Greenwell Store · Photo: W Nowicki · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Kealakekua is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns
Kealakekua differs from Hawaii on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kealakekua. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kealakekua
Against towns with similar incomes, Kealakekua’s lead shrinks
Kealakekua is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, but 49% of the 8,170 towns with similar household incomes ($77K–$128K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Kealakekua
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.7%), vs 11% across Hawaii. Habits ↓
COPD and depression run high in Kealakekua
1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.4%), vs 5.3% across Hawaii. 1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (18.5%), vs 16% across Hawaii. Conditions ↓
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 Kealakekua’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Kealakekua’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kealakekua is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Kealakekua’s median household income is $102,772; among the 8,170 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($77K–$128K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Hawaii
Share of adults, with the Hawaii figure marked.
2.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Kealakekua adults…
Kealakekua runs above HI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Kealakekua
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Kealakekua, 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 Kealakekua; ≈ 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 Kealakekua adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Hawaii.
How Kealakekua adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Kealakekua runs above Hawaii.
1 in 3 Kealakekua 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.
14.4% of Kealakekua adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.2% across Hawaii.
Kealakekua and the towns around it
Kealakekua’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kealakekua | B+ | 24.9% | 12.5% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Honalo | B+ | 27.1% | 11% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Captain Cook | B+ | 25% | 12.3% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Kahaluu-Keauhou | A− | 25.9% | 11.3% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kealakekua adults live with a disability (Hawaii 28.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kealakekua
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kealakekua is better than Hawaii on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Hawaii figure falls inside Kealakekua’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kealakekua | HI | U.S. | vs HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%17.7–22.7 | 18.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.1–16.4 | 14.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.9%20.7–29.5 | 25.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%11–14.2 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30%26.9–33.2 | 31.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32.4–39.1 | 36.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%23.4–28.8 | 23.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 9.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.9 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.4%5.6–7.4 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.9%6.5–9.5 | 8.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.7–15.9 | 11% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.6%19.2–26.1 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.8–19.4 | 17.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%32.7–42 | 45.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.5–8.2 | 5.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.6%72.5–78.9 | 77.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%62.3–68.6 | 68.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.3–85.1 | 82.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.1–79.9 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%59.4–67.1 | 62.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%68.5–79.5 | 78.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.5%16.1–21.1 | 16% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%28.1–35.3 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%28–35 | 30.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%16.4–21.6 | 17.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.3–13.6 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.6–7.4 | 5.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.4%12.1–16.8 | 12.2% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31%27.5–34.6 | 28.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.1%12.4–16 | 13.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%12–15.4 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–9 | 7.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7–9 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.5 | 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 Kealakekua
Is Kealakekua a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kealakekua is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 49%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kealakekua?
CDC estimates 24.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.7% and 29.5%, against 25.6% across Hawaii and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kealakekua?
Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Kealakekua’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kealakekua have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–8.2%), 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 Kealakekua 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 Kealakekua.
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.