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Living in
Waimalu.
Waimalu 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 Waimalu
If you're moving to Waimalu, understand upfront that you're choosing a densely packed, thoroughly urban neighborhood in central Oahu—not a quiet escape or a tourist destination. This is a 1.9-square-mile census-designated place wedged into Honolulu County with nearly 14,000 people, so you're living in close quarters with established families, older residents (median age 43), and a community that's predominantly Asian with growing Latino representation. Housing will hit your wallet hard—median home prices hover around $598,000 and rent averages $1,931 monthly—but if you land decent work in Honolulu's government, military, tourism, or service sectors, the median household income of $89,000 makes the numbers work for dual-income households and established professionals.
Waimalu at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Foreign-Born
18.5%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
+0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.5% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Waimalu: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waimalu, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (33.3%), and 12.4% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
14.6%
of residents
65 and Older
24.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.3%
of households
Married Couples
42.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
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 about average for HI
Rent, home values, and income in Waimalu
In Waimalu, home values are 29% below the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,522
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in Waimalu
Unemployment in Honolulu County, which includes Waimalu, is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
Waimalu: Honolulu County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Honolulu County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Waimalu is about 1% of Honolulu County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Waimalu Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.3 min avg
How Waimalu residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waimalu, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 Waimalu, 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 Waimalu, 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
Waimalu 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 Waimalu, 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
Waimalu is about 1% of Honolulu County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 68°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waimalu has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and warm winters (avg low 68°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/70°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/74°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
81°/68°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
32
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
214
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 81°F | 67°F | 1.84" |
| Feb | 81°F | 67°F | 1.94" |
| Mar | 81°F | 68°F | 2.36" |
| Apr | 83°F | 70°F | 0.77" |
| May | 85°F | 72°F | 0.82" |
| Jun | 87°F | 74°F | 0.50" |
| Jul | 88°F | 75°F | 0.52" |
| Aug | 89°F | 76°F | 0.84" |
| Sep | 88°F | 75°F | 0.88" |
| Oct | 87°F | 74°F | 1.51" |
| Nov | 84°F | 72°F | 2.25" |
| Dec | 82°F | 69°F | 2.18" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waimalu
Waimalu has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Pali Momi Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Honolulu
Tripler Amc (ft Shafter)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Honolulu
Kuakini Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8 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.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waimalu
Waimalu's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Waimalu (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)
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
7.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 2,519 students · in-state tuition $7,728 · 54% graduate · median earnings $56,319 (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
11.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,672 students · in-state tuition $31,918 · 56% graduate · median earnings $56,938 (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, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waimalu
Waimalu has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pearl Harbor National Memorial (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
National Memorial
2 mi awayHonouliuli National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayKalaupapa National Historical Park
National Historical Park
66 mi awayCities Near Waimalu
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waimalu?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waimalu FAQ
Is Waimalu, Hawaii affordable?⌄
Waimalu's median rent is $1,931/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $89,232/year. Median home value is $597,800.
Is Waimalu, Hawaii safe?⌄
Waimalu 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 Waimalu, Hawaii?⌄
Honolulu County, which includes Waimalu, 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 Waimalu, Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in Waimalu is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,931/month and median household income is $89,232/year. The median home value is $597,800. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waimalu, Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in Waimalu is 26 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