Hanalei, Hawaii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hanalei, Hawaii
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Hanalei Town with a view of Mt. Na Molokama, and Māmalahoa
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Location in Kauai County and the state of Hawaii
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| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| County | Kauai |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2) |
| • Land | 0.68 sq mi (1.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 444 |
| • Density | 655.83/sq mi (253.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-10 (Hawaii-Aleutian) |
| ZIP code |
96714
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| Area code(s) | 808 |
| FIPS code | 15-11500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0359039 |
Hanalei is a small community in Kauaʻi County, Hawaii, United States. It's known as a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a specific area identified for gathering population data. In 2020, about 444 people lived there.
The name Hanalei has a special meaning in the Hawaiian language. It can mean "lei making," referring to the beautiful flower necklaces. It also means "crescent bay," which describes the shape of Hanalei Bay. Another way to think of Hanalei is "lei valley," because rainbows often appear there, wrapping around the valley like a colorful wreath.
Contents
Exploring Hanalei's Location
Hanalei is located on the north shore of the island of Kauai. It sits near where the Hanalei River meets the ocean. To its east, you'll find the community of Princeville.
This area is quite small. It covers about 1.84 square kilometers (0.72 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Hanalei's Rich History
Hanalei has a long and interesting history. In ancient times, many native Hawaiians lived here. They grew a lot of food, like taro, bananas, breadfruit, and coconuts. The land and sea provided plenty for everyone.
When people from other countries started coming to Hawaiʻi, they brought new ways of farming. In the early 1800s, Hanalei grew many different crops. These included coffee, tobacco, rice, sugarcane, and various fruits and vegetables.
Royal Visits to Hanalei
Many members of the Hawaiian Royal family visited Hanalei in the 1800s.
- In 1821, King Kamehameha II took a long trip to Kauai.
- King Kamehameha III visited Hanalei in 1852.
- King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma came in 1856 with their young son, Prince Albert. Their visit inspired a local plantation owner, R.C. Wyllie, to name his estate Princeville.
- Princess Ruth visited in 1867.
- King Kalakaua came to Hanalei Bay in 1874. People greeted him with a special 21-gun salute, using cannons made from Ohia Lehua trees!
A Brief Russian Presence
In the early 1800s, people from the Russian Empire were also in Hanalei. In 1815, a German doctor named Georg Anton Schäffer came to the Hawaiian Islands. He was working for a Russian company. He got involved in local Hawaiian politics.
The chief of Kauai, Kaumualiʻi, wanted to get his kingdom back from King Kamehameha I. He hoped the Russian Empire would help him. Kaumualiʻi signed a "treaty" that put Kauai under the protection of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. For a short time in 1817, three Russian forts, including Russian Fort Elizabeth near the Waimea River, were part of Russian America.
Hanalei in the 1900s
At the beginning of the 1900s, Hanalei's coastal area was covered with rice fields. The first rice farmers were Chinese. Later, Japanese, Filipinos, Portuguese, and other groups came. Many of them had worked on sugarcane plantations before. These farmers built homes, schools, stores, and churches. They raised their families in Hanalei. Today, many people living in Hanalei are descendants of these early farmers and plantation workers.
Hanalei's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 444 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 478 people living in Hanalei. The population density was about 736 people per square mile. Most residents were White (57%), followed by Asian (18%) and Pacific Islander (3%). About 21% of the people were of two or more races.
The average household had about 2.48 people. Many households (25%) had children under 18. The median age in Hanalei was 40 years old.
Learning in Hanalei
The Hawaiʻi Department of Education manages the schools in Hanalei.
- Hanalei Elementary School is a public school for students from kindergarten to 6th grade. It has around 250 students.
- For middle school and high school, students from Hanalei travel to Kapa'a.
- Kapa'a Middle School serves grades 6-8.
- Kapa'a High School serves grades 9-12.
See also
In Spanish: Hanalei para niños
