KANEOHE, HI

Kāneohe () is a census-designated place (CDP) included in the City and County of Honolulu and located in Hawaii state District of Koolaupoko on the island of Oahu. In the Hawaiian language, kāne ohe means "bamboo man". According to an ancient Hawaiian story a local woman compared her husband's cruelty to the sharp edge of cutting bamboo; thus the place was named Kāneohe or "bamboo man". The population was 37,430 at the 2020 census. Kāneohe is the largest of several communities along Kāneohe Bay and one of the two largest residential communities on the windward side of Oahu (the other is Kailua). The commercial center of the town is spread mostly along Kamehameha Highway.

From ancient times, Kāneohe was important as an agricultural area, owing to an abundance of rainfall. Today, Kāneohe is mostly a residential community, with very little agriculture in evidence. The only commercial crop of any consequence in the area is banana.

Features of note are Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden and the new Hawaii National Veterans Cemetery. Access to Kāneohe Bay is mainly from the public pier and boat ramp located at nearby Heeia Kea. Access to Coconut Island (restricted) is from the state pier off Lilipuna Road. Marine Corps Base Hawaii lies across the south end of Kāneohe Bay from the central part of Kāneohe, although the town stretches along Kāneohe Bay Drive to the base perimeter.

The ZIP code for Kaneohe is 96744.

There are three golf courses in Kāneohe: Pali Golf Course (public), Koolau Golf Club (privately owned but open to the public), and Bayview Golf Park (privately owned but open to the public).

History

Kāneʻohe, literally meaning "Bamboo Man", was the home of the early rulers of the Hawaiian Kingdom and consisted of 30 royal fishponds. It was originally an agricultural area for the growing of taro and sweet potatoes.

Geography

Kāneʻohe is located at (21.409200, -157.799084). Nearby towns include Kailua to the east, reached either by Kāneohe Bay Drive (State Rte. 630) or Kamehameha Highway (State Rte. 83), the former also providing a connection to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and the latter connecting to Interstate H-3 and (at Castle Junction) Pali Highway (State Rte. 61) to Honolulu. Likelike Highway (State Rte. 63) runs southwest over and through the Koolau to Honolulu. Likelike provides connections to Kahekili Highway and Heeia, and H-3 southbound to Hālawa. The first three exits on the windward side of Interstate H-3 east (north) bound access Kāneohe. Following Kamehameha Highway northward from Kāneohe (State Rte. 830) leads through Heeia to Heeia Kea.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The total area is 22.80% water, consisting of a portion of Kāneohe Bay included in the census tract.

Climate

Kaneohe has a tropical steppe climate.

Demographics

As of the 2000 Census, there were 34,970 people, 10,976 households, and 8,682 families residing in Kāneohe. The population density was 5,320.7 people per square mile (2,055.1/km²). There were 11,472 housing units at an average density of 1,745.5 per square mile (674.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 20.49% White, 0.81% Black, 0.20% Native American, 38.48% Asian, 11.44% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 27.90% from two or more races. 7.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 10,976 households 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 15.4% of households were one person and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.48.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median household income was in Kāneohe in 2000 was $66,006, and the median family income was $71,316. Males had a median income of $40,389 versus $31,504 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,476. 6.1% of the population and 4.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government and infrastructure

The Honolulu Police Department operates the Kaneohe Substation in Kaneohe.

Education

The Hawaii Department of Education operates the public schools.

Elementary schools in Kaneohe CDP include Heʻeia, Kāneʻohe, Kapunahala, Reverend Benjamin Parker, and Pūʻōhala. James B. Castle High School is in the CDP.

Schools with Kaneohe postal addresses but outside of the CDP include Governor Samuel Wilder King Intermediate School in Heeia CDP, ʻĀhuimanu Elementary School adjacent to, but not in, Ahuimanu CDP, Kahalu'u Elementary School in Kahalu'u CDP, and Waiāhole Elementary School in Waikane.

There is the Hakipuʻu Learning Center, a public charter school for grades 7 through 12.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu operates St. Ann Catholic School, K-8, in Heeia CDP but with a Kaneohe address.

Also within the boundaries of Kaneohe CDP are these private schools: Huakailani School for Girls (K-8), Koʻolau Baptist Academy, St Mark Lutheran School, and Windward Nazarene Academy.

Windward Community College, part of the state college system, is located on the south side of central Kāneohe. Hawaii Pacific University operates its Windward Hawaiʻi Loa campus on Kamehameha Highway near Castle Junction.

Notable people