Population 30,952 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Hawaii Kai
Household size in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.78 | 2.83 | 3.21 | 3.12 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 2.87 | 3.29 | 3.20 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.87 | 2.88 | 3.26 | 3.18 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.86 | 2.91 | 3.10 | 3.06 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.08 | −0.11 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Hawaii Kai holds 2.86 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.78, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.4 | 47.7 | 38.5 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.6 | 48.1 | 39.2 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.9 | 49.0 | 40.2 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.3 | 49.3 | 41.5 | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.6 | +3.0 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
Hawaii Kai skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 46.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 6.5% | 11.4% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 5.8% | 10.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 6.8% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 7.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Hawaii Kai: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. East Honolulu as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Hawaii Kai
Renters in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 16.8% | 42.4% | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 17.5% | 45.1% | 42.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 17.2% | 43.8% | 41.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 15.7% | 40.2% | 37.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −2.2 pts | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Hawaii Kai is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (37.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 6.7% | 9.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 8.0% | 8.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 10.8% | 9.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +2.7 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Hawaii Kai than nationally: 7.5%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is little changed from 2006–10, while the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1975 | 1975 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1974 | 1976 | 1978 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Hawaii Kai was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are newer than in East Honolulu as a whole, where the median home dates to 1976. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,936 | $1,853 | $1,466 | $1,393 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,941 | $1,930 | $1,594 | $1,482 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $3,039 | $2,861 | $2,010 | $1,829 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,296 | $3,161 | $2,359 | $2,199 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,360 | +$1,308 | +$894 | +$806 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Hawaii Kai costs $3,296 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,360 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 37.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Hawaii Kai
Bachelor's degrees in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.1% | 53.5% | 30.4% | 28.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.0% | 54.8% | 31.6% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.1% | 58.4% | 34.3% | 32.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.3% | 60.4% | 37.3% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +6.9 pts | +6.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Hawaii Kai is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (59.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. East Honolulu as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.2 points, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.8% | 96.7% | 89.9% | 89.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.7% | 96.5% | 90.5% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.2% | 97.3% | 91.8% | 91.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 97.6% | 93.0% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +3.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Hawaii Kai: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. East Honolulu as a whole looks much the same.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Hawaii Kai
| Period | Hawaii Kai | East Honolulu | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 3.1% | 6.3% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 1.9% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +2.2 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Hawaii Kai than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has risen 1.7 points, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Hawaii Kai compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Kai | 2.86 | 48.3 | 7.2% | 16.8% | 7.5% | 1980 | $3,296 | 59.3% | 96.8% | 4.4% |
| Kuliouou-Kalani Iki | 3.02 | 49.8 | 8.2% | 13.4% | 11.6% | 1971 | $3,055 | 59.8% | 98.6% | 5.2% |
| Waialae-Kahala | 2.81 | 50.5 | 6.7% | 21.5% | 15.9% | 1965 | $2,683 | 62.6% | 97.9% | 2.7% |
| Palolo | 3.01 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 33.6% | 5.0% | 1963 | $1,840 | 36.8% | 88.6% | 3.1% |
| Kaimuki | 2.96 | 47.1 | 8.9% | 34.4% | 7.3% | 1962 | $2,292 | 49.9% | 94.4% | 3.6% |
| Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St Louis | 2.46 | 46.2 | 6.4% | 50.1% | 14.4% | 1968 | $2,135 | 49.5% | 93.3% | 4.4% |
| Manoa | 2.45 | 43.9 | 8.3% | 37.5% | 7.0% | 1966 | $2,244 | 60.3% | 98.2% | 4.9% |
| Mxcully-Moiliili | 1.99 | 44.4 | 5.5% | 63.7% | 11.3% | 1973 | $1,628 | 40.1% | 89.9% | 3.5% |
| Waikiki | 1.64 | 49.5 | 2.6% | 60.1% | 29.5% | 1974 | $1,993 | 45.0% | 94.3% | 6.6% |
| Makiki | 2.03 | 44.5 | 10.5% | 55.1% | 9.0% | 1973 | $1,822 | 46.3% | 91.3% | 6.4% |
| Nuuanu-Punchbowl | 2.68 | 43.5 | 8.6% | 37.9% | 10.6% | 1970 | $2,342 | 46.6% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bayview, San Francisco, CA · Alexandria Wrest, Alexandria, VA · Belmont, Philadelphia, PA · West Bloomington, Bloomington, MN · Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA · Stapleton, Denver, CO · Montecito Heights, Los Angeles, CA · Pennsport-Whitman-Queen, Philadelphia, PA · Wissanoning, Philadelphia, PA · Riverdale, Bronx, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Hawaii Kai. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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