The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Hawaii For 2024


The most diverse cities in Hawaii are Makakilo and Hawaiian Paradise Park for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In Hawaii

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


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 2024

Makakilo, HI

Source: Wikipedia User Travis.Thurston | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 21,055
HHI: 2,005
% White: 21.0%
% African American: 6.0%
% Hispanic: 13.0%
% Asian: 26.8%
More on Makakilo: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 13,041
HHI: 2,087
% White: 23.4%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 17.7%
% Asian: 21.8%
More on Hawaiian Paradise Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Iroquois Point, HI

Source: Wikipedia User Eric Guinther | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,921
HHI: 2,090
% White: 31.3%
% African American: 5.7%
% Hispanic: 18.5%
% Asian: 9.4%
More on Iroquois Point: Data | Real Estate

Makaha, HI

Source: Wikipedia User Nicolai Edgar Andersen | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 10,042
HHI: 2,106
% White: 17.9%
% African American: 4.3%
% Hispanic: 16.2%
% Asian: 8.8%
More on Makaha: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Kapolei, HI

Source: Wikipedia User Travis.Thurston | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 22,701
HHI: 2,153
% White: 13.4%
% African American: 2.1%
% Hispanic: 15.2%
% Asian: 29.0%
More on Kapolei: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Ahuimanu, HI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 9,177
HHI: 2,163
% White: 17.1%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 14.5%
% Asian: 29.8%
More on Ahuimanu: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Makawao, HI

Source: Wikipedia User 293.xx.xxx.xx | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 7,704
HHI: 2,170
% White: 31.8%
% African American: 0.2%
% Hispanic: 17.0%
% Asian: 15.5%
More on Makawao: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Ocean Pointe, HI

Source: Wikipedia User Ekrem Canli | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 16,173
HHI: 2,274
% White: 22.2%
% African American: 4.6%
% Hispanic: 18.8%
% Asian: 31.2%
More on Ocean Pointe: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Hilo, HI

Source: Flickr User Ron Cogswell | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 47,627
HHI: 2,290
% White: 15.7%
% African American: 0.7%
% Hispanic: 13.2%
% Asian: 30.8%
More on Hilo: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,418
HHI: 2,336
% White: 37.6%
% African American: 2.1%
% Hispanic: 14.3%
% Asian: 16.5%
More on Waikoloa Village: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Hawaii for 2024

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 2018-2022 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
* Not 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 2,005 (Makakilo) to 4,954 (Ewa Villages).

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 Ewa Villages was the least diverse city.

We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth 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, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Iroquois Point, Makaha, Kapolei, Ahuimanu, Makawao, Ocean Pointe, Hilo, and Waikoloa Village.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Hawaii:

  1. Ewa Villages
  2. Wailea
  3. Waipahu

For more Hawaii reading, check out:

