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Living in
East Honolulu.
East Honolulu is an unincorporated community in Honolulu County, HI. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in East Honolulu
Living in East Honolulu means joining a mature, affluent community where most neighbors are established families or empty nesters—the median age is over 50, and about 27% of residents are 65 or older. The neighborhoods here are genuinely upscale, and it shows in the housing market: expect a median home price around $1.17 million and rents averaging $3,313 monthly, which reflects Hawaii's overall cost-of-living reality. That said, the strong median household income of $158,398 and low unemployment rate of 2.3% suggest this is where people with stable, well-paying work choose to settle.
East Honolulu at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Foreign-Born
16.1%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
+7.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.1% foreign-born, most often from Japan
Who lives in East Honolulu: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Honolulu, the largest foreign-born group is from Japan (21.6%), and 8.1% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
28.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.0%
of households
Married Couples
65.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.85
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 68% above HI average
Rent, home values, and income in East Honolulu
In East Honolulu, rent runs 68% above the HI average, and home values are 44% above the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,688
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
84.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in East Honolulu
Unemployment in Honolulu County, which includes East Honolulu, is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
East Honolulu: Honolulu County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Honolulu County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What East Honolulu Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.9 min avg
How East Honolulu residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Honolulu, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Major hub10.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Honolulu Police Department, which covers East Honolulu, runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,459.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Honolulu Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Surf most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Honolulu County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Honolulu County, which includes East Honolulu, the most common type is high surf, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | High Surf | $1.7M |
| 2024 | 26 | High Surf | $145,000 |
| 2023 | 28 | High Surf | $21,000 |
| 2022 | 54 | High Surf | $115,000 |
| 2021 | 61 | High Surf | $2.7M |
| 2020 | 57 | High Surf | None reported |
| 2019 | 63 | High Surf | $57,250 |
| 2018 | 81 | High Surf | $2.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Honolulu County, county-wide
Air Quality29 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Honolulu County, which includes East Honolulu, is typically good — 355 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
29
Good Days
355
per year
Moderate Days
10
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Honolulu County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 66°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Honolulu has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and warm winters (avg low 66°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/69°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/72°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
78°/66°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
24.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
0
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
143
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°F | 65°F | 4.79" |
| Feb | 78°F | 65°F | 4.45" |
| Mar | 79°F | 67°F | 5.40" |
| Apr | 80°F | 69°F | 3.26" |
| May | 81°F | 70°F | 2.43" |
| Jun | 83°F | 73°F | 1.26" |
| Jul | 84°F | 74°F | 1.86" |
| Aug | 85°F | 74°F | 1.97" |
| Sep | 85°F | 74°F | 2.62" |
| Oct | 84°F | 73°F | 3.54" |
| Nov | 82°F | 71°F | 5.40" |
| Dec | 79°F | 68°F | 5.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Honolulu
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Honolulu's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health Castle
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Kailua
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children
Childrens · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Honolulu
Shriners Hospital for Children
Childrens · 7.6 mi away · Honolulu
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Honolulu
East Honolulu's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 59.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Honolulu (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,029 students · in-state tuition $12,402 · 65% graduate · median earnings $62,422 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,910 students · in-state tuition $3,284 · 33% graduate · median earnings $51,907 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,392 students · in-state tuition $36,734 · 42% graduate · median earnings $64,656 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 1,897 students · in-state tuition $3,174 · 39% graduate · median earnings $50,539 (10 yrs after entry)
Chaminade University of Honolulu
5.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,672 students · in-state tuition $31,918 · 56% graduate · median earnings $56,938 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 1,159 students · in-state tuition $3,194 · 30% graduate · median earnings $42,976 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pearl Harbor National Memorial, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Honolulu
East Honolulu has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pearl Harbor National Memorial (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
National Memorial
15 mi awayHonouliuli National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayKalaupapa National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Honolulu
Aina Haina Public Library
5246 Kalanianaole Hwy., Honolulu
Hawaii Kai Public Library
249 Lunalilo Home Rd., Honolulu
Cities Near East Honolulu
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Honolulu?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Honolulu FAQ
Is East Honolulu, Hawaii affordable?⌄
East Honolulu's median rent is $3,313/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $159,518/year. Median home value is $1,212,000.
Is East Honolulu, Hawaii safe?⌄
East Honolulu is policed by the Honolulu Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 181 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1459 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Honolulu, Hawaii?⌄
Honolulu County, which includes East Honolulu, has an unemployment rate of 2.3%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Honolulu, Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in East Honolulu is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,313/month and median household income is $159,518/year. The median home value is $1,212,000. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Honolulu, Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in East Honolulu is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from