Kapaa (Kauai dialect: Tapaa) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous town in the island of Kauai with a total population of 11,652 as of 2020 census, up from 9,471 as of 2000 census.
History
Kapaa is a Hawaiian adjective meaning "solid".
Geography
Kapaa is located on the east side of the island of Kauai at (22.088281, -159.337706). It is bordered to the south by the communities of Wailua and Wailua Homesteads and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii Route 56 passes through the eastern part of the community, leading north to Anahola and south to Lihue.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Kapaa CDP has a total area of . of it are land and of it (3.27%) are water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,471 people, 3,129 households, and 2,281 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 971.2 inhabitants per square mile (375.1/km2). There were 3,632 housing units at an average density of 372.4 per square mile (143.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 27.8% White, 0.3% Black, 0.5% Native American, 31.7% Asian, 10.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 28.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.5% of the population.
There were 3,129 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,448, and the median income for a family was $45,878. Males had a median income of $30,129 versus $25,680 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,878. About 14.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The town is served by Kapaa High School and a feeder elementary school and middle school. There is one private school, St. Catherine Catholic School (K-8; online high school program), founded in 1947.
