Wai‘anae Ecological Characterization

Socioeconomic Profile

The Wai‘anae moku comprises six U.S. Census Tracts (see map). These tracts roughly correspond with the major valleys and communities of the moku.

The U.S. Census Bureau collects population data from the Census Tracts every ten years (see Population Trends). The data collected includes information on race, income, and educational attainment (see Socioeconomic Trends).

At the time of the 2000 census, the population of the Wai‘anae moku was 42,259. Within the moku, Wai‘anae was the most populous community, with 32 percent of the population (more than 13,000 people) residing there. Lualualei was the next most populous, with close to 8,000 residents (19 percent of the Wai‘anae moku's population).

People of the Wai‘anae moku represent a diversity of racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Hawaiian, Caucasian, Filipino, Japanese, Samoan, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, African, and other Asian and Pacific Island races. More than 40 percent characterize themselves as being of two or more races. More than 62 percent of moku residents consider themselves Hawaiian or part Hawaiian.

Per capita income, household income, and rates of employment are among the many economic indicators that are assessed in the U.S. Census. The Wai‘anae moku ranks behind the rest of O‘ahu and the State of Hawai‘i in each of these important economic areas. However, many community-based resources exist within Wai‘anae to combat poverty and related problems, discussed further in the Socioeconomic Trends section.

Reference Cited

U.S. Census Bureau. 2000. Census 2000: American FactFinder Web Site. http://factfinder.census.gov

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