Kamakahonu, Residence Of King Kamehameha I · Photo: W Nowicki · CC BY 3.0Within Hawaii, Kailua is healthier than 28% of graded towns
Kailua differs from Hawaii on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kailua. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kailua
Hawaii sets a high bar
Kailua is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns, but only 28% of the 93 Hawaii towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Kailua scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Kailua’s B, from Holualoa (A−) to Kahaluu-Keauhou (A−). Around town ↓
COPD, depression and cancer run high in Kailua
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.1%), vs 5.3% across Hawaii. 1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (20.6%), vs 16% across Hawaii. Cancer is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 6.7% across Hawaii. In all, Kailua runs above Hawaii on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Kailua
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.9%), vs 11% across Hawaii. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Hawaii figure falls outside Kailua’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Kailua’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kailua is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns, #67 of 93 in Hawaii. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 90% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 42%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Kailua’s median household income is $88,211; among the 10,148 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$110K), it’s healthier than 60%, about where its income would put it.
Kailua and the towns around it
Kailua’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kailua | B | 27.7% | 11.7% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Holualoa | A− | 26.2% | 10.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Kaiminani | A− | 27.1% | 9.8% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| Kahaluu-Keauhou | A− | 25.9% | 11.3% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Kailua adults…
Kailua runs above HI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Hawaii
Share of adults, with the Hawaii figure marked.
4.8 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Kailua
1 community health center in Kailua, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Kailua; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Kailua adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Hawaii.
How Kailua adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Kailua runs above Hawaii.
3 in 10 Kailua adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.8% of Kailua adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.2% across Hawaii.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kailua adults live with a disability (Hawaii 28.7%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kailua
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kailua is better than Hawaii on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Hawaii figure falls inside Kailua’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kailua | HI | U.S. | vs HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%18.3–22.7 | 18.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.1–16.2 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.2–17.6 | 14.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.7%23.2–32.7 | 25.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.8%26.9–32.9 | 31.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%31–37.6 | 36.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.4–29.6 | 23.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.9–12.3 | 9.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.7–9.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.1%6.3–8 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.9–11.3 | 8.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%13–16.8 | 11% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.6%18.6–24.8 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%15.9–20.8 | 17.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.7%33.1–42.3 | 45.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.6–7.6 | 5.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75%71.9–78.1 | 77.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.7%60.5–66.8 | 68.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.8–83.5 | 82.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%72.8–78.6 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%60.1–67.9 | 62.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%67.6–78.6 | 78.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.6%18–23.5 | 16% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%27.3–34.1 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.6%25.7–31.9 | 30.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.2%18.2–22.5 | 17.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 5.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.6–10.8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.8%15.7–20.1 | 12.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.5%28.2–34.9 | 28.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 13.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.6%13.1–16.2 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–8.9 | 7.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.5–6.5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Hawaii figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Kailua
Is Kailua a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kailua is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #67 of 93 in Hawaii. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 60%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kailua?
CDC estimates 27.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.2% and 32.7%, against 25.6% across Hawaii and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kailua?
Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, 10.0 miles in a straight line from Kailua’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kailua have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.6%), against 5.6% across Hawaii.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Kailua more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kailua.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Hawaii figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.