Waialua, Hawaii

{{Short description|Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Waialua

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|settlement_type = Census-designated place

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|image_map = Honolulu_County_Hawaii_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Waialua_Highlighted.svg

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|map_caption = Location in Honolulu County and the state of Hawaii

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|area_total_km2 = 6.19

|area_land_km2 = 5.68

|area_water_km2 = 0.51

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|population_total = 4062

|population_density_km2 = 715.75

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|timezone = Hawaii-Aleutian

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|coordinates = {{coord|21|34|31|N|158|7|46|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

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|postal_code = 96791

|area_code = 808

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|blank_info = 15-74000

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|blank1_info = 0364543

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Waialua ({{IPA|haw|vɐjəˈluwə|audio|LL-Q33569 (haw)-Noaius Paticus-Waialua.wav}}) is a census-designated place and North Shore community in the Waialua District on the island of O{{okina}}ahu, 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 six original districts of ancient Hawaii on the island, known as moku.{{Hawaiian Dictionaries |Waialua |HASH960cf93b87334ca089443e |dic=hpn |access-date= November 25, 2011}} Waialua is a former (sugar) mill town and residential area, quite different in its quiet ambiance from nearby Hale{{okina}}iwa, which is more commercial and tourist oriented. The Waialua Sugar Mill is the center of this town and the historical base of its plantation history.

The U.S. postal code for Waialua is 96791.

Geography

Waialua is located at 21°34'31" north, 158°7'46" west (21.575300, -158.129457),{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} southwest of Hale{{okina}}iwa, reached on Waialua Beach Road (State Rte. 82) or Kaukonahua Road (State Rte. 830). Kaukonahua Road turns eastward and, as State Rte. 803 then 801 runs up into the central plateau of O{{okina}}ahu to Wahiawā or (as 803) to Schofield Barracks. Farrington Highway (State Rte. 930) runs westward to Mokulē{{okina}}ia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|6.2|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|5.7|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.5|km2|disp=flip}} is water. The total area is 8.30% water.{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Waialua CDP, Hawaii| publisher=United States Census Bureau| access-date=May 29, 2012}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|2020= 4062

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 3,761 people, 1,128 households, and 882 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|3,007.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,219 housing units at an average density of {{convert|974.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 15.34% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 51.85% Asian, 3.96% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 27.39% from two or more races. 6.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,128 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.71.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,763, and the median income for a family was $51,801. Males had a median income of $29,607 versus $23,716 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,220. 11.7% of the population and 8.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Waialua Post Office at 67-079 Nauahi Street. The postal code is 96791."[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=waialua%2C+hi+96791&radius=1&locationType=po&locationID=1386156&locationName=WAIALUA&address2=&address1=67-079+NAUAHI+ST&city=WAIALUA&state=HI&zip5=96791&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=808-637-9016&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=21.5732223&longitude=-158.1225&sWithin=1&&&&&&&&& Post Office Location - Waialua]." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 28, 2017.

In 2017, the state approved NRG Energy, Inc., to build a 49 megawatt solar farm project near Waialua called Kawailoa Solar. HECO will buy electricity from this solar farm at 11 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 22 years.{{cite news | last = Mykleseth | first = Kathryn | title = State approves three Oahu solar farms | url = https://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/07/27/breaking-news/state-approves-three-oahu-solar-farms/ | work = Star-Advertiser | location = Honolulu | date = July 27, 2017 | access-date = July 28, 2017}} On September 10, 2019, the 49 megawatt Kawailoa Solar developed by Clearway Energy Group began its operation. Originally started by the developer SunEdison, Hawaiian Electric broke its ties to the firm in February 2016 before SunEdison's bankruptcy proceedings. San Francisco-based Clearway's predecessor, NRG Energy's Community Solar division, took over the project at the end of November 2016.{{cite news| url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/09/11/hawaii-news/states-largest-solar-block-goes-online/?HSA=24d191bb667ea95f68b3801f1befc2587d384283| title=State's largest solar block goes online| last=Hurley| first=Timothy| newspaper=Star-Advertiser| location=Honolulu| date=September 11, 2019| access-date=September 11, 2019}} On January 22, 2019, the Clearway Energy Group obtained NRG Community Solar's assets.{{cite news| url=https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/nrg-community-solar-is-now-clearway-community-solar-2019-01-22| title=NRG Community Solar is Now Clearway Community Solar: Clearway Community Solar Will Continue Providing Clean Energy through an Ever-Expanding Portfolio of Local Community Solar Farms | work=MarketWatch.com| date=January 22, 2019| access-date=September 11, 2019}}

Education

File:Oahu-Waialua-library-bldg.JPG

Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools. Waialua Elementary School and Waialua High & Intermediate School are in the CDP.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st15_hi/place/p1574000_waialua/DC10BLK_P1574000_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Waialua CDP, HI|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2020-10-10}}
2000 Map: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st15_Hawaii/Place/1574000_Waialua/CBP1574000_001.pdf|title=CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: WAIALUA CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2020-10-10}} - Compare to addresses of the school.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu operates St. Michael School, a K-8 school.{{cite web|url=https://www.stmichaelschoolhi.com/|title=Home|publisher=St. Michael School|access-date=2020-10-10|quote=67-340 Haona Street Waialua, HI 96791}}

Hawaii State Public Library System operates the Waialua Library.{{cite web|url=https://www.librarieshawaii.org/branch/waialua-public-library/|title=Waialua Public Library|publisher=Hawaii State Public Library System|access-date=2020-10-10}}

History

Many of the current families living in Waialua are the results of agricultural industry which began in the early 20th century. There was an increased demand for workers as the industry grew, resulting in workers being brought in from China, Portugal, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Spain and other areas. Upon arriving in Hawaii, many of these workers were assigned to work in the sugarcane plantations in Waialua. During the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the sugar production decreased as increasing labor and production costs caused producers to move overseas. Many of the families brought to Waialua during the sugar rush remained here and many of their descendants reside there today.

During World War II the twin guns from USS Saratoga were installed {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} off Kamehameha Highway near Waialua for use as gun batteries attached to Hawaiian Pineapple Company Camp Brodie 4.{{Cite journal |last=Bennett |first=John D. |date=February 2008 |title=Oahu’s 8-inch Naval Turret Batteries 1942-1949 |url=https://eugeneleeslover.com/ENGINEERING/8-inch-turret.pdf |journal=Coast Defense Journal |volume=22 |issue=1}}

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