Kealakekua, Hawaii

Kealakekua, Hawaii
CDP
Location in Hawaii County and the state of Hawaii Location in Hawaii County and the state of Hawaii
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Hawaii
Area
• Total	7.5 sq mi (19.5 km2)
• Land	7.5 sq mi (19.5 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,427 ft (435 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	2,019
• Density	269.2/sq mi (103.5/km2)
Time zone	Hawaii-Aleutian (UTC-10)
ZIP code	96750
Area code(s)	808
FIPS code	15-33950
GNIS feature ID	0360942

Kealakekua is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census.

It was the subject of the 1933 popular song, "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii" by Bill Cogswell, Tommy Harrison and Johnny Noble which became a Hawaiian Music standard.

See also: Kealakekua Bay, where the British explorer Capt. James Cook was killed.

Geography

Kealakekua is located at (19.526436, -155.922891).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,645 people, 639 households, and 423 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 218.1 people per square mile (84.2/km²). There were 692 housing units at an average density of 91.7 per square mile (35.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 24.74% White, 0.73% African American, 0.67% Native American, 36.84% Asian, 7.23% Pacific Islander, 2.07% from other races, and 27.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.18% of the population.

Kealakekua Bay

There were 639 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,026, and the median income for a family was $45,192. Males had a median income of $29,333 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,495. About 9.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools. Konawaena Middle School and Konawaena High School are located in the CDP.

Notable people

• Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka (1927-1978), important figure in the development of aikido in southern California.
• Keala Keanaaina (born 1973), American football player
• Ellison Shoji Onizuka (1946-1986), American astronaut lost in the destruction of Space Shuttle Challenger.
• Major Doug Zembiec (1973-2007) U.S. Marine Corps officer, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Silver Star, Bronze Star and 2 x Purple Heart recipient. Commanded Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, during the first battle of Fallujah in 2004. Killed in action leading a raid in Baghdad, Iraq in 2007, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.