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Lawai, HI
Census-designated place in Kauai County, Hawaii. ZIP codes: 96765.
Population
2,718
Land area
4.1sq mi
People per sq mi
670
ZIP codes
1
Lawai and its ZIP codes
Lawai at a glance
- Lawai is about 3 times as dense as Hawaii as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $104,286 a year, 4% more than the Hawaii figure of $100,389.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $849,800 and median rent is $1,747 a month.
Local data for Lawai, HI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Lawai, HI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$104,286
Poverty rate
9.9%
Median home value
$849,800
Median rent
$1,747/mo
Homeownership
71.0%
Bachelor's or higher
38.0%
Median age
41.1
Average commute
19.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Japanese Americans (308), Italian Americans (299), Portuguese Americans (293).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Kauai County. PPP loans are for Lawai.
Unemployment rate
5.1%
Sep 2026, +3.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$62,998
33,298 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$67,170
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$546M
FY 2026, $7,443 per person
PPP loans
$2.7M
46 loans, 254 jobs reported
How people get to work
Lawai, HI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone67.2%
- Carpooled6.2%
- Public transit4.1%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home21.6%
Average one-way commute: 19.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lawai, HI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
2,714
Countywide, mostly high surf
Flood insurance policies
1,647
7.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 65°F
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lawai, HI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
24.8%
U.S. 33.3% -8.5 pts
Diabetes
11.1%
U.S. 12.1% -1.0 pts
Smoking
11.7%
U.S. 12.8% -1.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.0%
U.S. 11.1% -5.1 pts
ZIP codes in Lawai
1 in or overlapping Lawai. Population shown
Cities near Lawai
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| OmaoCensus-designated place | 1 mi | 1.3 |
| KalaheoCensus-designated place | 1.4 mi | 3.5 |
| KoloaCensus-designated place | 3 mi | 1.3 |
| PoipuCensus-designated place | 3.4 mi | 2.6 |
| EleeleCensus-designated place | 5.1 mi | 0.8 |
| HanapepeCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 0.9 |
| PuhiCensus-designated place | 7.5 mi | 0.9 |
| KaumakaniCensus-designated place | 7.9 mi | 0.9 |
| Pakala VillageCensus-designated place | 9.2 mi | 2.4 |
| LihueCensus-designated place | 9.9 mi | 7.5 |
| WaimeaCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.9 |
| HanamauluCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.3 |
| Wailua HomesteadsCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 7.3 |
| WailuaCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.5 |
| KekahaCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1 |
| KapaaCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Lawai, HI in?
- Lawai is in Kauai County, Hawaii.
- What ZIP codes are in Lawai, HI?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Lawai include 96765.
- What is the population of Lawai, HI?
- About 2,718 people live in Lawai, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Lawai?
- Nearby places include Omao (1 mi), Kalaheo (1.4 mi), Koloa (3 mi), Poipu (3.4 mi), Eleele (5.1 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023