Photo: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Waianae is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Waianae differs from Hawaii on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 26 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waianae. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waianae
Mental distress runs high in Waianae
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20%), vs 14.5% across Hawaii. Depression is above the state too: 19.2%, vs 16% across Hawaii. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Waianae
1 in 9 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (11.4%), about twice the Hawaii rate. Food insecurity (30.3% vs 17.3%) and housing insecurity (20.3% vs 10.9%) are higher too. 24.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Obesity, COPD and stroke run high in Waianae
37.2% of adults have obesity, vs 25.6% across Hawaii. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.7%), vs 5.3% across Hawaii. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.7% across Hawaii. In all, Waianae runs above Hawaii on seven of 11 chronic conditions. 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 Waianae’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Waianae’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waianae is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #90 of 93 in Hawaii. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 42% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Waianae’s median household income is $81,733; among the 10,642 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 6%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Waianae compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
How Waianae adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Waianae runs above Hawaii.
1 in 3 Waianae 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.
24.7% of Waianae adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.2% across Hawaii.
Out of every 100 Waianae adults…
Waianae runs below HI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 10. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Waianae
1 community health center in Waianae, 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 Waianae; ≈ 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.
4.8 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Waianae adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Hawaii.
Waianae and the towns around it
Waianae’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waianae | C− | 37.2% | 15.2% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Makaha | D | 38.6% | 16.1% | 18.3% | CDC place |
| Makaha Valley | — | — | — | — | |
| Maili | C+ | 34.1% | 12.8% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Makaha Valley: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waianae adults live with a disability (Hawaii 28.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waianae
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waianae is better than Hawaii on 1 and worse on 26; on the rest, the Hawaii figure falls inside Waianae’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waianae | HI | U.S. | vs HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.3%24.8–29.6 | 18.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15.1–18.2 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%18.1–21.8 | 14.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.2%31.9–42.4 | 25.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.6–16.7 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.2%32.1–38.1 | 31.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%32.1–38.1 | 36.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7%23.3–28 | 23.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.5–14 | 9.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.9–17 | 8.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.5–18.4 | 11% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%26.1–33.1 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%16.8–21.7 | 17.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 54.2%49.4–58.9 | 45.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.3–9.9 | 5.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.6%72.4–78.5 | 77.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%57.8–64.3 | 68.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.2%75.1–79.2 | 82.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%71.5–76.6 | 76.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.7%56.8–64.5 | 62.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%69.5–80.1 | 78.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.7–21.7 | 16% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%32.3–39 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.6%30.5–36.9 | 30.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.3%27.7–33 | 17.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.3%18.3–22.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 5.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.9%11.6–14.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.7%22–27.6 | 12.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%34.5–41.3 | 28.7% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.8%17–20.6 | 13.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.8%16.9–20.5 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 7.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.4%7.7–9.1 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10.5–12.7 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 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 Waianae
Is Waianae a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waianae is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #90 of 93 in Hawaii. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 6%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waianae?
CDC estimates 37.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 42.4%, against 25.6% across Hawaii and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waianae?
Pali Momi Medical Center in Aiea, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Waianae’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waianae have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–9.9%), 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 Waianae 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 Waianae.
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.