Hawaii - Barbers Point, 1937
Kapolei’s story
Kapolei in pictures
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1937 and 5 maps from 1953 on.
Explore the history →
KapoleiHI
A town of 22,232.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Travis.Thurston · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
22,232
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$841K
+1.9% in a year
Household income
$128K
median
Median age
35.3
years
Jobs based here
9,730
A job hub
Is Kapolei a good place to live?
The best of Kapolei’s subject grades are an A for walkability and the outdoors and an A− for health; the weakest is a D− for hazard risk. Kapolei’s January low is 65°F, where Hawaii’s towns sit at 64°F and U.S. towns at 22°F. 32% of the land in Kapolei is conserved, above both the Hawaii town median (12%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Kapolei is home to University of Hawaii-West Oahu. On history, just 12 of Hawaii’s 125 towns do worse. Kapolei has no overall grade: it has no figures for safety and schools, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
What makes Kapolei stand out
Where Kapolei beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here9,730
Residents who work4,183
Work
2.3 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Inland flooding and wildfire at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
A growing town
Kapolei has grown 41% from 2010 to 2020
15,186 counted in 2010 and 21,411 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Kapolei grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Hawaii), ordered by how far Kapolei is from typical.
Kapolei has no overall grade: it has no figures for safety and schools, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14 of 20; 5.8% of households have no carAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthPali Momi Medical Center 8.9 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 89° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market66 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.3–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 47 attractions →USS Missouri and 46 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Kapolei. Close and well known come first.
Big draw8 mi MuseumUSS Missouri
8 mi MuseumUSS Arizona Memorial
9 mi Stadium & arenaAloha Stadium
17 mi MountainDiamond Head
16 mi BeachWaikīkī
9 mi MuseumUSS BowfinSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
USS Missouri: Camera Operator: EM2 KENNETH D. MEHL (Released to Public), Public domain · USS Arizona Memorial: DoD photo by: PH3(AW/SW) JAYME PASTORIC, USN, Public domain · Aloha Stadium: This photo was taken and originally uploaded by Bobak to English Wikipedia. Uplo, CC BY 3.0 · Diamond Head: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Waikīkī: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · USS Bowfin: Max Smith, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Kapolei: who provides what
Kapolei is unincorporated, so Honolulu County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerHawaiian Electric Co40.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWaipahu-Ewa-Waianae water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesHonolulu CountyHonolulu County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Hawaii you can register online up to and including Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHonolulu County ClerkHonolulu County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code9670796707 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Kapolei.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
About half of Kapolei’s working residents commute to Urban Honolulu
Most working residents leave Kapolei for work: only 13% work in town. Kapolei’s median household income is $128,000. Since 2013, Kapolei has added 4,703 jobs, to 9,730 in 2023.
13%work in town
| Kapolei | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $128,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 3.6% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Kapolei13%
Urban Honolulu45%
Ko Olina7%
Waipahu3%
Pearl City3%
10 mi
median commute distance
9,730
jobs based in Kapolei
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Kapolei’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Hawaii Department of Education school district. Three of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Kapolei High School, with 1,836 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kapolei Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 727 | B |
| Kapolei High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,836 | B+ |
| Hookele Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 717 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Very high risk in Kapolei, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 94% of U.S. communities.
94risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfireEarthquakes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsA
Conserved land covers nearly a third of Kapolei
8.4 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. The trail density in Kapolei is 1.9 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Kapolei Regional Park, at 71 acres.
31.7%conserved
31.7%
conserved · 884 of 2,792 acres
8.4 mi
of trails · 1.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kapolei Community Park | 0.4 mi | 11 |
| 2. Kapolei Regional Park | — | 71 |
| 3. Villages of Kapolei Neighborhood (A'eloa) Park | 0.1 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthA−
Kapolei ranks healthier than 78% of the country’s towns
Kapolei beats the Hawaii average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 51% of Kapolei adults sleep under 7 hours.
78%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Kapolei | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 51% | 45% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 19% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Hawaii
8 better19 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Kapolei | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.8% | 6.7% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.6% | 6.2% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 13.1% | 10.9% |
Pali Momi Medical Center
8.9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
54th
percentile among HI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
Younger than Hawaii overall
People 65 and older are 11% of residents (20% statewide); children under 18 are 26% of residents (21% statewide). 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across Hawaii.
35.3median age · HI 40.9
| Kapolei | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 11% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 35.3 years | 41.3 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 26% | 22% | 22% |
KapoleiHawaiiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school30%
Some college21%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.2 points. Across Hawaii, 49.8% of residents are women. Median age: women 36.3, men 35.0.
| Kapolei | HI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.3% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.9% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.3% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.4% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.5% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.9% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.3% | 9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.4% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30% | 26.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.7% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.9% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.7% | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.2% | 13.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Climate
Kapolei has mild winters and hot summers
Kapolei has warm winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 65° and snow is almost unheard of.
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter66–81°
Spring68–83°
Summer72–88°
Fall71–87°
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C−
A typical Kapolei home is worth about $841K
The typical Kapolei home is worth about $841,000, up 1.9% in a year, close to the Hawaii typical home.
$841KZillow home value
| Kapolei | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,311 a month | $2,009 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Kapolei$841K
Hawaii$833K
Market temperature
66
days on market
106.9%
sale-to-list price
+1.9%
value change, 1 year
13
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kapolei
18pages on Kapolei
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
8 within 15 miles of the center of Kapolei
University of Hawaii-West OahuUniversity or college · Public · KapoleiIn town$7,584 in-state tuitionUniversity of Phoenix-HawaiiUniversity or college · Private for-profit · KapoleiIn townLeeward Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Pearl City6.5 mi$3,214 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Kapolei residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Hawaii.
College town
University of Hawaii-West Oahu calls Kapolei home
2 colleges in town.
University of Hawaii-West Oahu1,319 students on campus
- Admission
- 95%
- Net price
- $10,327
- Graduate
- 50%
- Admission
- Open
- Net price
- —
- Graduate
- —
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Famous people from Kapolei
5 notable people were born in Kapolei.
.jpg){kind=link}
-L1004709.jpg){kind=link}
About Kapolei
Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States
Kapolei (Hawaiian pronunciation: [kəpoˈlej]) is a planned community in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States, on the island of Oʻahu. In 1977, the government designated it as the "second city" of Oʻahu, in relation to Honolulu. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Kapolei as a census-designated place (CDP) within the consolidated city-county of Honolulu. As of the 2020 census, Kapolei had a population of 21,411. The community takes its name from a volcanic cone, Puʻu o Kapolei. In the Hawaiian language, puʻu means "hill" and Kapo lei means "beloved Kapo". According to legend, Kapo, Goddess of Fertility was sister to Pele, Goddess of Fire an…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 0 ft
- ZIP code
- 96707, 96709
- Area code
- 808
Kapolei’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Kapolei.
East KapoleiMakakiloKalaeloaEwa VillagesKapolei
How the neighbors grade
| Town | HI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapolei | — | — | C− | — | — | A− |
| East Kapolei | — | — | C− | — | — | A− |
| Makakilo | — | — | D | — | — | A− |
| Kalaeloa | — | — | D− | — | — | B− |
| Ewa Villages | — | — | C+ | — | — | B |
Kapolei, East Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa and Ewa Villages report no FBI crime data of their own. Kapolei, East Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa and Ewa Villages aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Kapolei with a neighbor →
Questions about Kapolei
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Kapolei, HI a good place to live?
Kapolei has no overall grade: it has no figures for safety and schools, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
Is Kapolei, HI expensive?
Yes. That is 7.9 years of the area's median household income ($106,195 across the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.