The Town FilesHonokaa, Hawaii
Community in Hawaii County · population 2,699 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $610,600
- Household income
- $87,019
- Jan low / Jul high
- 57° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 41.1
Honokaa is a community of 2,699 people in Hawaii County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $610,600, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for families than 94% of Hawaii towns, more seaside character than 94% of Hawaii towns, hipper than 86% of Hawaii towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Hawaii
- #6 in The 15 Quietest Small Towns in Hawaii
- #7 in The 11 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Hawaii
- #8 in The 22 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Hawaii
- #11 in 19 Small Towns in Hawaii With the Cheapest Homes
- #21 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Hawaii
How Honokaa 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 Honokaa is worth $610,600, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 7.0 times the median household income of $87,019, which is more affordable than 66% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,420 a month. 79.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Honokaa | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $610,600 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,420 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $87,019 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.0× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Honokaa
| People | Honokaa | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 93.2% |
Weather in Honokaa
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 56.5°F. About 90.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in).
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Honokaa since 1950.
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 Honokaa itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Honokaa
2 public schools with 1,045 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honokaa High & Intermediate School | 7-12 | 669 | 15.2 |
| Honokaa Elementary School | PK-6 | 376 | 16.3 |
Towns near Honokaa
- Waimea, HI11.4 mi · 9,904 people · home $677,400
- Waikoloa Village, HI24.0 mi · 7,104 people · home $802,600
Honokaa questions
Is Honokaa, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Honokaa scores better for retirees than 53% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 77%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Honokaa?
The median owner-occupied home in Honokaa is valued at $610,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,019, so homes cost about 7.0 times income. Median rent is $1,420 a month.
What is the weather like in Honokaa?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 56.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 90.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Honokaa get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Honokaa 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)