U.S. Coast Guard Molokai Light · Photo: Boucher, Jack E. · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Kualapuu is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns
Kualapuu trails Hawaii on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kualapuu. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kualapuu
Making ends meet is harder in Kualapuu
1 in 8 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (11.8%), about twice the Hawaii rate. Food insecurity (28.9% vs 17.3%) and no reliable transportation (13.7% vs 7.5%) are higher too. 26.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Kualapuu
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 5.3% across Hawaii. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.7% across Hawaii. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.1%, vs 6.2% across Hawaii. In all, Kualapuu runs above Hawaii on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Kualapuu
57.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68.3% across Hawaii. Among those 65 and older, 17.9% have lost all their teeth (Hawaii 8.5%). Checkups ↓
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 Kualapuu’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Kualapuu’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kualapuu is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns, #89 of 93 in Hawaii. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 52% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Kualapuu’s median household income is $62,917; among the 9,578 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.9% of Kualapuu adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.2% across Hawaii.
Out of every 100 Kualapuu adults…
Kualapuu runs above HI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Kualapuu adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Hawaii.
Care in and near Kualapuu
No hospital or community health center in Kualapuu itself. These are the nearest.
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 Kualapuu; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Hawaii
Share of adults, with the Hawaii figure marked.
How Kualapuu adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Kualapuu runs above Hawaii.
1 in 3 Kualapuu 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.
Kualapuu and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kualapuu | C− | 37% | 17.7% | 18.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kualapuu adults live with a disability (Hawaii 28.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kualapuu
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kualapuu is better than Hawaii on 0 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Hawaii figure falls inside Kualapuu’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kualapuu | HI | U.S. | vs HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%22.7–28.8 | 18.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15–18.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–21.1 | 14.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37%31.4–42.5 | 25.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.7%15.6–19.8 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.4%33–39.9 | 31.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.6%32.1–38.9 | 36.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%25.7–31.5 | 23.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13%11.5–14.5 | 9.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.7 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.3–6.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.9%14.7–21.5 | 8.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.2%15.6–21 | 11% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%21.5–29.4 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.5%15.9–21.3 | 17.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 47.7%42.6–53.1 | 45.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.2–8.9 | 5.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.2%69.7–76.5 | 77.3% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.2–61.5 | 68.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.9%77.5–82 | 82.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.4%71.2–77.2 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.5%52.8–62.2 | 62.6% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%65.8–79 | 78.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.2%14.7–19.8 | 16% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.1%29.7–38.9 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.4%26.5–34.8 | 30.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.9%24.9–32.8 | 17.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.3%16.4–22.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10–13.8 | 5.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.7%11.8–15.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.9%22.8–31 | 12.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%32.3–40.5 | 28.7% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.6%18.2–23.1 | 13.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.7–18.8 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 7.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 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 Kualapuu
Is Kualapuu a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kualapuu is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #89 of 93 in Hawaii. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kualapuu?
CDC estimates 37% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 42.5%, against 25.6% across Hawaii and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kualapuu?
Molokai General Hospital in Kaunakakai, 15.0 miles in a straight line from Kualapuu’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Kualapuu have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–8.9%), 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 Kualapuu more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kualapuu.
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.