawaii
Hawaii are unavailable before 1960. 20%
However, all states that do have data
for this period show rates that closely
parallel the national rate shown in the
chart. In every state for which date is
available the unwed birth rate was low 10%
and flat up to the mid-1960s and then
began to rise rapidly. The Hawaiian rate
before 1960 probably closely matches
the national rate shown in the chart.
0%
Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census
Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Statistics.
Chart 1 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

3. In Hawaii, Marriage Drops the Probability of Child Poverty
by 83 Percent
The rapid rise in out-of- PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR
wedlock childbearing is a major 30%
cause of high levels of child pov-
erty in Hawaii. 25.8%
Some 25.8 percent of single 25%
mothers with children were poor
compared to 4.5 percent of mar-
ried couples with children. 20%
Single-parent families with
children are nearly six times more
15%
likely to be poor than families in
which the parents are married.
The higher poverty rate among 10%
single-mother families is due both
to the lower education levels of
4.5%
the mothers and the lower income 5%
due to the absence of the father.
0%
Single-Parent, Married,Two-Parent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Female-Headed Families
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data. Families
Chart 2 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

4. In Hawaii, Three in Ten Families with Children Are Not Married
Overall, married couples head
about seven in ten families with
children in Hawaii. Over three in
ten are single-parent families.
Unmarried
Families
30.7%
Married
Families
69.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 3 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

5. In Hawaii, 68 Percent of Poor Families with Children Are Not Married
Among poor families with
children in Hawaii, about
two-thirds are not married. By
contrast, only one-third of poor
families with children are headed
by married couples.
Married
Families
31.8%
Unmarried
Families
68.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 4 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

6. In Hawaii, Few Unwed Births Occur to Teenagers
Out-of-wedlock births are often PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
confused erroneously with teen BY AGE OF MOTHER
births, but only 5.9 percent of
out-of-wedlock births in Hawaii Under
occur to girls under age 18. Age 18:
5.9%
By contrast, some 73 percent of
out-of-wedlock births occur to
young adult women between the Age
ages of 18 and 29. Age
30–54: 18–19:
21.1% 13.2%
Age
25–29: Age
24.5% 20–24:
35.3%
Note: Figures have been rounded.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS
data.
Chart 5 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

7. Less-Educated Women Are More Likely to Give Birth
Outside of Marriage
Unwed childbearing occurs most PERCENTAGE OF BIRTHS THAT ARE MARITAL
frequently among the women who OR OUT OF WEDLOCK
will have the greatest difficulty sup- 100%
porting children by themselves: those 8.1% Unmarried
with low levels of education. 90%
Mothers
In the U.S., among women who 42.0%
80%
are high school dropouts, about 65.2
percent of all births occur outside
54.5%
70%
marriage. Among women who have 65.2%
only a high school diploma, well over 60%
half of all births occur outside mar- 91.9%
riage. By contrast, among women 50%
Married
with at least a college degree, only Mothers
40%
8.1 percent of births are out-of- 58.0%
wedlock. 30%
45.5%
Note: Specific data on out-of-wedlock 20%
births and maternal education are not 34.8%
available in Hawaii. However, the pattern 10%
varies little between states. Hawaii data
will be very similar to the national data 0%
presented in this chart. High School High School Some College Mother’s
Dropout Graduate College Graduate education
Source: U.S. Department of Health and (0–11 (12 (13–15 (16+ level
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data. Years) Years) Years) Years)
Chart 6 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

8. Both Marriage and Education Are Highly Effective
in Reducing Child Poverty in Hawaii
The poverty rate of married PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES Poverty Rate of Families by
couples with children is dramati- WITH CHILDREN THAT Single
Education and Marital Status
cally lower than the rate for house- ARE POOR Married
of the Head of Household
holds headed by single parents. 50%
This is true even when the married
couple is compared to single par- 41.7%
ents with the same education level. 40%
For example, in Hawaii, the 34.2%
poverty rate for a single mother
who has only a high school 30%
diploma is 34.2 percent, but the 23.1%
poverty rate for a married couple
20%
family headed by an individual
who, similarly, has only a high 12.5% 12.4%
school degree is far lower at 9.3 10% 9.3%
percent.
3.9%
On average, marriage drops the 1.4%
poverty rate by around 79 percent 0%
among families with the same High School High School Some College
education level. Dropout Graduate College Graduate
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Note: Virtually none of the heads of families in the chart who are high school
Community Survey, 2005–2009 data. dropouts are minor teenagers.
Chart 7 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

