Kapalua, Hawaii Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 469, Kapalua's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Kapalua is a small community located in Hawaii, within Maui County. The total population is 469. It ranks as the 141st most populous out of 163 Census-designated places in Hawaii.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kapalua is 55.2 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 13.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kapalua is $154,375. This is 54% higher than the state median of $100,389. It is also 91% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.8%. This is 72% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $1,604,200. Housing costs are 91% higher than the state median of $839,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 63.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kapalua is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (62.7% vs 20.9%). The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.1% vs 9.9%). The Asian population (6.8%) is well below the state average of 36.4%.

Education

43.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% higher 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 97.6%. Notably, 22.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kapalua, 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.