Kailua, Hawaii

Kailua, Hawaii
Kailua is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It lies in the Koolaupoko District of the island of Oahu on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. It is in the judicial district and the ahupua'a named Ko'olaupoko. It is northeast of Honolulu – over Nu‘uanu Pali.
In the Hawaiian language Kailua means "two seas" or "two currents", a contraction of the words kai (meaning "sea" or "sea water") and elua (meaning "two"); it is so named because of the two former fishponds in the district (Kawainui and Kaelepulu) or the two currents that run through Kailua Bay.
Kailua is primarily a residential community, with a centralized commercial district along Kailua Road. The population was 50,000 in 1992. In 2017 census, the population had dropped to 38,000. The population was 40,514 at the 2020 census.
Places of note in Kailua include Kailua Beach Park, Kaōhao or Lanikai Beach, Kawainui Marsh, Maunawili Falls, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii. It was home to Barack Obama’s winter White House.
History
Early history
During the reign of King Kākuhihewa and his successors, Kanekapu, Kahoowaha, Kauakahiakahoowaha, and Kualiʻi, Kailua replaced Waikiki as the residential seat of the Oʻahu Rulers (aliʻi nui of Oʻahu). Many ancient temple ruins, such as those at Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site, are in the area. After the Oʻahu army's defeat by King Kamehameha the Great at the Battle of Nuʻuanu in 1795, the political capital and residential seat of the aliʻi nui of Oʻahu was relocated from Kailua to Honolulu.
Beach
Kailua Beach is crescent-shaped, about long, and ranging between 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 a top windsurfing and kitesurfing destination. Robby Naish, first World Champion of windsurfing and Professional Windsurfers Association Hall of Fame inductee, grew up in Kailua.
Sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to the protected seabird sanctuaries Flat Island and the Nā Mokulua, popularly known as "the Mokes", have become increasingly popular water activities at the beach.
Geography
Kailua is located at (21.397370, −157.739515). Nearby towns include Kāneohe, Maunawili, and Waimānalo.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of , of which is land and (26.62%) is water. A significant portion of the water area is Kawainui Marsh, the largest wetland in the Hawaiian Islands and a Ramsar Convention site.
Kaʻōhao/Lanikai
Kaʻōhao is the earliest known Hawaiian name for the place known as "Lanikai." Kaʻōhao means "the tying" and is derived from an old story in which "two women were tied together here with a loincloth after being beaten in a kōnane game". Kaʻōhao was commercially developed in the 1920s and renamed "Lanikai." It is now an unincorporated community in Kailua on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. Lanikai Beach was rated one of the world's top ten beaches by Sherman's Travel Magazine. The area is known for its white, powder-like sandy beach and its hiking trail along the Kaiwa Ridge to the World War II military bunkers commonly known as the "Lanikai Pillboxes". Because of its small community and easy access to its famous beach, Lanikai has one of Hawaii's most expensive real estate markets. It is served by Kailua's zip code, 96734.
Climate
Kailua has a tropical savanna climate.
Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were an estimated 40,514 people and 12,387 households with an average of 3.04 people per household in Kailua. The population density was , which was less dense than that of Honolulu (5842.0 per square mile or 2255.6/km2). There were 4,322 housing units in Kailua at an average density of .
The racial makeup of Kailua was 44.8% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 19.3% Asian, 4.4% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 29.0% from two or more races. The Kailua population had a greater percentage of White residents and a lower percentage of Asian residents than the state in aggregate (25.3% and 38.6% respectively). 8.6% of the Kailua population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
12.7% of Kailua residents reported having a language other than English spoken at home, less than the state average of 26.1%. The age of the population in Kailua was varied, with 5.8% of inhabitants being under the age of 5, 21.6% being under the age of 18, and 19.3% being above the age of 65. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males.
The median annual household income in Kailua was $122,706, and the per capita annual income was $51,260. 5.0% of the population in Kailua was estimated to be below the poverty line, which was below the state average of 11.2%. Approximately 35.0% of businesses in Kailua were minority-owned, a rate nearly double that of the national average of 18.7%.
Government and infrastructure
The Honolulu Police Department operates the Kailua Substation in Kailua. The United States Postal Service operates the Kailua Post Office.
The Hawaii Department of Public Safety operates the Women's Community Correctional Center; it was defined in the Maunawili CDP as of the 2000 U.S. Census, but was redefined as being in the Kailua CDP as of the 2010 U.S. Census. NBC News stated that the prison was in Kailua.
The Hawaii Department of Human Services operates the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF), which was defined as Maunawili by the Census Bureau in 2000, and as Kailua by the same organization in 2010. The United States Department of Justice also stated the facility was in Kailua.
