Wahiawā () is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) in
Honolulu County
Honolulu County (), officially known as the City and County of Honolulu (formerly ''Oahu County''), is a consolidated city-county in the U.S. state of Hawaii, one of five counties in the state. The city-county includes both Urban Honolulu ( ...
,
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
, United States, on the island of
Oahu
Oahu (, , sometimes written Oahu) is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast. The island of Oahu and the uninhabited Northwe ...
. It is in the Wahiawā District, on the plateau or "central valley" between the two volcanic mountains that bookend the island. In
Hawaiian, ''wahi a wā'' means "place of the wa people".
The population was 18,658 at the
2020 census.
Lakes and reservoirs are rare in Hawaii, and Wahiawā is unique in being surrounded on three sides by Lake Wilson (also known as Wahiawā Reservoir or Kaukonahua). The town must be reached by either of two bridges on
Kamehameha Highway
Kamehameha Highway is one of the main highways serving suburban and rural O‘ahu in the U.S. state of Hawai‘i. Informally known as Kam Highway, it begins at Hawaii Route 92, Nimitz Highway near Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Honolu ...
(State Rte. 80) across the reservoir's narrow north and south arms. Outside of the reservoir, the town used to be surrounded by military bases and agricultural fields, but development is making its way up from the increasingly urbanized southern portion of the central plain. Still, there are significant
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
facilities in the area, including
Schofield Barracks
Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation and census-designated place (CDP) located in Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Hawaii. Schofield Barracks lies adjacent to the town of Wahiawā, separated ...
,
Wheeler Army Airfield
Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National H ...
, and East Range, an Army training area extending into the hills south and east of town. Schofield Barracks alone is larger than Wahiawā CDP. Wahiawā is also home to the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
's
and the housing community HMR.
The U.S.
postal code
A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or numerical digit, digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, inclu ...
s for Wahiawā are 96786 and 96857.
Geography
Wahiawā is located at (21.502574, -158.022938).
Vehicular routes to the North Shore from Wahiawā are Kamehameha Highway (State Rte. 80) to
Haleʻiwa and Kaukonahua Road (State Rte. 801) to
Waialua
Waialua () is a census-designated place and North Shore community in the Waialua District on the island of Oahu, City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 4,062.
Waialua was one of the ...
. Wheeler and Schofield are reached along Wilikina Drive (Wahiawā Bypass) (State Rte. 99), which bypasses Wahiawā from the south bridge, a road that eventually connects to both Kamehameha Highway and Kaukonahua Road northwest of town. Kamehameha Highway continues south (as State Rte. 99) past Wheeler to
Mililani Town
Mililani () is a city located near the center of the island of Oahu in Honolulu County, Hawaiʻi, United States. It consists of two census-designated places, Mililani Town, with a population of 28,121 at the 2020 census, and Mililani Mauka, wi ...
.
Interstate H-2
Interstate H-2 (H-2, named the Veterans Memorial Freeway) is an intrastate Interstate Highway located on the island of Oʻahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The north–south freeway connects H-1 in Pearl City to Mililani and Wahiawa, ...
terminates at Wilikina Drive near the Kamehameha Highway intersection, and is a less congested route southward to Mililani and beyond to
Pearl City
Pearl City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in the Ewa District and City & County of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, in the U.S. state of Hawaii. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 45,295. Pearl ...
and
Honolulu
Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...
via
Interstate H-1
Interstate H-1 (H-1) is the longest (27.16 miles = 43.71km) and busiest Interstate Highway in the US state of Hawaii. The highway is located on the island of Oʻahu. Despite the number, this is an east–west highway; the 'H'-series (for H ...
