Hainanese (ethnic group)

The Hainanese is a Chinese ethnic group, originating from Hainan Island .
The Hainanese are considered a subgroup of the much larger Han ethnicity .

Much of the population of the Hainanese people, along with the Hakka, and peoples is now in diaspora. In many Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia they were never the dominant Chinese ethnic group.

Most Hainanese people were originally from the Fujian and Guangdong provinces who later settled in the island of . Towards the turn of the 20th century, many of them migrated to the various Southeast Asian countries where they worked as cooks, restaurateurs, coffeeshop owners, sailors and hoteliers. In fact, the person who actually created the world-famous Singapore Sling at the renowned Singapore Raffles Hotel, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon, was himself a Hainanese.

The Hainanese are also known for their signature dishes such as the Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hainanese Pork Chops, Hainanese Mutton Soup, Hainanese Salted Fish Soup and Beef Noodle Soup. In Singapore, one can find some of these signature dishes served at the various eateries located along Purvis Street - which is often referred to as "Singapore's Hainan Street".