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Living in
Waianae.
Waianae 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 Waianae
Waianae is a community of 12,907 people in Hawaii. The median household income is $81,733, median rent runs about $1,277 per month, and median home values are around $518,300. Unemployment is low at 2.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Waianae at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.2%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
94.3%
of households
Population Growth
-5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Waianae: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waianae, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (22.6%), and 16.7% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.9%
of households
Married Couples
52.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.58
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 35% below HI average
Rent, home values, and income in Waianae
In Waianae, rent runs 35% below the HI average, and home values are 38% below the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,030
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $577,782 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in Waianae
Unemployment in Honolulu County, which includes Waianae, is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
Waianae: Honolulu County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Honolulu County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Waianae is about 1% of Honolulu County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Waianae Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute42.2 min avg
How Waianae residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waianae, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 28% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 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 Waianae, 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 Waianae, 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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Honolulu County, county-wide
Waianae is about 1% of Honolulu County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality29 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Honolulu County, which includes Waianae, 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
Waianae is about 1% of Honolulu County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 65°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waianae has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and warm winters (avg low 65°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/66°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/70°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
79°/65°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
60
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F | 65°F | 3.18" |
| Feb | 78°F | 64°F | 2.27" |
| Mar | 79°F | 65°F | 2.74" |
| Apr | 80°F | 66°F | 1.35" |
| May | 82°F | 68°F | 1.64" |
| Jun | 83°F | 69°F | 0.80" |
| Jul | 85°F | 70°F | 0.47" |
| Aug | 86°F | 70°F | 0.74" |
| Sep | 85°F | 70°F | 0.92" |
| Oct | 85°F | 70°F | 1.93" |
| Nov | 82°F | 69°F | 2.54" |
| Dec | 80°F | 67°F | 3.20" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waianae
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education12.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waianae
Waianae's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 13.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
13.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Waianae (within 15 miles)
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
10.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 2,519 students · in-state tuition $7,728 · 54% graduate · median earnings $56,319 (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: Honouliuli National Historic Site, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waianae
Waianae has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Honouliuli National Historic Site (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Honouliuli National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayPearl Harbor National Memorial
National Memorial
17 mi awayKalaupapa National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waianae
Waianae Public Library
85-625 Farrington Hwy., Waianae
Cities Near Waianae
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waianae?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waianae FAQ
Is Waianae, Hawaii affordable?⌄
Waianae's median rent is $1,277/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $81,733/year. Median home value is $518,300.
Is Waianae, Hawaii safe?⌄
Waianae 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 Waianae, Hawaii?⌄
Honolulu County, which includes Waianae, 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 Waianae, Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in Waianae is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,277/month and median household income is $81,733/year. The median home value is $518,300. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waianae, Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in Waianae is 42 minutes, which is significantly longer than 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