. Kunia Road (State Rte. 750) runs from Wilikina Drive, between Schofield and Wheeler (on the bypass), then southward along the mostly still agricultural western side of the plain to
Kunia
Kunia Camp (also called Kunia) is an unincorporated community on the island of Oahu in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It lies along Hawaii Route 750 northwest of downtown Honolulu, the county seat of Honolulu County. Its elevation is ...
and
Waipahu
Waipahu () is a former sugarcane Sugar plantations in Hawaii, plantation town and now census-designated place (CDP) located in the Ewa District on the island of Oahu, Oahu in the Honolulu County, Hawaii, City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, Hawai ...
beyond.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the CDP has an area of , of which is land and , or 11.34%, is water.
Kaʻala
Kaala or Mount Kaala (pronounced in Hawaiian) is the highest mountain on the island of Oahu, at . It is a part of the Waianae Range, an eroded shield volcano on the west side of the island. The FAA maintains an active tracking station at the ...
, the highest peak on Oahu (), is west of Wahiawā, overlooking Schofield Barracks.
Wahiawā Reservoir or Lake Wilson is Hawaii's second-largest reservoir (). It irrigates agricultural fields, including the Dole Pineapple Plantation fields at the northern part of Wahiawā, all the way to Oahu's
North Shore, where it empties.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000,
there were 16,151 people, 5,376 households, and 3,956 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 5,900 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 11.31%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 2.02%
Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.32%
Native American, 45.77%
Asian, 9.62%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 1.83% from
other races, and 29.14% from two or more races. 11.00% of the population were
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race.
There were 5,376 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.45.
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,257, and the median income for a family was $46,524. Males had a median income of $32,018 versus $25,287 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the CDP was $16,366. 16.7% of the population and 13.5% of families were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
. Of the total population, 23.8% of those under 18 and 9.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government and infrastructure
The
Honolulu Police Department
The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) is the principal law enforcement agency of the Honolulu County, Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, headquartered in the Alapa'i Police Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu CDP.
Officially re ...
operates the Wahiawā Substation in Wahiawā.
A satellite gateway for the
Iridium
Iridium is a chemical element; it has the symbol Ir and atomic number 77. This very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum group, is considered the second-densest naturally occurring metal (after osmium) with a density ...
satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to other phones or the telephone network by radio link through satellites orbiting the Earth instead of terrestrial cell sites, as cellphones do. Therefo ...
network is operated by the
DISA
Disa is the heroine of a Swedish legendary saga, which was documented by Olaus Magnus, in 1555. It is believed to be from the Middle Ages, but includes Old Norse themes.
It was elaborated by Johannes Messenius in his drama ''Disa'', which was th ...
in Wahiawā.
In the
Hawaii State Legislature
The Hawaii State Legislature ( Hawaiian: Ka ‘Aha‘ōlelo kau kānāwai o ka Moku‘āina o Hawai‘i) is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of Hawaii, consisting of the Hawaii State Senate (upper house with 25 senators) and t ...
, Wahiawā is part of
Hawaii State House of Representatives district 46 (currently represented by Amy Perruso) and
Hawaii State Senate
The Hawaii State Senate ( Hawaiian: Ka ‘Aha Kenekoa) is the upper house of the Hawaii State Legislature. It consists of twenty-five members elected from an equal number of constituent districts across the islands and is led by the President o ...
district 22 (currently represented by Donovan Dela Cruz.) In the
Honolulu City Council
Honolulu City Council is the legislature of the City and County of Honolulu, the capital and largest city in Hawai'i, the fiftieth state in the United States. The City and County of Honolulu is a municipal corporation that manages government a ...
, Wahiawā is part of district 2 (currently represented by Matt Weyer).
Schools
Public schools
The
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education operates Wahiawā CDP's public schools.
Elementary schools in the CDP include ʻIliahi, Kaʻala, and Wahiawā. Wahiawā Middle School is adjacent to but not in the CDP, while
Leilehua High School
Leilehua High School is a public, co-educational, college preparatory high school in Wahiawa, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. It is part of the Hawaii State Department of Education, nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the United State ...
is in the CDP.
