CensusEasy
CITY

Lawai

Hawaii · 2,718 residents · 4.058 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Kapaa micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Lawai is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $104,286. Population has grown 37% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $849,800. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 113%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,718
+37%since 2000
from 1,984 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
670 / sq mi
+50%since 2009
from 446 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.1
+5%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Lawai
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(136)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(160)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(175)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.6%(261)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(107)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.1%(356)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(321)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410%(272)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(385)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.2%(305)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.3%(198)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(42)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$104,286
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,662 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,119
+67%since 2000
from $22,884 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
64.7%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.355
−14%since 2010
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade6.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Information6.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food4.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$849,800
+113%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $219,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,747
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $899 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 73.0% in 2000
29.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
39.8%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.1
−8%since 2009
from 8.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lawai on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic32.5%(644)
Black0.3%(5)
Hispanic / Latino11.8%(234)
Asian29.5%(586)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic38.4%(1,043)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino23.3%(632)
Asian17.1%(464)
Other21.3%(579)
Diversity Score
91
+8%since 2009
from 84 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican9.7%(264)
Puerto Rican8.3%(226)
Spaniard0.2%(6)
Asian origin
Japanese11.3%(308)
Filipino5.6%(153)
Chinese0.4%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan3.1%(85)
Ancestry
Italian11%(299)
Portuguese10.8%(293)
English10.3%(281)
Irish7.7%(210)
German5.4%(148)
French4.1%(111)
Lithuanian4%(108)
Scottish2.1%(56)
Norwegian1.1%(31)
Polish0.9%(25)
Swedish0.8%(21)
Russian0.5%(14)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.4%(11)
Dutch0.4%(10)
Slovak0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest Native Hawaiian population · Largest Japanese population · Largest Italian population · Largest Portuguese population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.0%
+15.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.5%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.8%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.3 min
+42%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.2%
−19.6 ptssince 2009
from 86.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
4.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.6%
+17.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.7%
−10.1 ptssince 2011
from 69.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.5%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.0%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.0%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
44.0%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
0.6%
−93.1 ptssince 2013
from 93.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.2%
+14.5 ptssince 2017
from 81.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 93.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married47%(575)
Married48.2%(590)
Widowed0.2%(2)
Divorced4.7%(57)
Women 15+
Never married28.7%(294)
Married54.5%(558)
Widowed10.5%(107)
Divorced6.3%(64)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lawai

Hernando Beach
Pop 2,675
Holley
Pop 2,487
Indialantic
Pop 3,096
Big Coppitt Key
Pop 3,109
Places similar to Lawai
Head to head

Compare Lawai to nearby cities

LAWAI VS
Kapaa
Income$89,477−14%
Home value$861,300+1%
Population11,094+308%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAWAI VS
Makaha
Income$64,970−38%
Home value$394,000−54%
Population10,066+270%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAWAI VS
Waianae
Income$81,733−22%
Home value$518,300−39%
Population12,918+375%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAWAI VS
Maili
Income$111,542+7%
Home value$640,600−25%
Population11,570+326%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lawai, Hawaii?

Lawai, Hawaii has about 2,718 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lawai, Hawaii?

The typical household in Lawai, Hawaii earns about $104,286 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lawai, Hawaii expensive?

In Lawai, Hawaii, the median home is worth about $849,800, and the typical rent is about $1,747 a month.

How educated are people in Lawai, Hawaii?

About 38.0% of adults age 25 and over in Lawai, Hawaii hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lawai, Hawaii?

About 9.9% of people in Lawai, Hawaii live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lawai, Hawaii grown since 1990?

Yes, Lawai, Hawaii has grown since 1990. The population has added about 860 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Hawaii
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Lawai with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →