Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
No town among the 94 in Hawaii we compare has a higher median age than Hanalei. Hanalei’s trail density is 1.3 miles per square mile, above both Hawaii’s towns (0.6) and U.S. towns (0.4). Hanalei has 5 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Waioli Mission District and Haraguchi Rice Mill. Hanalei has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Hanalei beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1883.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hanalei is unincorporated, so Kauai County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Hanalei.
Values fell 1.2% in the year to September 2026. 70% of Hanalei households are owner-occupiers.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The Hawaii Department of Education school district runs its public schools. Its one school is below. Enrollment at Hanalei’s public school: 183 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanalei Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 183 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
Half of commuters travel less than 21 miles. For Hanalei, the middle household income is $124,000. Also worth knowing: since 2013, Hanalei has added 169 jobs, to 539 in 2023. The share of working residents in Hanalei who work locally: 13%.
| Hanalei | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 0.7% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $124,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 3.7% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Hanalei after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2018. Compared with 100% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in the town is higher. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 73% come from inland flooding and 25% from tsunamis.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 62° and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Among adults in Hanalei, 26% have obesity and 14% report frequent mental distress. The town does better than the Hawaii average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 3. 39% of adults sleep under 7 hours in the town.
| Hanalei | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 32% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 27% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 45% | 36% |
| What stands out | Hanalei | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults lacking emotional support | 22.7% | 30.1% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.6% | 17.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.5% | 6.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Waioli Beach Park | — | 10 |
| 2. Wai'oli Park | — | 6 |
| 3. Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park | 0.1 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Hanalei. Close and well known come first.
9 mi State parkNā Pali Coast State Park
15 mi Canyon & gorgeWaimea Canyon State Park
6 mi BeachHanakapiai Beach
20 mi LandmarkRussian Fort Elizabeth
22 mi GardenAllerton Garden
5 mi GardenLimahuli Garden and PreserveNā Pali Coast State Park: Jmblanco74, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Waimea Canyon State Park: Aaronbernstein, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hanakapiai Beach: Jeff Kubina, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Russian Fort Elizabeth: en:User:Mel29, Public domain · Allerton Garden: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Limahuli Garden and Preserve: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0
None within 15 miles of Hanalei; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Hanalei residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Hawaii.
Where Hanalei’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
5 places in Hanalei on the National Register of Historic Places.
Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States
Hanalei is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauaʻi County, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2020 census, Hanalei had a population of 444. Hanalei means "lei making" in Hawaiian. Alternatively, the name Hanalei also means "crescent bay" and may be indicative of the shape of Hanalei Bay. Hanalei can also be translated as lei valley, referring to the rainbows that color the valley and encircle Hanalei like a wreath.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Hanalei has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
