Wailuku Sugar Company, Reservoir No. 1, Southwest of Honoapiilani Highway and Waikapu Road
Waikapu’s story
Waikapu in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers.
Explore the history →
WaikapuHI
A town of 3,591.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,591
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$884K
Census ACS
Household income
$123K
median
Median age
36.8
years
Jobs based here
352
A commuter town
Is Waikapu a good place to live?
The best of Waikapu’s subject grades are an A for health and incomes; the weakest is a D− for walkability. On walkability, just 2 of Hawaii’s 125 towns do worse. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 85% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Among 93 Hawaii towns, just 5 have a higher July high than Waikapu. 43% of the land in Waikapu is conserved, where Hawaii’s towns sit at 12% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Waikapu 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 Waikapu stand out
Where Waikapu beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A growing town
Waikapu has grown 16% from 2010 to 2020
2,965 counted in 2010 and 3,437 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Waikapu grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Hawaii), ordered by how far Waikapu is from typical.
Waikapu 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).
WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.5 of 20; 2.6% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →HealthKula Hospital 14.5 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $884K, 9.1 years of the Kahului metro’s $97K 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.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Waikapu: who provides what
Waikapu is unincorporated, so Maui County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerMaui Electric Co Ltd42.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWailuku water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMaui CountyMaui 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 hereMaui County ClerkMaui County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code9679396793 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 Waikapu.
OutdoorsB−
Waikapu has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
1.6 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. Waikapu’s trail density is 0.2 miles per square mile, against 0.6 in Hawaii’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.
42.9%conserved
42.9%
conserved · 3,028 of 7,054 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthA
Waikapu is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Waikapu beats the Hawaii average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 72% of Waikapu adults had a checkup this year. Only 8 of the 93 Hawaii towns we compare have a lower share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Waikapu.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Waikapu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 76% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 31% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 19% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 17% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Hawaii
10 better19 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Waikapu | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.6% | 6.2% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.9% | 3.7% |
| More binge drinkers | 20.6% | 17.4% |
Kula Hospital
14.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
86th
percentile among HI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Waikapu, with inland flooding at the top
85risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesWildfire
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Waikapu has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Waikapu for work: only 2% work in town. The median household income in Waikapu is $123,000. Jobs based in Waikapu grew to 352 in 2023, 187 more than in 2013.
2%work in town
| Waikapu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $123,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.6% | 3.7% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Waikapu2%
Urban Honolulu23%
Kahului19%
Wailuku16%
Kaanapali4%
13 mi
median commute distance
352
jobs based in Waikapu
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 5% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
More children than Hawaii overall
Children under 18 are 30% of residents (21% statewide); people 65 and older are 13% of residents (20% statewide). 39% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Waikapu.
36.8median age · HI 40.9
| Waikapu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 30% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 36.8 years | 41.3 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 39% | 31% | 29% |
WaikapuHawaiiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma1%
High school30%
Some college22%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate17%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.1 points). Across Hawaii, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Waikapu | HI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.8% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.6% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.1% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 16.8% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.5% | 12.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.8% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.8% | 9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.1% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.2% | 26.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.9% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.1% | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.7% | 13.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,600, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Waikapu
Waikapu has warm winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Waikapu’s January low is 64°F.
90°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter64–83°
Spring66–85°
Summer71–89°
Fall70–88°
90°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C
The median home in Waikapu sells for about $1.05M
$1.05Mmedian sale price
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 12 attractions →Haleakala National Park and 11 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waikapu. Close and well known come first.
19 mi National ParkHaleakala National Park854K visitors a year
3 mi Zoo & aquariumMaui Ocean Center
31 mi National Historical ParkKalaupapa National Historical Park15K visitors a year
5 mi MuseumAlexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum
5 mi GardenMaui Nui Botanical Gardens
32 mi GardenKahanu GardenSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Haleakala National Park: Michael Oswald, Public domain · Maui Ocean Center: Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kalaupapa National Historical Park: Jack Boucher, Public domain · Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum: Joel Bradshaw, Public domain · Maui Nui Botanical Gardens: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us · Kahanu Garden: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waikapu
16pages on Waikapu
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Waikapu
About 2 of every 100 Waikapu residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Hawaii.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Waikapu for work
Where Waikapu’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
352jobs based in Waikapu
2%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Waikapu
Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States
Waikapū is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 3,437 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 482 ft
- Area code
- 808
Waikapu’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Waikapu.
WailukuKahuluiMaalaeaWaikapu
How the neighbors grade
Waikapu, Wailuku and Kahului report no FBI crime data of their own. Waikapu, Wailuku, Kahului and Maalaea aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Waikapu with a neighbor →
Questions about Waikapu
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waikapu, HI a good place to live?
Waikapu 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 Waikapu, HI expensive?
The typical home is worth about $884,000, 6% above the Hawaii typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.