Kapaau, Hawaii Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kapaau is a small community located in Hawaii, within Hawaii County. The total population is 2,224. It ranks as the 95th most populous out of 163 Census-designated places in Hawaii.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kapaau is 44.5 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 15.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kapaau is $83,750. This is 17% lower than the state median of $100,389. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.8%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $660,900. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $839,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 78.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 63.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kapaau is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.0%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (24.0% vs 9.9%).

Education

12.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 36.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kapaau, Hawaii is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Hawaii state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 163 Census-designated places in Hawaii. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.