3 of Kapaau’s places are on the National Register
More historic than 64% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Most of Kapaau was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1984.
About Kapaau’s history
How historic is Kapaau?
More historic than 64% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
What drives Kapaau’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Kapaau is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
Few Hawaii towns list much on the Register (a typical Hawaii town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Kapaau’s 148 sits above most of its state (98% of Hawaii towns have fewer) while its 33 historic buildings outnumber those of 82% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
3 listings protect 33 historic buildings
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
Architectural styles listings
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Old corners and burying grounds
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
History across the town line
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Questions about Kapaau’s history
How does Kapaau rank for history?
Kapaau is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Kapaau?
Three places: the Bond District (listed 1978), the Kohala District Courthouse (1979) and the Nanbu, A., Hotel-Holy's Bakery (1999).
How old are the homes in Kapaau?
4% of Kapaau’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.5 points), against a typical 1.7% for a Hawaii town; the median home was built in 1984.
Memory lane
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Where this page comes from
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From the National Register of Historic Places (3) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.