Punaluu, Hawaii Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 950, Punaluu'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

Punaluu is a small community located in Hawaii, within Honolulu County. The total population is 950. It ranks as the 127th most populous out of 163 Census-designated places in Hawaii.

Age Demographics

The median age in Punaluu is 37.6 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Punaluu is $86,953. This is 13% lower than the state median of $100,389. It is also 8% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.1%. This is 70% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 75% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $888,200. Housing costs are 6% higher than the state median of $839,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 52.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 63.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Punaluu is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.9%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Asian population (12.2%) is well below the state average of 36.4%.

Education

30.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% 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 96.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Punaluu, 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.