Fastest growing cities in Hawaii
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in Hawaii using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Hawaiian Ocean View
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,716
--- #2,370 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 54.5%
--- #16 among cities in Hawaii, #1,989 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,864
--- #59 largest city in Hawaii, #6,661 largest city nationwide
#19. East Honolulu
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 1,906
--- #2,233 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.9%
--- #83 among cities in Hawaii, #12,332 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 50,922
--- #2 largest city in Hawaii, #848 largest city nationwide
#18. Kailua (Honolulu County)
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 1,973
--- #2,185 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.1%
--- #76 among cities in Hawaii, #11,519 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,514
--- #6 largest city in Hawaii, #1,075 largest city nationwide
#17. Aiea
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,991
--- #2,171 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.7%
--- #34 among cities in Hawaii, #4,836 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,408
--- #31 largest city in Hawaii, #3,930 largest city nationwide
#16. Lahaina
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,024
--- #2,138 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.0%
--- #44 among cities in Hawaii, #5,877 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,702
--- #26 largest city in Hawaii, #3,365 largest city nationwide
#15. Wailuku
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,172
--- #2,027 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.0%
--- #55 among cities in Hawaii, #7,285 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,697
--- #17 largest city in Hawaii, #2,529 largest city nationwide
#14. Makaha
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,203
--- #2,015 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 28.6%
--- #31 among cities in Hawaii, #4,038 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,916
--- #32 largest city in Hawaii, #4,097 largest city nationwide
#13. Kalaeloa
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 2,238
--- #1,979 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 1776.2%
--- #1 among cities in Hawaii, #14 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,364
--- #87 largest city in Hawaii, #9,979 largest city nationwide
#12. Makakilo
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,761
--- #1,678 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.1%
--- #48 among cities in Hawaii, #6,610 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,877
--- #14 largest city in Hawaii, #2,273 largest city nationwide
#11. Schofield Barracks
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,860
--- #1,637 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.7%
--- #33 among cities in Hawaii, #4,819 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,904
--- #22 largest city in Hawaii, #2,940 largest city nationwide
#10. Kaneohe
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 3,029
--- #1,571 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.8%
--- #57 among cities in Hawaii, #9,450 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,430
--- #7 largest city in Hawaii, #1,176 largest city nationwide
#9. Waipahu
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 3,264
--- #1,462 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.1%
--- #63 among cities in Hawaii, #9,788 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 43,485
--- #5 largest city in Hawaii, #1,008 largest city nationwide
#8. Maili
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,470
--- #1,376 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 43.0%
--- #22 among cities in Hawaii, #2,633 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,535
--- #30 largest city in Hawaii, #3,633 largest city nationwide
#7. Kahului
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,507
--- #1,369 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.2%
--- #54 among cities in Hawaii, #7,227 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,219
--- #8 largest city in Hawaii, #1,585 largest city nationwide
#6. Ewa Gentry
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,231
--- #1,169 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.7%
--- #42 among cities in Hawaii, #5,701 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,707
--- #10 largest city in Hawaii, #1,752 largest city nationwide
#5. Kailua (Hawaii County)
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,654
--- #782 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 51.0%
--- #18 among cities in Hawaii, #2,166 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,713
--- #15 largest city in Hawaii, #2,289 largest city nationwide
#4. Hawaiian Paradise Park
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,115
--- #737 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 90.7%
--- #8 among cities in Hawaii, #979 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,957
--- #21 largest city in Hawaii, #2,935 largest city nationwide
#3. Ocean Pointe
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,887
--- #585 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 146.2%
--- #4 among cities in Hawaii, #533 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,965
--- #20 largest city in Hawaii, #2,934 largest city nationwide
#2. Kapolei
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,368
--- #552 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 77.8%
--- #11 among cities in Hawaii, #1,229 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,411
--- #12 largest city in Hawaii, #2,124 largest city nationwide
#1. Urban Honolulu
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +20,215
--- #204 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.1%
--- #72 among cities in Hawaii, #10,906 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 350,964
--- #1 largest city in Hawaii, #55 largest city nationwide
