Racial diversity in Hawaii is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Hawaii where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Hawaii?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 55 cities in Hawaii to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Hawaii for 2026:
So what city is the most diverse in Hawaii? According to the most Census data, Makakilo took the number one over all spot for diversity in Hawaii.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Hawaii ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Hawaii reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Hawaii For 2026
/10
Population: 20,735
HHI: 2,062
% White: 18.3%
% African American: 5.3%
% Hispanic: 14.7%
% Asian: 27.5%
More on Makakilo: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,158
HHI: 2,097
% White: 30.7%
% African American: 3.4%
% Hispanic: 16.8%
% Asian: 16.9%
More on Iroquois Point: Data | Movers
/10
Population: 7,353
HHI: 2,119
% White: 25.0%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 16.2%
% Asian: 17.4%
More on Makawao: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,066
HHI: 2,134
% White: 20.7%
% African American: 3.0%
% Hispanic: 12.6%
% Asian: 8.8%
More on Makaha: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,232
HHI: 2,172
% White: 11.1%
% African American: 2.0%
% Hispanic: 17.5%
% Asian: 26.2%
More on Kapolei: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,570
HHI: 2,235
% White: 7.8%
% African American: 6.2%
% Hispanic: 12.9%
% Asian: 13.1%
More on Maili: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,203
HHI: 2,259
% White: 28.5%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 15.9%
% Asian: 15.1%
More on Hawaiian Paradise Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,286
HHI: 2,349
% White: 22.2%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 11.0%
% Asian: 18.0%
More on Waimea Cdp (Hawaii County): Data | Movers
/10
Population: 50,404
HHI: 2,355
% White: 14.3%
% African American: 0.7%
% Hispanic: 11.0%
% Asian: 34.2%
More on Hilo: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,085
HHI: 2,357
% White: 23.2%
% African American: 4.9%
% Hispanic: 15.5%
% Asian: 31.6%
More on Ocean Pointe: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Hawaii for 2026
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Hawaii.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2020-2024 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 55 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 2,062 (Makakilo) to 5,114 (Waipahu).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Makakilo took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Waipahu was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most diverse places in Hawaii.
Summary: Diversity Across Hawaii
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Hawaii, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Hawaii are Makakilo, Iroquois Point, Makawao, Makaha, Kapolei, Maili, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Waimea CDP (Hawaii County), Hilo, and Ocean Pointe.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Hawaii:
- Waipahu
- Wailea
- Ewa Villages
For more Hawaii reading, check out:
Race By City In Hawaii For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makakilo, HI | 20,735 | 2,062 | 18.3% | 5.3% | 14.7% | 27.5% |
| 2 | Iroquois Point, HI | 5,158 | 2,097 | 30.7% | 3.4% | 16.8% | 16.9% |
| 3 | Makawao, HI | 7,353 | 2,119 | 25.0% | 0.0% | 16.2% | 17.4% |
| 4 | Makaha, HI | 10,066 | 2,134 | 20.7% | 3.0% | 12.6% | 8.8% |
| 5 | Kapolei, HI | 22,232 | 2,172 | 11.1% | 2.0% | 17.5% | 26.2% |
