On CDC estimates, Pahoa is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns
Pahoa differs from Hawaii on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pahoa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pahoa
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Pahoa
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.1%), about twice the Hawaii rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 6.2% across Hawaii. Stroke is also above the state: 5.9%, vs 3.7% across Hawaii. In all, Pahoa runs above Hawaii on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Pahoa
1 in 8 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (12.8%), more than twice the Hawaii rate. Food insecurity (34.4% vs 17.3%) and no reliable transportation (15.6% vs 7.5%) are higher too. 33.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Smoking is more common in Pahoa
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.3%), vs 11% across Hawaii. Habits ↓
Pahoa is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pahoa is healthier than 19%. Against the 7,736 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 35%. Health Grade ↓
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 Pahoa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Pahoa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pahoa is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 82% 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). Pahoa’s median household income is $56,042; among the 7,736 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Pahoa adults…
Pahoa runs above HI on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
33.5% of Pahoa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.2% across Hawaii.
Everyday habits, side by side with Hawaii
Share of adults, with the Hawaii figure marked.
Care in and near Pahoa
1 community health center in Pahoa, 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 Pahoa; ≈ 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 Pahoa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Hawaii.
How Pahoa adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Pahoa runs above Hawaii.
1 in 3 Pahoa 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.
Pahoa and the towns around it
Pahoa has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pahoa | C− | 30.5% | 17.9% | 20.3% | CDC place |
| Hawaiian Beaches | D | 34.9% | 17.4% | 23% | CDC place |
| Nanawale Estates | D | 34.2% | 16.5% | 22.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pahoa adults live with a disability (Hawaii 28.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pahoa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pahoa is better than Hawaii on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Hawaii figure falls inside Pahoa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pahoa | HI | U.S. | vs HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.5%26.5–32.6 | 18.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.2–20 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.7–19.5 | 14.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.5%25.8–35.6 | 25.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.9%16–20 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.5–38.8 | 31.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%34.1–40.6 | 36.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25.5–30.9 | 23.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.4 | 9.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10%9–11 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.1%14.4–20.3 | 8.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.3%17.7–23 | 11% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.9%27–35.1 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.6–16.7 | 17.4% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%36.9–46.5 | 45.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.5–10.6 | 5.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%71.5–77.8 | 77.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.6%49–56 | 68.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.9%74.5–79.2 | 82.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%75.1–80.1 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.1%51.9–60.2 | 62.6% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.1%60.5–73.2 | 78.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.8%17.3–22.6 | 16% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%29–36 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.6%29.3–36.1 | 30.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.4%31.2–38.1 | 17.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.1%17–21.5 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%11.3–14.6 | 5.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.6%14–17.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.5%30–37.3 | 12.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%35–42.6 | 28.7% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.8%17.7–22.1 | 13.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%16–20 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 7.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.2–11.2 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%10.9–13.8 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.3–7.8 | 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 Pahoa
Is Pahoa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pahoa is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pahoa?
CDC estimates 30.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 35.6%, against 25.6% across Hawaii and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pahoa?
Hilo Benioff Medical Center in Hilo, 18.8 miles in a straight line from Pahoa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pahoa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.6%), 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 Pahoa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pahoa.
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.