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Pahala, HI

Census-designated place in Hawaii County, Hawaii.

Population

1,768

Land area

0.6sq mi

People per sq mi

2,752

ZIP codes

0

Pahala and its ZIP codes

Full map

Pahala at a glance

  • Pahala is about 12 times as dense as Hawaii as a whole.
  • The median household income is $71,518, 29% below the Hawaii median of $100,389.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $224,500 (73% below Hawaii).

Local data for Pahala, HI

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Pahala, HI, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$71,518

Poverty rate

11.3%

Median home value

$224,500

Homeownership

78.3%

Bachelor's or higher

23.0%

Median age

32.4

Average commute

45.7 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Filipino Americans (549), Portuguese Americans (99), Italian Americans (65).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Hawaii County. PPP loans are for Pahala.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Sep 2026, +1.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$61,757

74,168 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$57,694

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.5B

FY 2026, $7,647 per person

Hawaii County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Pahala, HI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone69.5%
  • Carpooled14.8%
  • Public transit1.5%
  • Walked2.3%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home11.9%

Average one-way commute: 45.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Pahala, HI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: volcanic activity

Storm events since 1996

1,994

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

1,215

1.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

84° / 65°F

35.2 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Pahala, HI, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

25.1%

U.S. 33.3% -8.2 pts

Diabetes

15.1%

U.S. 12.1% +3.0 pts

Smoking

15.9%

U.S. 12.8% +3.1 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.5%

U.S. 11.1% -3.6 pts

Cities near Pahala

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
NaalehuCensus-designated place11 mi2.2
WaiohinuCensus-designated place13 mi1.3
Discovery HarbourCensus-designated place15 mi3.6
Hawaiian Ocean ViewCensus-designated place21 mi36.3
Volcano Golf CourseCensus-designated place21 mi0.9
Mauna Loa EstatesCensus-designated place23 mi1.8
VolcanoCensus-designated place24 mi26.7
Royal Hawaiian EstatesCensus-designated place25 mi2.9
Fern ForestCensus-designated place29 mi12.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Pahala, HI in?
Pahala is in Hawaii County, Hawaii.
What is the population of Pahala, HI?
About 1,768 people live in Pahala, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Pahala?
Nearby places include Naalehu (11 mi), Waiohinu (13 mi), Discovery Harbour (15 mi), Hawaiian Ocean View (21 mi), Volcano Golf Course (21 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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