Wailuku, Hawaii
Encyclopedia
Wailuku is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Maui County
, Hawaii
, United States
. The population was 12,296 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Maui County
.
Wailuku is located just west of Kahului, at the mouth of the Īao Valley. In the early 20th century Wailuku was the main tourist destination on Maui, though it has since been eclipsed with the rise of the resort towns such as Kaanapali
, so much that there are no hotels to speak of in Wailuku.
Historic sites in the town include Kaahumanu Church
(named after one of Hawaii's great monarchs, Queen Kaahumanu
) which dates to 1876, the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District
, the site of the Chee Kung Tong Society Building
, and the Bailey House
, a 19th century former seminary and home that houses a history museum and the Maui Historical Society.
There are two ancient temples near Wailuku, called heiau
— the Halekii Heiau and the Pihanakalani Heiau
. Both date back hundreds of years, and were used for religious purposes by the native Hawaiians.
Wailuku is served by Kahului Airport
.
Wailuku is located at 20°53′31"N 156°30′8"W (20.891923, -156.502177)
The town is situated at 249 feet at the base of West Maui Volcano
, known historically as Mauna Kahalawai and Hale Mahina, on the northern edge of the isthmus
of East Maui (Haleakalā
) and West Maui.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (6.8%) is water.
The three moku or districts of west Maui are Lāhaina, Kāʻanapali, and Wailuku. Wailuku is also known as Pūʻalikomohana, or Nā Wai ʻEhā which means the four waters. The four waters are the ahupuaʻa (smaller land division than district), which are Waikapū, Wailuku, Waiʻehu, and Waiheʻe.
of 2000, there were 12,296 people, 4,535 households, and 3,015 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2,427.4 people per square mile (936.4/km²). There were 4,780 housing units at an average density of 943.6 per square mile (364.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 42.08% Asian, 26.28% from two or more races, 11.70% Pacific Islander, 8.16% White, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.75% of the population. 1.18% from other races
, 0.36% Native American and 0.24% African American.
There were 4,535 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,587, and the median income for a family was $51,441. Males had a median income of $33,429 versus $26,487 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $20,503. About 8.1% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
expansion franchise, called Na Koa Ikaika Maui.
It is also the hometown of Philadelphia Phillies
outfielder Shane Victorino
and Oakland A's catcher Kurt Suzuki
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Maui County
Maui County, Hawaii
-National protected areas:* Haleakala National Park* Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge* Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge- Demographics :As of the 2000 Census, there were 128,094 people, 43,507 households, and 29,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 12,296 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Maui County
Maui County, Hawaii
-National protected areas:* Haleakala National Park* Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge* Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge- Demographics :As of the 2000 Census, there were 128,094 people, 43,507 households, and 29,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per...
.
Wailuku is located just west of Kahului, at the mouth of the Īao Valley. In the early 20th century Wailuku was the main tourist destination on Maui, though it has since been eclipsed with the rise of the resort towns such as Kaanapali
Kaanapali, Hawaii
Kāanapali is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 1,375 at the 2000 census. The master-planned town is located in the Old Hawaii ahupuaa of Hanakao`o, as in the same name of the southern end of Kaanapali Beach's Hanakao`o Canoe...
, so much that there are no hotels to speak of in Wailuku.
Historic sites in the town include Kaahumanu Church
Ka'ahumanu Church
Kaahumanu Church is a Church in Wailuku, Maui Hawaii. Upon visiting a religious service in Wailuku in 1832 by Jonathan Smith Green, Queen Ka'ahumanu requested that a more permanent church structure be named for her, but her request was not honored until 1876 when the current structure was built by...
(named after one of Hawaii's great monarchs, Queen Kaahumanu
Ka'ahumanu
Elizabeth Kaahumanu was queen regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii and a wife of Kamehameha I. She was the king's favorite wife and also the most politically powerful, and continued to wield considerable power in the kingdom as the kuhina nui during the reigns of his first two successors.-Early...
) which dates to 1876, the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District
Wailuku Civic Center Historic District
The Wailuku Civic Center Historic District is a group of four historic buildings and one non-contributing property in Wailuku, Maui Hawaii that currently house the governmental offices of both the County of Maui and the State of Hawaii. The historic buildings were built during a time span from 1901...
, the site of the Chee Kung Tong Society Building
Chee Kung Tong Society Building
The Chee Kung Tong Society Hall was a former Chinese society hall located on 2151 Vineyard Sreet in Wailuku, Maui. Built to provide services to single immigrant Chinese males, mostly working for the sugarcane plantations, it provided religious and political help, in addition to mutual aid....
, and the Bailey House
Bailey House Museum
The Bailey House Museum, also known as Old Bailey House, is a museum of Hawaiian history located in Wailuku, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, owned and operated by the Maui Historical Society.-The building:...
, a 19th century former seminary and home that houses a history museum and the Maui Historical Society.
There are two ancient temples near Wailuku, called heiau
Heiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
— the Halekii Heiau and the Pihanakalani Heiau
Haleki'i-Pihana Heiau State Monument
Haleki'i-Pihana Heiau State Monument is a park containing two important luakini heiau on a high ridge near the mouth of Iao Stream in Wailuku, Maui...
. Both date back hundreds of years, and were used for religious purposes by the native Hawaiians.
Wailuku is served by Kahului Airport
Kahului Airport
Kahului Airport is a regional airport in the state of Hawai'i, located east of the Kahului CDP in Maui County on the island of Maui near Haleakala. Most flights into OGG originate from Honolulu International Airport; the Honolulu–Kahului corridor is one of the busiest air routes in the US,...
.
Geography
The town is situated at 249 feet at the base of West Maui Volcano
West Maui Mountains
The West Maui Mountains or West Maui Volcano, known to the Hawaiians as Maui Komohana and to geologists as Mauna Kahalawai, forms a much eroded shield volcano that constitutes the western one-quarter of the Hawaiian Island of Maui....
, known historically as Mauna Kahalawai and Hale Mahina, on the northern edge of the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
of East Maui (Haleakalā
Haleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
) and West Maui.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (6.8%) is water.
The three moku or districts of west Maui are Lāhaina, Kāʻanapali, and Wailuku. Wailuku is also known as Pūʻalikomohana, or Nā Wai ʻEhā which means the four waters. The four waters are the ahupuaʻa (smaller land division than district), which are Waikapū, Wailuku, Waiʻehu, and Waiheʻe.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 12,296 people, 4,535 households, and 3,015 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,427.4 people per square mile (936.4/km²). There were 4,780 housing units at an average density of 943.6 per square mile (364.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 42.08% Asian, 26.28% from two or more races, 11.70% Pacific Islander, 8.16% White, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.75% of the population. 1.18% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.36% Native American and 0.24% African American.
There were 4,535 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,587, and the median income for a family was $51,441. Males had a median income of $33,429 versus $26,487 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $20,503. About 8.1% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Sports
Wailuku is the new home of Maui's Golden Baseball LeagueGolden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
expansion franchise, called Na Koa Ikaika Maui.
It is also the hometown of Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
outfielder Shane Victorino
Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:...
and Oakland A's catcher Kurt Suzuki
Kurt Suzuki
is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Oakland Athletics.-College career:Suzuki played at Cal State Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton captured the 2004 College World Series championship, thanks to Suzuki's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Titans a 3-2 win over the...
.