Waimānalo, Hawaii

Geography

Waimānalo is located at . The nearest towns are Kailua to the west and Waimānalo Beach to the east. Waimanalo Beach is within the traditional Ahupuaa of Waimānalo. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of 11.3 km2, all land.

Climate

|Jan record high F = 89 |Feb record high F = 89 |Mar record high F = 89 |Apr record high F = 92 |May record high F = 93 |Jun record high F = 94 |Jul record high F = 96 |Aug record high F = 92 |Sep record high F = 95 |Oct record high F = 95 |Nov record high F = 90 |Dec record high F = 90 |year record high F = 96 |Jan record low F = 52 |Feb record low F = 52 |Mar record low F = 54 |Apr record low F = 55 |May record low F = 56 |Jun record low F = 62 |Jul record low F = 64 |Aug record low F = 65 |Sep record low F = 59 |Oct record low F = 58 |Nov record low F = 56 |Dec record low F = 54 |year record low F = 52 | access-date = September 11, 2021}} | access-date = September 11, 2021}}

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,664 people, 849 households, and 751 families in the CDP. The population density was 9,319.0 PD/sqmi. There were 904 housing units at an average density of 2,299.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 10.84% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 26.80% Asian, 24.73% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 37.01% from two or more races. 10.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 849 households, 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.5% were non-families. 8.5% of households were one person, and 3.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.31 and the average family size was 4.42.

In the community 31.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.7% was from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median household income was $47,594 and the median family income was $43,347. Males had a median income of $28,036 versus $21,621 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,493. 8.1% of the population and 5.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.6% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Tourism

Waimanalo is the home of Sea Life Park, a marine biology and sea-life attraction near Makapu'u Beach. Japanese sumo grand champion Chad Rowan (aka Akebono) was born in Waimanalo. A large statue of him stands at the Waimanalo Shopping Center and serves as a tourist photo opportunity.

Notable residents

• Richard Chamberlain, actor known for playing Dr. Kildare in the series by that name, died here in 2025.
• Sasha Colby, drag performer and winner of Season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race
• Magnum P.I., the character from the eponymous TV series lived in Waimanalo.
• Tetairoa McMillan, wide receiver for the Arizona Wildcats and Carolina Panthers first-round pick, winner of the 2022 Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award
• Chad Rowan, better known as Akebono, the 64th and first non-Japanese sumo wrestler to reach the highest rank of yokozuna in 1993
• Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States, has a house in Waimanalo.
• Gabby Pahinui and his son Cyril Pahinui, both renowned slack-key guitarists.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. (2023). "Waimanalo HI ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com.
3. (July 21, 2005). "Rebuilding a Hawaiian Kingdom". Los Angeles Times.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Waimanalo CDP, Hawaii". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
6. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "Sea Life Park Hawaii, Marine Attraction, Oahu". Hawaiiweb.com.
8. Davis, Chelsea. (2015-06-07). "Protesters rally against Sea Life Park Hawaii - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL". Hawaiinewsnow.com.
9. Panek, Mark. (2006). "Gaijin yokozuna : a biography of Chad Rowan". University of Hawai'i Press.
10. "Six reasons to visit the Windward Oahu town of Waimanalo". Hawaiimagazine.com.
11. (2025-04-01). "TV actor Richard Chamberlain dies in Waimānalo home at age 90".
12. Macedonio, Cameron. (2025-04-22). "Hawaiian superstar Sasha Colby to embark on North American tour".
13. Dziemianowicz, Joe. (2023-03-25). "Inside the Robin’s Nest: Why the Original Magnum P.I. House Was Demolished".
14. McInnis, Brian. (2025-04-24). "Waimanalo native McMillan taken No. 8 by Carolina Panthers in NFL Draft".
15. Chinen, Kyle. (2024-04-12). "They knew him as Chad, the skinny Waimanalo kid who grew up to be a sumo legend".
16. Livingston, Sandy Harjo. (2025-03-14). "10 facts about Obama’s $18M Hawaiʻi beachfront mansion".
17. (2014). "National geographic traveler. Hawaii. [2014]". National Geographic.
18. (1921-04-22). "Gabby Pahinui".
19. Pareles, Jon. (2018-12-01). "Cyril Pahinui, Who Carried a Hawaiian Guitar Legacy, Dies at 68".