Race By City In Hawaii For 2024

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Makakilo, HI 21,055 2,005 21.0% 6.0% 13.0% 26.8%
2 Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI 13,041 2,087 23.4% 1.0% 17.7% 21.8%
3 Iroquois Point, HI 5,921 2,090 31.3% 5.7% 18.5% 9.4%
4 Makaha, HI 10,042 2,106 17.9% 4.3% 16.2% 8.8%
5 Kapolei, HI 22,701 2,153 13.4% 2.1% 15.2% 29.0%
6 Ahuimanu, HI 9,177 2,163 17.1% 0.0% 14.5% 29.8%
7 Makawao, HI 7,704 2,170 31.8% 0.2% 17.0% 15.5%
8 Ocean Pointe, HI 16,173 2,274 22.2% 4.6% 18.8% 31.2%
9 Hilo, HI 47,627 2,290 15.7% 0.7% 13.2% 30.8%
10 Waikoloa Village, HI 7,418 2,336 37.6% 2.1% 14.3% 16.5%
11 Wailuku, HI 16,590 2,369 18.8% 1.2% 10.0% 33.2%
12 Kahaluu, HI 5,065 2,380 22.5% 0.0% 15.9% 17.5%
13 Waimanalo, HI 5,743 2,398 9.5% 0.0% 19.3% 12.3%
14 Waimea Cdp (Hawaii County), HI 10,458 2,406 20.9% 0.0% 7.7% 22.0%
15 Waihee-Waiehu, HI 11,029 2,440 8.1% 1.6% 10.9% 37.0%
16 Laie, HI 5,411 2,445 28.3% 0.4% 5.7% 11.1%
17 Pukalani, HI 7,930 2,456 32.1% 1.2% 13.6% 24.8%
18 Lahaina, HI 12,906 2,523 23.5% 0.1% 13.1% 37.9%
19 Kapaa, HI 10,846 2,523 31.4% 0.4% 10.0% 33.6%
20 Maili, HI 12,114 2,528 7.6% 4.0% 14.2% 9.9%
21 Napili-Honokowai, HI 6,779 2,542 37.9% 0.4% 24.8% 16.7%
22 Kailua Cdp (Hawaii County), HI 21,449 2,556 41.1% 1.3% 9.2% 18.7%
23 Lihue, HI 8,649 2,569 16.3% 2.0% 16.5% 40.9%
24 Kaneohe, HI 35,493 2,621 16.4% 0.5% 11.9% 39.0%
25 Waianae, HI 13,749 2,633 6.8% 1.1% 18.6% 9.4%
26 Wahiawa, HI 17,400 2,671 10.7% 2.1% 11.7% 42.3%
27 Kihei, HI 22,247 2,708 41.4% 0.8% 13.9% 20.7%
28 Kailua Cdp (Honolulu County), HI 40,323 2,754 40.6% 0.6% 8.0% 21.1%
29 Waipio Acres, HI 5,393 2,882 9.7% 2.1% 13.1% 42.1%
30 Ewa Gentry, HI 27,198 2,941 8.3% 3.4% 15.0% 46.7%
31 Mililani Town, HI 27,423 3,024 10.8% 2.3% 11.0% 46.2%
32 Aiea, HI 9,571 3,043 12.0% 1.7% 11.2% 48.7%
33 West Loch Estate, HI 6,469 3,081 6.9% 2.1% 13.8% 47.9%
34 Schofield Barracks, HI 18,133 3,111 48.5% 16.4% 20.7% 4.8%
35 Haiku-Pauwela, HI 9,245 3,163 47.6% 0.0% 14.6% 10.1%
36 Wailua Homesteads, HI 7,189 3,179 46.3% 0.1% 8.8% 11.9%
37 Pupukea, HI 5,130 3,184 48.1% 0.4% 11.4% 14.9%
38 East Honolulu, HI 49,491 3,218 23.3% 0.7% 6.0% 47.1%
39 Urban Honolulu, HI 348,547 3,271 15.9% 1.7% 7.3% 51.7%
40 Mililani Mauka, HI 21,546 3,277 12.8% 3.3% 9.1% 51.4%
41 Kula, HI 6,578 3,281 51.4% 0.0% 6.8% 19.9%
42 Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI 7,001 3,297 48.3% 0.0% 8.1% 27.6%
43 Kahului, HI 27,233 3,346 10.1% 1.3% 9.1% 52.8%
44 Waimalu, HI 13,932 3,376 10.8% 3.7% 7.9% 51.9%
45 Nanakuli, HI 12,370 3,434 2.9% 0.6% 14.1% 4.4%
46 Waikele, HI 7,551 3,451 9.3% 3.4% 9.1% 53.3%
47 Ewa Beach, HI 15,167 3,461 5.5% 0.0% 11.2% 52.9%
48 Pearl City, HI 46,812 3,505 9.9% 1.5% 8.5% 53.9%
49 Halawa, HI 14,411 3,514 6.7% 1.0% 6.8% 54.4%
50 Hickam Housing, HI 9,502 3,717 57.0% 8.9% 14.7% 7.5%
51 Royal Kunia, HI 13,919 3,771 6.8% 1.2% 11.1% 57.5%
52 Waipio, HI 11,138 3,902 5.6% 0.6% 7.7% 57.6%
53 Waipahu, HI 39,873 4,747 3.6% 0.4% 6.2% 66.6%
54 Wailea, HI 6,517 4,944 68.3% 0.9% 9.8% 11.2%
55 Ewa Villages, HI 6,550 4,954 2.7% 0.8% 7.1% 67.9%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.