The Town FilesCaptain Cook, Hawaii
Community in Hawaii County · population 3,253 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $770,600
- Household income
- $108,675
- Jan low / Jul high
- 57° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 39.5
Captain Cook is a community of 3,253 people in Hawaii County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $770,600, close to the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Hawaii towns, more seaside character than 84% of Hawaii towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of Hawaii towns.
How Captain Cook ranks
Percentile among Hawaii towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Hawaii towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Captain Cook is worth $770,600, close to the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 7.1 times the median household income of $108,675, which is more affordable than 63% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $2,164 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Captain Cook | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $770,600 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $2,164 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $108,675 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.1× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Captain Cook
| People | Captain Cook | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 93.2% |
Weather in Captain Cook
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 57.1°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Captain Cook since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Hawaii County since 1996
Hawaii County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tsunami.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4951: Hurricane Lala |
| September 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3654: Tropical Storm Nolo |
| September 1, 2026 | Earthquake | DR-4936: Earthquake |
| August 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3652: Hurricane Lala |
| July 26, 2026 | Fire | FM-5650: Kawaihae Road Fire |
Jobs and pay in Hawaii County
Hawaii County had 74,029 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,868 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Captain Cook itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Captain Cook
2 public schools with 244 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honaunau Elementary School | PK-5 | 145 | 14.5 |
| Hookena Elementary School | PK-5 | 99 | 14.1 |
Towns near Captain Cook
- Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI6.6 mi · 4,778 people · home $886,900
- Holualoa, HI11.8 mi · 2,994 people · home $1,115,600
- Kailua, HI12.2 mi · 19,713 people · home $667,400
- Kaiminani, HI19.1 mi · 12,590 people · home $772,800
- Hawaiian Ocean View, HI28.9 mi · 4,864 people · home $318,200
Captain Cook questions
Is Captain Cook, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Captain Cook scores better for retirees than 91% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 50%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Captain Cook?
The median owner-occupied home in Captain Cook is valued at $770,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,675, so homes cost about 7.1 times income. Median rent is $2,164 a month.
What is the weather like in Captain Cook?
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 57.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Captain Cook get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Captain Cook in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)