9. Unwed Birth Rates Vary Strongly by Race in Hawaii
Out-of-wedlock childbearing PERCENT OF BIRTHS THAT ARE OUT OF WEDLOCK
varies considerably by race in
Hawaii. 60%
In 2008 (the most recent year
for which racial breakdown is 49.5%
available), 37.9 percent of births in 50%
Hawaii occurred outside marriage.
The rate was lowest among whites: 40.3%
in that group about one in four 40% 37.9%
births were non-marital.
Among blacks, three in ten 29.7%
30%
births were out-of-wedlock. 25.9%
Among Asians (including native
Hawaiians), four in ten births were
to unmarried women. Among 20%
Hispanics, about half were to
unmarried women.
10%
0%
Source: U.S. Department of Health and All Races White Black Asian/Native Hispanic
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS Non- Non- Hawaiian
data. Hispanic Hispanic
Chart 8 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

10. Non-Married White Families Are Seven Times More Likely to Be Poor
in Hawaii
Marriage leads to lower poverty PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
rates for whites, Asians, native
Hawaiians, Hispanics and blacks.
25%
For example, in 2009, the pov-
erty rate for married white families 20.6%
in Hawaii was 2.8 percent. But the
poverty rate for non-married white 20%
families was seven times higher at
20.6 percent.
15%
10%
5%
2.8%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 9 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

11. Non-Married Asian Families Are Three Times More Likely to Be Poor
in Hawaii
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
Asian married families in Hawaii
was 2.7 percent, while the poverty
10%
rate among non-married families 9.2%
was three times higher at 9.2
percent.
8%
6%
4%
2.7%
2%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 10 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

12. Non-Married Native Hawaiian Families Are Twice as Likely to Be Poor
in Hawaii
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
Native Hawaiian married families
in Hawaii was 10.5 percent, while
25%
the poverty rate among non-
married families was two times 22.3%
higher at 22.3 percent.
20%
15%
10.5%
10%
5%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 11 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

13. Non-Married Hispanic Families Are Five Times More Likely to Be Poor
in Hawaii
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
Hispanic married families in
Hawaii was 5 percent, while the
30%
poverty rate among non-married
families was five times higher at 26.0%
26 percent. 25%
20%
15%
10%
5.0%
5%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 12 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

14. Non-Married Black Families Are 26 Times More Likely to Be Poor
in Hawaii
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
married black couples in Hawaii
was 1 percent, while the poverty
30%
rate for non-married black families
was over 26 times higher at 26.1 26.1%
percent. 25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
1.0%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 13 • Marriage and Poverty in Hawaii heritage.org

15. Three Steps to Reduce Child Poverty through Marriage
1) Provide information on the benefits of marriage in reducing child poverty
and improving child well-being.
Marriage is a highly effective institution which greatly decreases parental and child
poverty while improving long-term outcomes for children. Conversely, the absence of
marriage greatly increases welfare costs and imposes added burdens on taxpayers.
Unfortunately, almost no information on these topics is available in low-income
communities. This information deficit should be corrected in the following manner:
• Explain the benefits of marriage in middle and high schools with a high
proportion of at-risk youth;
• Create public education campaigns in low-income communities on the
benefits of marriage; and,
• Require federally funded birth control clinics to provide information on the
benefits of marriage and the skills needed to develop stable families to
interested low-income clients.
2) Reduce anti-marriage penalties in means-tested welfare programs.
3) Promote life-goal-planning, marriage-strengthening, and divorce-reduction
programs to increase healthy marriages and reduce divorce and separation.

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