Waimalu Shopping Center · National Register of Historic Places
Waimalu’s story
Waimalu in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
WaimaluHI
A town of 13,061.
2 bordering townsMap →
USS ARIZONA Wreck · Photo: Robert Enrique Muller · Public domain
Population
13,061
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$598K
Census ACS
Household income
$89K
median
Median age
43.9
years
Jobs based here
6,333
A job hub
Is Waimalu a good place to live?
Waimalu’s best subject grades are an A for walkability and an A− for health; its weakest is a C− for cost of living. Waimalu’s January low is 67°F, against 64°F in Hawaii’s towns and 22°F across U.S. towns. On hazard risk, just 2 of Hawaii’s 125 towns do better. USS ARIZONA Wreck and Waimalu Shopping Center is on the National Register of Historic Places. Waimalu 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 Waimalu stand out
Where Waimalu beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here6,333
Residents who work819
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 90% of U.S. towns
5.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
32 measures vs. Hawaii
4 better28 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | Waimalu | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.6% | 8.5% |
HealthA−
Beats HI on 4 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A job hub
Every workday, about 6,325 people come to Waimalu for work
Where Waimalu’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
6,333jobs based in Waimalu
1%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Waimalu grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Hawaii), ordered by how far Waimalu is from typical.
Waimalu 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 10.8 of 20; 5.4% of households have no carAOpen →HealthPali Momi Medical Center 0.5 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $598K, 5.6 years of the Urban Honolulu metro’s $106K median household incomeC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Jobs & income$89K median household incomeB+Open →
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 →
Nearby attractions
All 47 attractions →USS Missouri and 46 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waimalu. Close and well known come first.
Big draw2 mi MuseumUSS Missouri
2 mi MuseumUSS Arizona Memorial
in town Stadium & arenaAloha Stadium
12 mi MountainDiamond Head
10 mi BeachWaikīkī
2 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 Waimalu: who provides what
Waimalu is unincorporated, so Honolulu County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerHawaiian Electric Co40.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHnl-Windward-Pearl Harbor water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers97% 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 code9670196701 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 Waimalu.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
A job hub: Waimalu has 7.7 jobs for every working resident and draws in 6,325 commuters
6.8% of Waimalu residents live below the poverty line. Only 1% of working residents stay in Waimalu for work; the rest commute out. The town had 6,333 jobs in 2023, down 1,715 from 2013. Half commute less than 12 miles.
1%work in town
| Waimalu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1% | 3.7% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $89,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Waimalu1%
Urban Honolulu26%
Kailua5%
East Honolulu4%
Hilo4%
12 mi
median commute distance
6,333
jobs based in Waimalu
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Waimalu’s kids attend
The Hawaii Department of Education school district runs its public schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. Enrollment at Waimalu’s public school: 409 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl Ridge Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 409 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
HealthA−
Residents of Waimalu are healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Among adults in Waimalu, 15% have been diagnosed with depression and 25% have obesity. In Waimalu, 48% of adults sleep under 7 hours, above both the Hawaii town median (45%) and the median of U.S. towns (36%). The share of adults in Waimalu who smoke cigarettes: 9.9%.
78%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Waimalu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 45% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 27% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Hawaii
4 better28 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Waimalu | HI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.6% | 8.5% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.7% | 5.3% |
Pali Momi Medical Center
0.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
55th
percentile among HI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
The climate in Waimalu brings mild winters and hot summers
Waimalu’s typical July afternoon high comes in at 88°F.
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
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Top of a high hazard risk in Waimalu: inland flooding
One flood insurance claim has been paid in Waimalu since 1991. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in nearly two thirds of U.S. communities. 66% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by earthquakes at 27%.
65risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
1
paid flood claims since 1991
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB
Open space protected for good: 12.7% of Waimalu
In 3 parks and preserves, walkers have 0.4 miles of trail. Waimalu’s trail network density stands at 0.2 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves locally: 3, covering 15 acres.
12.7%conserved
12.7%
conserved · 155 of 1,226 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pearlridge Community Park | — | 8 |
| 2. Kaonohi Park | — | 4 |
| 3. Pearl Harbor Bike Path | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
Fewer children than Hawaii overall
Among 93 Hawaii towns, just 4 have a lower share of children under 18 than Waimalu. Children under 18 are 15% of residents (21% statewide); people 65 and older are 24% of residents (20% statewide). Also worth knowing: 36% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more locally.
43.9median age · HI 40.9
| Waimalu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 15% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 24% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 43.9 years | 41.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 31% | 29% |
WaimaluHawaiiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school25%
Some college20%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.4 points. Across Hawaii, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Waimalu | HI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.5% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.1% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.9% | 12.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.1% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.3% | 9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.7% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.3% | 26.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.4% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.3% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.7% | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.6% | 13.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C−
A home in Waimalu sells for about $376K at the median
In Waimalu, the median rent is $1,931 a month. For households here, the share who own their home is 64%. Homes in Waimalu sold for 98% of their list price on average.
$376Kmedian sale price
| Waimalu | Hawaii towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,931 a month | $2,017 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 71% | 73% |
Market temperature
127
days on market
98%
sale-to-list price
15
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waimalu
17pages on Waimalu
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
12 within 15 miles of the center of Waimalu
Leeward Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Pearl City3.2 mi$3,214 in-state tuitionPacific Rim Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Honolulu5.2 mi$13,580 tuitionUniversity of Hawaii-West OahuUniversity or college · Public · Kapolei8.2 mi$7,584 in-state tuition
About 10 of every 100 Waimalu residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Hawaii.
About Waimalu
Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States
Waimalu (Hawaiian pronunciation: [vɐjˈmɐlu] , lit. 'sheltered water') is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 13,817 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 377 ft
- Area code
- 808
Waimalu’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Waimalu.
AieaPearl CityWaimalu
How the neighbors grade
| Town | HI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waimalu | — | — | C− | — | — | A− |
| Aiea | — | — | C− | — | — | A− |
| Pearl City | — | — | C− | — | — | A− |
Waimalu, Aiea and Pearl City report no FBI crime data of their own. Waimalu, Aiea and Pearl City aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Waimalu with a neighbor →
Questions about Waimalu
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waimalu, HI a good place to live?
Waimalu 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 Waimalu, HI expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $598,000, 28% 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−.