Five other schools have Wahiawā postal addresses but are outside the CDP: Samuel K. Solomon Elementary School and
Daniel K. Inouye (formerly Hale Kula) Elementary School in
Schofield Barracks CDP,
Helemano Elementary School in
Whitmore Village CDP, and Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary School and Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School in the Wheeler Air Force Base CDP and on
Wheeler Army Airfield
Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National H ...
.
Private schools
Elementary schools
*Trinity Lutheran Church and School (Lutheran) (in the CDP)
*First Baptist Church
*Hoʻala School
*Abundant Life United Pent Church
*Maranatha Christian Academy
*Hawaii Matsuritaiko
Bridges
*Karsten Thot Bridge (
truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements, typically straight, may be stressed from tension, compression, or ...
, 1932)
*Kaukonahua Bridge (1944)
*Wilson Bridge
Notable people
*
Al Harris, professional football player
*
Betty Ann Bruno, child actor and journalist
*
Martin Iosefo, professional rugby player with the
U.S. national rugby team
*
Lia Marie Johnson
Lia Marie Johnson (born November 23, 1996) is an American internet personality, actress, and singer. She first received recognition for her work on YouTube, rising to fame for creating skits and song covers, and for her appearances in the Fine ...
, actress, singer and YouTube personality
*
Adrian Murrell
Adrian Byran Murrell (born October 16, 1970) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 19 ...
, professional football player
*
Netane Muti
Netane Muti (born 27 March 1999) is a Tongan professional American football guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Early life
A two-way lineman for Leilehua, ...
, professional football player
*
Kealoha Pilares, professional football player
*
Lauvale Sape
Lauvale Sape ( ; born August 29, 1980) is an American former professional football defensive tackle. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at Utah.
Sape was also a member of th ...
, professional football player
*
Antonio Taguba, military general
*
Charles Tuaau, professional football player
*
Suzanne Vares-Lum, president, East-West Center
*
Tadashi Wakabayashi
Tadashi Henry Wakabayashi () (March 1, 1908 – March 5, 1965) was a professional baseball player from Oahu, Hawaii. He was a second generation Japanese American.
Biography
Wakabayashi's parents had immigrated to Hawaii from Hiroshima, Japan, an ...
, professional baseball player
*
Corinne Watanabe
Corinne Kaoru Amemiya Watanabe (born August 1, 1950) is an American judge from the state of Hawaii. Watanabe was the first female Attorney General of Hawaii from 1985 until 1986.
Early life and education
Watanabe was born in Wahiawa, Hawaii, on ...
, judge
Waianae Range
Gallery
Image:DolePineapplePlantation.jpg, Dole Food Company
Dole plc (previously named Dole Food Company and Standard Fruit Company) is an Irish- American agricultural multinational corporation headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company is among the world's largest producers of fruit and vegetables ...
was founded in 1851 in Wahiawā.
Image:Pineapple maze 1.JPG, Dole's Plantation Garden Maze recaptured the world record of world's largest maze in 2008, occupying 137,194 square feet. The maze topped the record in 2001 of the Peace Maze in Northern Ireland, which currently measures in at 118,403.
Image:Dole Pineapple Plantation Field.jpg, Pineapple plantation field in Wahiawā is where the Dole pineapple industry started.
Image:25th Infantry Division CSIB.svg, Wahiawā is the home of 25th I.D. Tropic Lightning since 1941. Currently basing more than 15,000 soldiers in Schofield Barracks
Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation and census-designated place (CDP) located in Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Hawaii. Schofield Barracks lies adjacent to the town of Wahiawā, separated ...
and growing.
Image:Nctams2.jpg, Navy satellite antennas in Wahiawā
Image:Wahiawa Botanical Garden - General View.JPG, Wahiawā Botanical Garden, one of the tourist spots in Wahiawā
Image:Wahiawa Botanical Garden - shady park view.JPG, Wahiawā Botanical Garden
References
External links
Wahiawa Community and Business Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wahiawa
Census-designated places in Honolulu County, Hawaii