The Town FilesMakaha, Hawaii
Community in Honolulu County · population 9,916 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $394,000
- Household income
- $64,970
- Jan low / Jul high
- 65° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.9
Makaha is a community of 9,916 people in Honolulu County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $394,000, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better transit than 89% of Hawaii towns, better for a vacation home than 80% of Hawaii towns, more walkable than 71% of Hawaii towns.
- #2 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #8 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Least Snow
- #9 in 19 Small Towns in Hawaii With the Cheapest Homes
- #11 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Hawaii
- #14 in The 23 Most Walkable Small Towns in Hawaii
- #17 in 21 Small Towns in Hawaii With the Mildest Winters
How Makaha 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 Makaha is worth $394,000, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $64,970, which is more affordable than 79% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,868 a month. 46.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Makaha | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $394,000 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,868 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $64,970 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.7% | — |
Who lives in Makaha
| People | Makaha | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 47.1 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 93.2% |
Weather in Makaha
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 64.8°F. About 21.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 1 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 Makaha since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on March 23, 2023.
Severe weather in Honolulu County since 1996
Honolulu County has been included in 25 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 |
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4909: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 19, 2025 | Fire | FM-5609: Kunia Road Fire |
| February 15, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4639: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Honolulu County
Honolulu County had 453,193 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,851 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Makaha itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Towns near Makaha
- Waianae, HI2.5 mi · 13,614 people · home $518,300
- Maili, HI4.5 mi · 11,535 people · home $640,600
- Nanakuli, HI6.7 mi · 12,195 people · home $488,600
- Waialua, HI9.2 mi · 4,062 people · home $997,200
- Schofield Barracks, HI10.1 mi · 14,904 people · home —
- Makakilo, HI11.5 mi · 19,877 people · home $867,200
- Haleiwa, HI12.1 mi · 4,941 people · home $1,091,700
- Whitmore Village, HI12.4 mi · 4,887 people · home $829,900
Makaha questions
Is Makaha, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Makaha scores better for retirees than 9% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 11%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Makaha?
The median owner-occupied home in Makaha is valued at $394,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,970, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $1,868 a month.
What is the weather like in Makaha?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 64.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Makaha get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Makaha 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)