Sigh. Not this again. Parents were allowed to classify their race however they wanted. If they didn't like any of the categories listed, they could check "other" and write whatever they liked.
Given that Obama Sr. was a pan-African nationalist, it isn't surprising that he preferred to classify himself as "African" rather than "negro" or "black" or whatever option Hawaii offered at the time.
Thank you. I can understand why someone might want to put down the most advantageous classification possible in the early 60s.