The Town FilesKaunakakai, Hawaii
Community in Maui County · population 3,419 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,100
- Household income
- $76,131
- Jan low / Jul high
- 64° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 34.4
Kaunakakai is a community of 3,419 people in Maui County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $368,100, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Hawaii towns, better transit than 75% of Hawaii towns, more seaside character than 70% of Hawaii towns.
- #3 in The 22 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Hawaii
- #3 in The 11 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Hawaii
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Hawaii
- #7 in 19 Small Towns in Hawaii With the Cheapest Homes
- #26 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Mildest Winters
- #42 in 50 Places in America With the Mildest Winters
How Kaunakakai ranks
Percentile among Hawaii towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Hawaii towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kaunakakai is worth $368,100, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $76,131, which is more affordable than 94% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $879 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kaunakakai | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,100 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $879 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $76,131 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.2% | — |
Who lives in Kaunakakai
| People | Kaunakakai | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 93.2% |
Weather in Kaunakakai
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 64.3°F. About 21.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Kaunakakai since 1950.
Severe weather in Maui County since 1996
Maui County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tsunami.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4951: Hurricane Lala |
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4952: Hurricane Lowell |
| September 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3654: Tropical Storm Nolo |
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4909: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5613: Holomua Fire |
Jobs and pay in Maui County
Maui County had 73,656 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,830 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Kaunakakai itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Kaunakakai
2 public schools with 353 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaunakakai Elementary School | PK-6 | 274 | 15.2 |
| Kilohana Elementary School | PK-6 | 79 | 7.9 |
Towns near Kaunakakai
- Lanai City, HI19.2 mi · 3,332 people · home $630,000
- Napili-Honokowai, HI23.2 mi · 7,042 people · home $878,900
- Lahaina, HI25.9 mi · 12,702 people · home $881,700
Kaunakakai questions
Is Kaunakakai, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kaunakakai scores better for retirees than 56% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 53%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Kaunakakai?
The median owner-occupied home in Kaunakakai is valued at $368,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,131, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $879 a month.
What is the weather like in Kaunakakai?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 64.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Kaunakakai get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Kaunakakai in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)