Waialua Agricultural Company, Smokestack, 67-106 Kealohanui Street
Waialua’s story
126 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1909 and 5 maps from 1953 on.
- 1900Waialua is settled
WaialuaHI
A town of 3,050, settled in 1900.
Population
3,050
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$1.04M
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$88K
median
Median age
49.0
years
Jobs based here
232
Balanced
Is Waialua a good place to live?
Waialua’s best subject grade is an A for walkability; its weakest is a D− for hazard risk. 12% of residents are under 18 in Waialua, where Hawaii’s towns sit at 22% and U.S. towns at 22%. Only 7 of the 93 Hawaii towns we compare have a higher median age than Waialua. Waialua 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 Waialua stand out
Where Waialua beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
How Waialua grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Hawaii), ordered by how far Waialua is from typical.
Waialua 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 risktsunamis tops the listD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.3 of 20; 4.8% of households have no carAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthKahuku Medical Center 13.2 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$88K median household incomeCOpen →
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, 86° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 49.0–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 Waialua. Close and well known come first.
Big draw18 mi MuseumUSS Missouri
18 mi MuseumUSS Arizona Memorial
18 mi Stadium & arenaAloha Stadium
29 mi MountainDiamond Head
28 mi BeachWaikīkī
18 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
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Getting set up
Moving to Waialua: who provides what
Waialua is unincorporated, so Honolulu County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerHawaiian Electric Co40.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWaialua-Haleiwa water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% 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 code9679196791 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 Waialua.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Waialua faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by tsunamis
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 98% of U.S. communities. Since 2008, 22 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Waialua.
98risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TsunamisInland floodingEarthquakes
22
paid flood claims since 2008
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Waialua’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Hawaii Department of Education school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Waialua High & Intermediate School, with 574 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waialua Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 413 | A |
| Waialua High & Intermediate SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 574 | B |
NCES · EDFacts
HealthB+
Waialua is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns
Waialua tracks Hawaii closely on all 32 CDC measures. 49% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Waialua, above both Hawaii’s towns (45%) and U.S. towns (36%). 17% of Waialua adults have been diagnosed with depression.
71%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Waialua | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 45% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 26% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Hawaii
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Kahuku Medical Center
13.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
39th
percentile among HI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Waialua’s typical home value is about $1.04M
The typical Waialua home is worth about $1,040,000, up 4.3% in a year, 25% above the Hawaii typical home. Waialua’s median rent is $1,678 a month.
$1.04MZillow home value
| Waialua | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,678 a month | $2,017 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Waialua$1.04M
Hawaii$833K
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Fewer children than Hawaii overall
Children under 18 are 12% of residents (21% statewide); people 65 and older are 26% of residents (20% statewide). 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across Hawaii.
49median age · HI 40.9
| Waialua | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 26% | 20% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 28% | 31% | 29% |
WaialuaHawaiiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school35%
Some college23%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.1 points. Across Hawaii, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Waialua | HI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.2% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.1% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.2% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.1% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.4% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.5% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.4% | 12.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.8% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.4% | 9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.9% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35% | 26.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.7% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.2% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.5% | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.7% | 13.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Waialua, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
Waialua has warm winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 63° and snow is almost unheard of.
86°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter63–76°
Spring64–78°
Summer69–85°
Fall68–82°
86°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Most working residents commute out of Waialua
Most working residents leave Waialua for work: only 4% work in town. The average trip to work in Waialua is 32 minutes. Jobs based in Waialua fell to 232 in 2023, 27 fewer than in 2013.
4%work in town
| Waialua | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $88,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.8% | 3.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Waialua4%
Urban Honolulu16%
Haleiwa12%
Pupukea5%
Kapolei5%
18 mi
median commute distance
232
jobs based in Waialua
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
4.3%conserved
| Waialua | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.8 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.3% | 12% | 4.3% |
4.3%
conserved · 65 of 1,527 acres
1.9 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Waialua District Park | — | 11 |
| 2. Waialua Band Stand Park | — | 1 |
| 3. Kamananui Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waialua
18pages on Waialua
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Waialua
Brigham Young University-HawaiiUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Laie13.5 mi$6,630 tuitionLeeward Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Pearl City14.9 mi$3,214 in-state tuitionHawaii Tokai International CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Kapolei15 mi$16,560 tuition
About 2 of every 100 Waialua residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Hawaii.
Famous people from Waialua
7 notable people were born in Waialua.
C
Constance HaleAmerican writer · born 1901R
Robert BundaAmerican politician · born 1947
L
Lot LaneLast insurgent captured after 1895 Hawaiian uprising; POW advocate · 1864–1953About Waialua
Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States
Waialua (Hawaiian pronunciation: [vɐjəˈluwə] ) is a census-designated place and North Shore community in the Waialua District on the island of Oʻahu, City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 4,062. Waialua was one of the six original districts of ancient Hawaii on the island, known as moku. Waialua is a former (sugar) mill town and residential area, quite different in its quiet ambiance from nearby Haleʻiwa, which is more commercial and tourist-oriented. The Waialua Sugar Mill is the center of town and the historical base of its plantation history. The U.S. postal code for Waialua is 96791.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 13 ft
- ZIP code
- 96791
- Area code
- 808
Waialua’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Waialua.
HaleiwaMokuleiaWaialua
How the neighbors grade
Mokuleia has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Waialua, Haleiwa and Mokuleia report no FBI crime data of their own. Waialua and Haleiwa aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Waialua with a neighbor →
Questions about Waialua
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waialua, HI a good place to live?
Waialua 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 Waialua, HI expensive?
Yes. That is 9.8 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−.
What is Waialua, HI known for?
7 notable people were born here, including Pua Kealoha and Shizuya Hayashi.