| Kailua, Hawaii | |
|---|---|
| — CDP — | |
| Aerial photo of Kailua, Enchanted Lake and Mokapu Peninsula | |
| Location in Honolulu County and the state of Hawaii | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 36,513 |
| • Density | 5,495.8/sq mi (2,123.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Hawaii-Aleutian (UTC-10) |
| Zip Code | 96734 |
| Area code(s) | 808 |
| FIPS code | 15-23150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 359894 |
Kailua ( /kaɪˈluːə/) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It lies in the Koʻolaupoko District of Oʻahu on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. It is in the judicial district and the ahupua'a named Ko'olaupoko. It is 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Honolulu - over Nu‘uanu Pali. The population was 36,513 at the 2000 census.
In the Hawaiian language Kailua means "two seas," or "two currents," a contraction of the words kai (meaning sea or sea water) and ʻelua (meaning two); it is so named because of the two lagoons in the district or the two currents which run through Kailua Bay.
Kailua is primarily a residential community, with a centralized commercial district along Kailua Road. It has a compact, easy-to-shop business district surrounded by mostly single-family homes. By 1992, 50,000 residents encompassed a central urban core with surrounding residential areas.[1]
Places of note in Kailua include Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai Beach, Kawai Nui Marsh, and Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi.
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It is possible that Kailua was home to Hawaiian families at least 1,500 years ago. The earliest settlers are thought to have lived, fished, and played on the slopes surrounding Kawainui Marsh. A report on archaeological excavations of the marshland concluded that when the marsh slopes were first occupied about 500 AD, agriculture was not possible.[2] Early Hawaiian occupants of Kailua apparently lived beside a lagoon or bay open to the sea, hundreds of yards shoreside of today's shoreline.
In the 16th century, Kailua attracted the ali'i. During the reign of King Kakuhihewa and his successors, Kanekapu, Kahoowaha, Kauakahiakahoowaha, and Kualii; Kailua replaced Waikiki as the residential seat of the Alii Aimoku of Oahu. Many legends were born, including the menehune, who were known for working at night in Kawai Nui Marsh, and mo'o, who took the shape of a large lizard that attracted fish.
Kailua was densely populated even before the arrival of Captain James Cook, and was the ancient capital of Oahu's kings. The biggest event in Kailua and the entire Windward side was in 1795 when King Kamehameha I conquered O'ahu in his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands. The King granted Kawai Nui Marsh and old Kailua, which included large freshwater fish ponds and saltwater ponds at Mokapu, to warriors and chiefs who had helped him. The land was used in various forms for agriculture (e.g., sugarcane, rice, and taro), and eventually was used primarily for cattle raising. Many ancient temple ruins, such as those at Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site, are in the area.[3]
Kailua was a small town of barely 3,000 in the 1940s. However, the events of World War II changed the appearance of Kailua. Kaneohe Ranch sold portions of land to the government for expansion of the Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay (now Marine Corps Base Hawaii) and the Army's Fort Hase. Finally, in 1942, Kaneohe Ranch closed down its cattle-raising operations entirely, freeing thousands of acres for post-war development. Harold K.L. Castle, owner of Kaneohe Ranch, donated the land for churches, schools, and a new hospital.
In 1946, a small Liberty House (now Macy's) shop opened with three employees and upgraded to a full-line department store in 1953, with nearly 50 employees. The first bowling alley, a branch office of the telephone company, and the very first supermarket in Hawaii opened in Kailua in 1947. A new four-lane highway, tunneling through the Koʻolau Range, was completed in the late 1950s. By the end of the 1950s, Hawaii had become a state and Kailua became the official postal designation (previously known as Lanikai). By 1960 the population was up to 24,400. Castle Hospital (now Castle Medical Center) opened in 1963. Craig's Bakery was also a well recognized bakery that opened in the late 1950s and finally closed soon after the September 11 attacks in 2001.[4]
Kailua Beach is often cited as Hawaii's best beach. It was also ranked as the finest American beach in 1998 by coastal expert Dr. Stephen Leatherman, and then "retired" from subsequent consideration.[5] It is a crescent-shaped, about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in length and ranging between 50 and 150 feet wide. The ocean bottom fronting the beach slopes gently to overhead depths without any coral heads. Light to medium waves support surfing and bodysurfing.
The steady trade winds make Kailua Beach one of the world’s preeminent windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations. Robby Naish, first World Champion of winsurfing and Professional Windsurfers Association Hall of Fame inductee, grew up in Kailua.[5][6][7]
Sea Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to the protected seabird sanctuaries Flat Island and the Mokulua Islands, popularly known as "the Mokes", have become increasingly popular water activities at the beach.
Kailua is located at (21.397370, -157.739515).[8] Nearby towns include Kāneʻohe, Maunawili, and Waimānalo.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.5 square miles (25 km2). 6.6 square miles (17 km2) of it is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) of it (30.33%) is water. A significant portion of this water area is Kawai Nui Marsh, the largest wetland in the Hawaiian Islands and a nominated Ramsar Convention site.
Lanikai is an unincorporated community in Kailua on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. Lanikai Beach was rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world by Sherman's Travel Magazine.[9] The area is known for its white powder-like sandy beach, easy access to the Mokes and its hiking trail along the Keolu Ridge to the World War II military bunkers or "Pillboxes".[10] Due to it being a small community and easy access to its infamous beach, Lanikai has one of the most expensive real estate markets in the state.[11] It is served by Kailua's zip code 96734.
As of the census of 2000,[12] there were 36,513 people, 12,229 households, and 9,318 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 5,495.8 people per square mile (2,123.2/km²). There were 12,780 housing units, at an average density of 1,923.6 per square mile (743.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 43.84% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 21.11% Asian, 8.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 24.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10% of the population.
There were 12,229 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98, and the average family size was 3.33.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $72,784, and the median income for a family was $79,118. Males had a median income of $46,789, versus $35,612 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,299. About 3.3% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under the age of 18 and 1.5% of those 65 and older.
The Honolulu Police Department operates the Kailua Substation in Kailua.[13] The United States Postal Service operates the Kailua Post Office.[14]
The Hawaii Department of Public Safety operates the Women's Community Correctional Center in Maunawili CDP,[15][16] near Kailua.[17] The Hawaii Department of Human Services operates the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF) in Maunawili,[16][18] near Kailua.[19]
Barack Obama has taken winter vacations over Christmas break in the same rented ocean front house Plantation Estate at 55 Kailuana Place in the Paradise Point Estates in 2008, 2009 and 2010 at Paradise Point. The house is in a private gated community and was built by developer Harold Kainalu Long Castle who also lived there./[20] Obama also took a vacation break in August 2008 at a different Kailua house during the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign.
Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools.
Elementary schools in the CDP include Aikahi, Enchanted Lake, Kaelepulu, Kailua, Kainalu, Keolu, Lanikai, and Mokapu. Kailua Intermediate School, Kalaheo High School, and Kailua High School are also in the CDP.[21]
Movies and TV shows that have been filmed in Kailua include the following:
Kailua hosts various events throughout the year, from block parties to fireworks.[22]
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