Tourism
Historically, most tourism on the island of O'ahu has centered around Waikiki and other tourism-designated areas. But tourism has also been a major economic force in Kailua, and tourism-related jobs have historically made up roughly one-third of total employment in Hawaii. The Obama family vacations, as well as coverage from various social media and travel sites, sparked new interest in Kailua as a tourist destination and led to an influx of tourists to Kailua. This influx led to pushback from some Kailua residents, prompting proposals of legislation to limit tourist activity there.
Winter White House
Barack Obama vacationed in Kailua between 2008 and 2012. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the Obama family stayed in the rented, ocean-front house Plantation Estate in the Paradise Point Estates. The house was built by developer Harold Kainalu Long Castle, who also lived there. Obama also took a vacation break in August 2008 at a different house in Kailua, Oahu Lani, during the 2008 United States presidential election.
Controversy
Although tourism is the primary driver of Kailua's economy, it remains a contentious issue among the town's residents. On several occasions, residents have successfully introduced legislation to discourage tourism in the town. One such example is Bill 41, introduced to the Honolulu City Council in October 2021. In 2022, Honolulu County Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 41 into law at a press conference held on Kailua beach. The bill places additional limits and restrictions on short-term rental units. These include requiring a permit to rent living space in a residential area for less than 90 days, as well as requiring hosting platforms (such as Airbnb) to report all listings in Honolulu County (which includes Kailua town) to the county government. Proponents of Bill 41 expect its passage to dramatically reduce the volume of tourists in Kailua.
Education
Public schools
The Hawai'i Department of Education operates the public schools.
Elementary schools in the CDP include Aikahi, Enchanted Lake, Kaelepulu, Kailua, Kainalu, Keolu, and Maunawili. Kailua Intermediate School, Kalaheo High School, and Kailua High School are also in the CDP. Kailua High and Maunawili Elementary were defined as being in the Maunawili CDP as of the 2000 Census, but in Kailua CDP as of the 2010 Census.
Kaōhao Public Charter School was previously known as Lanikai Elementary Public Charter School and opened in 1964. It became a charter school in 1996, and it received its current name in 2017.
Mokapu Elementary School is on the nearby Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), outside of the CDP but with a Kailua address.
Area private schools
Catholic schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu:
St. Anthony School
St. John Vianney School
Others:
Trinity Christian School
Redemption Academy
Windward Adventist School
Le Jardin Academy (Kailua address but not in the CDP)
Huakailani School for Girls (K-8) (Kaneohe CDP)
Films
Movies and TV shows filmed in Kailua include:
Hawaii Five-O (1968): "King of the Hill" – TV episode
Waikiki (1980) (TV)
Mädchengeschichten (1998): Shea – "Surfer girl" – TV episode
Lost (2004–10) – TV episodes
Magnum, P.I. (1980–88) – TV episodes
Hawaii Five-0 (2010)- TV episodes
Community
Kailua hosts various events throughout the year, from block parties to fireworks.
Notable people
Mike Akiu, American football player
Wally Amos, founder of the "Famous Amos" cookie brand
Alpha L. Bowser, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps, decorated for actions during the battles of Iwo Jima and Chosin Reservoir
Lynne Boyer, former World Champion professional surfer
Pete Cabrinha (windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing), professional windsurfer, Peahi tow-in pioneer
Emily Chang, Bloomberg news anchor
Henry Ian Cusick, Peruvian-British actor
Kaʻimi Fairbairn, professional football player
Scott Feldman, Major League Baseball pitcher
Sid Fernandez, former Major League Baseball pitcher
Russ Francis, former professional football player
Derek Ho (surfing), former World Champion professional surfer, Kailua High Alumni
Michael Ho, professional surfer, Kailua High Alumni
David Hughes, former professional American football player
Kila Ka'aihue, Major League Baseball player
Les Keiter, sportscaster
Allan J. Kellogg, Medal of Honor recipient
Buzzy Kerbox, professional surfer, windsurfer, Ralph Lauren model
Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress
Denise Michele, model
Chris Naeole, professional football player
Robby Naish (windsurfing, kitesurfing), former World Champion professional windsurfer
B. J. Penn, former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight and lightweight champion and world Brazilian jiu-jitsu Champion
Albert Pyun, film director
Jonah Ray, comedian and actor
Samson Satele, professional football player
Jesse Smith, water polo player
Bobby Webster, NBA General Manager of Toronto Raptors
References
External links
Kailua Chamber of Commerce
Census-designated places in Honolulu County, Hawaii
Populated coastal places in Hawaii