Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii

Waimea, Hawaii
Census-designated place

Location in Kauai County and the state of Hawaii
Coordinates: 21°57′42″N 159°40′25″W / 21.96167°N 159.67361°WCoordinates: 21°57′42″N 159°40′25″W / 21.96167°N 159.67361°W
Country United States
State Hawaii
Counties Kauai
Area
 • Total 1.2 sq mi (3.3 km2)
 • Land 1 sq mi (2.7 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Population (2000)
 • Total 1,787
 • Density 1,489.2/sq mi (541.5/km2)
Area code(s) 808

Waimea (literally, "red water" in Hawaiian[1]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauaʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 1,787 at the 2000 census. The first Europeans to reach Hawaii landed in Waimea in 1778 (giving rise to Kauai's cheeky slogan: "Hawaii's Original Visitor Destination").

Geography

Along a ridgeline near Waimea
A statue of Captain James Cook stands in Waimea, Kauaʻi commemorating his first contact with the Hawaiian islands at the town's harbor on January 1778.

Waimea is located at 21°57′42″N 159°40′25″W / 21.96167°N 159.67361°W.[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (18.60%) is water.

Waimea is a popular place for tourists, especially hikers who travel through the nearby canyons and ridges.

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,787 people, 620 households, and 456 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,707.2 people per square mile (657.1/km²). There were 676 housing units at an average density of 645.8 per square mile (248.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 12.7% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 43.0% Asian, 12.3% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 30.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.2% of the population.

There were 620 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.1% 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 2.80 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,398, and the median income for a family was $46,591. Males had a median income of $38,542 versus $26,513 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,778. About 8.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Waimea High School is the westernmost high school in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel Hoyt Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of Waimea ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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