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
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Hawaii for 2024:
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
/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
/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
/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
/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
/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
/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
/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
/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
/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
/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
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:
- Ewa Villages
- Wailea
- 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% |