| 6 | Maili, HI | 11,570 | 2,235 | 7.8% | 6.2% | 12.9% | 13.1% |
| 7 | Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI | 13,203 | 2,259 | 28.5% | 1.0% | 15.9% | 15.1% |
| 8 | Waimea Cdp (Hawaii County), HI | 9,286 | 2,349 | 22.2% | 0.0% | 11.0% | 18.0% |
| 9 | Hilo, HI | 50,404 | 2,355 | 14.3% | 0.7% | 11.0% | 34.2% |
| 10 | Ocean Pointe, HI | 17,085 | 2,357 | 23.2% | 4.9% | 15.5% | 31.6% |
| 11 | Laie, HI | 5,699 | 2,382 | 27.7% | 0.5% | 5.0% | 14.5% |
| 12 | Napili-Honokowai, HI | 7,308 | 2,406 | 36.2% | 0.6% | 14.4% | 21.5% |
| 13 | Ahuimanu, HI | 8,452 | 2,416 | 16.4% | 0.0% | 14.2% | 31.0% |
| 14 | Wailuku, HI | 16,926 | 2,429 | 20.9% | 1.0% | 7.7% | 33.4% |
| 15 | Pukalani, HI | 8,679 | 2,443 | 28.1% | 1.4% | 15.9% | 18.7% |
| 16 | Kapaa, HI | 11,094 | 2,516 | 27.7% | 1.0% | 8.5% | 34.2% |
| 17 | Waimanalo, HI | 6,054 | 2,517 | 8.6% | 0.0% | 15.5% | 13.1% |
| 18 | Lihue, HI | 7,901 | 2,524 | 18.8% | 2.5% | 10.3% | 40.7% |
| 19 | Wahiawa, HI | 17,996 | 2,532 | 10.3% | 2.9% | 13.6% | 40.1% |
| 20 | Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 2,544 | 8.9% | 1.8% | 7.8% | 38.4% |
| 21 | Kailua Cdp (Hawaii County), HI | 21,818 | 2,570 | 40.1% | 0.2% | 8.3% | 19.0% |
| 22 | Kaneohe, HI | 37,355 | 2,612 | 14.0% | 0.5% | 10.8% | 37.6% |
| 23 | Waikoloa Village, HI | 7,543 | 2,616 | 41.6% | 1.9% | 8.7% | 10.7% |
| 24 | Waipio Acres, HI | 5,332 | 2,684 | 11.4% | 4.8% | 14.7% | 39.4% |
| 25 | Waianae, HI | 12,918 | 2,713 | 7.6% | 1.0% | 14.2% | 8.6% |
| 26 | Lahaina, HI | 10,162 | 2,764 | 24.8% | 0.4% | 9.5% | 40.1% |
| 27 | Kahaluu, HI | 5,619 | 2,770 | 24.7% | 0.0% | 8.3% | 12.4% |
| 28 | Kihei, HI | 21,567 | 2,780 | 42.2% | 1.3% | 13.2% | 21.2% |
| 29 | Kailua Cdp (Honolulu County), HI | 39,640 | 2,849 | 42.1% | 0.5% | 6.8% | 18.7% |
| 30 | Ewa Gentry, HI | 26,563 | 2,892 | 9.3% | 3.1% | 14.1% | 46.2% |
| 31 | Heeia, HI | 5,144 | 2,999 | 15.9% | 0.0% | 4.6% | 43.2% |
| 32 | Mililani Town, HI | 27,668 | 3,024 | 9.7% | 1.6% | 11.4% | 45.1% |
| 33 | Mililani Mauka, HI | 21,278 | 3,038 | 13.1% | 2.5% | 9.7% | 47.2% |
| 34 | West Loch Estate, HI | 5,544 | 3,053 | 3.9% | 2.5% | 14.4% | 45.0% |
| 35 | Wailua Homesteads, HI | 5,431 | 3,066 | 46.8% | 0.0% | 9.5% | 24.1% |
| 36 | Schofield Barracks, HI | 16,270 | 3,098 | 47.8% | 17.9% | 20.9% | 5.0% |
| 37 | East Honolulu, HI | 51,360 | 3,199 | 23.0% | 0.9% | 4.7% | 46.8% |
| 38 | Halawa, HI | 14,385 | 3,268 | 8.3% | 0.5% | 6.8% | 51.5% |
| 39 | Urban Honolulu, HI | 345,482 | 3,293 | 16.1% | 1.5% | 6.9% | 51.8% |
| 40 | Hickam Housing, HI | 9,425 | 3,301 | 52.9% | 10.3% | 10.8% | 4.4% |
| 41 | Nanakuli, HI | 12,383 | 3,435 | 4.4% | 0.7% | 11.1% | 5.1% |
| 42 | Ewa Beach, HI | 14,376 | 3,448 | 6.2% | 0.0% | 7.4% | 51.9% |
| 43 | Aiea, HI | 9,087 | 3,504 | 11.9% | 1.8% | 7.5% | 54.7% |
| 44 | Haiku-Pauwela, HI | 9,178 | 3,542 | 52.5% | 0.0% | 15.2% | 5.5% |
| 45 | Kula, HI | 6,791 | 3,560 | 54.9% | 0.0% | 7.7% | 14.0% |
| 46 | Pearl City, HI | 44,547 | 3,578 | 9.8% | 1.8% | 6.3% | 54.5% |
| 47 | Waimalu, HI | 13,061 | 3,580 | 11.1% | 2.0% | 9.3% | 54.8% |
| 48 | Kahului, HI | 28,288 | 3,603 | 10.6% | 1.4% | 7.3% | 55.4% |
| 49 | Royal Kunia, HI | 13,555 | 3,684 | 6.0% | 2.6% | 8.8% | 55.9% |
| 50 | Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI | 5,150 | 3,794 | 56.9% | 0.5% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 51 | Waipio, HI | 10,870 | 3,904 | 5.6% | 0.8% | 7.1% | 57.0% |
| 52 | Waikele, HI | 7,528 | 4,283 | 8.0% | 2.0% | 5.6% | 60.6% |
| 53 | Ewa Villages, HI | 7,415 | 4,544 | 4.7% | 0.0% | 7.1% | 63.8% |
| 54 | Wailea, HI | 6,352 | 4,830 | 67.3% | 1.0% | 9.6% | 10.0% |
| 55 | Waipahu, HI | 40,482 | 5,114 | 2.4% | 0.7% | 5.8% | 69.6% |