Kailua, Hawaii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kailua
Census-designated place
Aerial photo of Kailua, Enchanted Lake and Mokapu Peninsula
Location in Honolulu County and the state of Hawaii
Kailua, Hawaii Location in Hawaii
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Honolulu
Area
• Total	10.59 sq mi (27.44 km2)
• Land	7.77 sq mi (20.13 km2)
• Water	2.82 sq mi (7.31 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	40,514
• Density	5,212.82/sq mi (2,012.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian)
Zip Code	96734
Area code(s)	808
FIPS code	15-23150
GNIS feature ID	359894

Kailua is a beautiful town located in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It sits on the windward (eastern) coast of the island of Oʻahu, right by Kailua Bay. It's about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Honolulu.

In the Hawaiian language, Kailua means "two seas" or "two currents." This name comes from the two old fishponds in the area, or the two currents that flow through Kailua Bay.

Kailua is mostly a place where people live, with a main shopping area along Kailua Road. In 2020, about 40,514 people lived there.

Some famous spots in Kailua include Kailua Beach Park, Kaʻōhao or Lanikai Beach, Kawainui Marsh, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii. It was even known as the "winter White House" for Barack Obama when he was president.

Kailua's History

Early Days of Kailua

Long ago, Kailua was a very important place. It was the main home for the rulers of Oʻahu, called aliʻi nui. This was during the time of King Kākuhihewa and the kings who came after him.

You can still see ancient temple ruins in the area, like those at Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site. After King Kamehameha the Great won the Battle of Nuʻuanu in 1795, the main royal home moved from Kailua to Honolulu.

Exploring Kailua Beach

Kailua Beach is shaped like a crescent moon and is about 2.5 miles (4 km) long. It's usually between 50 and 150 feet (15 and 46 meters) wide. The ocean floor here gently slopes, making it great for swimming.

The waves are usually light to medium, which is good for surfing and bodysurfing. Strong, steady winds make Kailua Beach a top spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Robby Naish, a famous windsurfing champion, grew up right here in Kailua!

You can also enjoy sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Many people paddle out to the protected seabird islands called Flat Island and the Nā Mokulua, also known as "the Mokes."

Kailua's Location and Landscape

Kailua Bay, a beautiful part of the town.

Kailua is located at 21°23′51″N 157°44′22″W / 21.39750°N 157.73944°W / 21.39750; -157.73944. Nearby towns include Kāneʻohe, Maunawili, and Waimānalo.

The town covers about 10.6 square miles (27.4 square kilometers). Most of this is land, but about 26.62% is water. A big part of the water area is Kawainui Marsh. This is the largest wetland in all of the Hawaiian Islands and is a special protected area.

Discovering Kaʻōhao (Lanikai)

The Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hokuleʻa, arriving near Kailua Beach.

A stunning sunset over Kailua Bay.

Kaʻōhao is the oldest Hawaiian name for the area now known as "Lanikai." The name means "the tying." This comes from an old story about two women who were tied together after losing a game.

Kaʻōhao was developed in the 1920s and renamed "Lanikai." It's a small community in Kailua, famous for its white, powdery sand beach. Lanikai Beach has even been called one of the world's top ten beaches!

You can also hike along the Kaʻiwa Ridge trail to see old World War II military bunkers, often called the "Lanikai Pillboxes." Because of its beautiful beach and small size, Lanikai has some of Hawaii's most expensive homes.

Kailua's Weather

Kailua has a tropical savanna climate. This means it's warm all year round with a wet season and a dry season.

People of Kailua

Historically, Kailua was an ahupuaʻa, a land area managed by chiefs.

In 2020, about 40,514 people lived in Kailua. There were about 12,387 homes, with an average of 3 people living in each.

Kailua is a diverse place. About 44.8% of residents are White, 19.3% are Asian, and 4.4% are Pacific Islander. Many people (29.0%) are from two or more races. About 8.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Most people in Kailua speak English at home. The median household income in Kailua was $122,706 per year. This is higher than the state average. Only about 5.0% of the people in Kailua live below the poverty line.

Tourism in Kailua

View across Kailua Beach to the offshore islet known as Moku nui, one of Nā Mokulua off Lanikai.

A view of Kailua from the Kaiwa Ridge Trail.

A view of Kailua Town from Ahiki, the third peak of Olomana.

Hawaii is a popular place for tourists, and Kailua has become a big part of that. Many jobs in Hawaii are related to tourism.

When Barack Obama vacationed in Kailua, it brought a lot of attention to the town. Social media and travel sites also made Kailua more famous. This led to many more tourists visiting. Some Kailua residents have asked for rules to limit tourist activities to keep their community special.

The Winter White House

Barack Obama and his family spent their winter vacations in Kailua from 2008 to 2012. They rented a beautiful oceanfront house called Plantation Estate. Obama also stayed at another house, Oahu Lani, during his 2008 presidential campaign.

Education in Kailua

Public Schools

The Hawai'i Department of Education runs the public schools in Kailua.

• Elementary schools: Aikahi, Enchanted Lake, Kaʻelepulu, Kailua, Kainalu, Keolu, and Maunawili.
• Middle school: Kailua Intermediate School.
• High schools: Kalaheo High School and Kailua High School.

Kaʻōhao Public Charter School, which used to be Lanikai Elementary, became a charter school in 1996. Mokapu Elementary School is on the nearby Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Private Schools

Kailua also has several private schools:

• St. Anthony School (Catholic)
• St. John Vianney School (Catholic)
• Trinity Christian School
• Redemption Academy
• Windward Adventist School
• Le Jardin Academy (has a Kailua address)

Kailua in Movies and TV

Kailua has been a filming location for several movies and TV shows:

• Hawaii Five-O (1968)
• Waikiki (1980)
• Mädchengeschichten (1998)
• Lost (2004–10)
• Magnum, P.I. (1980–88)
• Hawaii Five-0 (2010)

Community Events

Kailua is a lively community that hosts many events throughout the year. These include fun block parties and exciting fireworks displays.

Famous People from Kailua

Scott Feldman, a professional baseball pitcher.

Many notable people have connections to Kailua, including:

• Mike Akiu, American football player
• Wally Amos, founder of "Famous Amos" cookies
• Lynne Boyer, former World Champion surfer
• Pete Cabrinha, professional windsurfer and kitesurfer
• Emily Chang, Bloomberg news anchor
• Henry Ian Cusick, actor
• Kaʻimi Fairbairn, professional football player
• Scott Feldman, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Sid Fernandez, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Russ Francis, former professional football player
• Derek Ho, former World Champion surfer
• Michael Ho, professional surfer
• David Hughes, former professional American football player
• Kila Ka'aihue, Major League Baseball player
• Buzzy Kerbox, professional surfer and model
• Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress
• Chris Naeole, professional football player
• Robby Naish, former World Champion windsurfer
• B. J. Penn, former UFC champion and Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion
• Jonah Ray, comedian and actor
• Samson Satele, professional football player
• Jesse Smith, water polo player
• Bobby Webster, NBA General Manager

Images for kids

• 

  Obama signing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act on January 2, 2011.

• 

  President Obama signing the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 on December 26, 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Kailua (condado de Honolulu) para niños