Trash Bin Waipahu Waikele 7-1-2014, 2014
Waikele’s story
Waikele in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 4 maps from 1954 on.
Explore the history →WaikeleHI
The town, home to 7,528 people, lies in Hawaii.
Population
7,528
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$705K
Census ACS
Household income
$121K
median
Median age
44.4
years
Jobs based here
1,846
A job hub
Is Waikele a good place to live?
The best of Waikele’s subject grades are an A+ for incomes and an A for health and walkability; the weakest is a D− for hazard risk. Waikele’s January low is 67°F, close to Hawaii’s towns (64°F) and above U.S. towns (22°F). Only 1 of Hawaii’s 124 towns score higher on incomes. Waikele 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 Waikele stand out
Where Waikele beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here1,846
Residents who work206
Work
9 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
32 measures vs. Hawaii
17 better15 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | Waikele | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.3% | 8.5% |
HealthA
Beats HI on 17 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Inland flooding and earthquakes at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,839 people come to Waikele for work
Where Waikele’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,846jobs based in Waikele
3%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Waikele grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Hawaii), ordered by how far Waikele is from typical.
Waikele 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).
Jobs & incomeNear the top of the towns comparedA+Open →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listD−Open →HealthPali Momi Medical Center 4.6 miles awayAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.8 of 20; 2.2% of households have no car; 3.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $705K, 6.6 years of the Urban Honolulu metro’s $106K median household incomeC−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 12% conserved landBOpen →HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
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 Waikele. Close and well known come first.
Big draw4 mi MuseumUSS Missouri
4 mi MuseumUSS Arizona Memorial
5 mi Stadium & arenaAloha Stadium
16 mi MountainDiamond Head
14 mi BeachWaikīkī
5 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 Waikele: who provides what
Waikele is unincorporated, so Honolulu County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerHawaiian Electric Co40.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWaipahu-Ewa-Waianae 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 code9679796797 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 Waikele.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
About half of Waikele’s working residents commute to Urban Honolulu
Commuting out is the norm in Waikele: 3% of working residents work locally. Employers in Waikele shed 484 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,846. For Waikele, the typical household income is $121,000. Among 93 Hawaii towns, just 8 have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Waikele.
3%work in town
| Waikele | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $121,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 3.7% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Waikele3%
Urban Honolulu45%
Pearl City5%
Waipio4%
Ko Olina3%
11 mi
median commute distance
1,846
jobs based in Waikele
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 86% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Waikele’s kids attend
Its one school is below. The Hawaii Department of Education school district runs its public schools. Waikele’s only public school teaches 515 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waikele Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 515 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts
HealthA
Waikele ranks healthier than 91% of the country’s towns
In Waikele, 14% of adults have been diagnosed with depression. Among 93 Hawaii towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Waikele.
91%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Waikele | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 45% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 27% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Hawaii
17 better15 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Waikele | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.3% | 8.5% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 3.6% | 5.3% |
Pali Momi Medical Center
4.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
95th
percentile among HI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Natural hazards: very high risk in Waikele, mostly inland flooding
Expected losses in Waikele break down as 87% from inland flooding and 10% from earthquakes. For Waikele, the FEMA risk score is 95 of 100.
95risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Hawaii overall
Among residents in Waikele, 15% are under 18. Adults 35 to 64 are 48% of residents (38% statewide); people 65 and older are 14% of residents (20% statewide). The midpoint age in the town is 44.4 years. The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 39%, against 36% across Hawaii.
44.4median age · HI 40.9
| Waikele | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 15% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 14% | 20% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 39% | 31% | 29% |
| Median age | 44.4 years | 41.2 years | 40.5 years |
WaikeleHawaiiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
22%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school21%
Some college24%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s26%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.5 points. Across Hawaii, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Waikele | HI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5.8% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.6% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.8% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.9% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.9% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 21.8% | 12.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.1% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.4% | 9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.9% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.4% | 26.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 24% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.5% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.7% | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.5% | 13.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter68–81°
Spring70–83°
Summer75–88°
Fall74–86°
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
12.1%conserved
12.1%
conserved · 85 of 702 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park | — | 56 |
| 2. Mitsuo "Mits" Shito Waikele Neighborhood Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C−
A home in Waikele sells for about $575K at the median
Homes sold in Waikele spent a median 55 days on the market. The midpoint rent for Waikele comes to $2,634 a month. Sellers in Waikele got 99% of the asking price, typically.
$575Kmedian sale price
| Waikele | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,634 a month | $2,009 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 71% | 73% |
Market temperature
55
days on market
99%
sale-to-list price
6
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waikele
17pages on Waikele
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Waikele
Leeward Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Pearl City1.6 mi$3,214 in-state tuitionUniversity of Hawaii-West OahuUniversity or college · Public · Kapolei4.6 mi$7,584 in-state tuitionHawaii Tokai International CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Kapolei4.6 mi$16,560 tuition
About 10 of every 100 Waikele residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Hawaii.
About Waikele
Census-designated place in Hawaii, Honolulu
Waikele (Hawaiian pronunciation: [vɐjˈkɛlɛ] ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2020 census, the CDP population was 7,509. Residents use Waipahu, Hawaii for their postal city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 217 ft
- Area code
- 808
Waikele’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Waikele.
WaipahuWaipioWaikele
How the neighbors grade
Waikele, Waipahu and Waipio report no FBI crime data of their own. Waikele, Waipahu and Waipio aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Waikele with a neighbor →
Questions about Waikele
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waikele, HI a good place to live?
Waikele 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 Waikele, HI expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $705,000, 15% below 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−.