Nānākuli is located at 21°23'36" North, 158°9'10" West near the southern end of the Waianae mountain. Although most of the residents live in the valley, access is from Farrington Highway running along the coastline between Lualualei to the northwest and Kahe then Kapolei to the southeast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The total area is 54.48% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,814 people, 2,324 households, and 2,096 families residing in the valley. The population density of Nānākuli was 4,287.6 inhabitants per square mile. There were 2,504 housing units at an average density of 992.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 5.70% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 11.61% Asian, 40.21% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 40.59% from two or more races. 11.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 2,324 households in Nānākuli, out of which 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.8% were non-families. 6.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.65 and the average family size was 4.74. In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males. The median income for a household in Nānākuli was $45,352, and the median income for a family was $45,677. Males had a median income of $30,722 versus $24,731 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $11,690. 21.3% of the population and 19.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Nānākuli, DHHL, and the Native Hawaiian Community
Nānākuli is home to one of the oldest Hawaiian Home Land Divisions established through the Native Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. The presence of DHHL has heavily influenced the Nānākuli community. Uniquely in the state of Hawaiʻi and for the last 50 years, three Nānākuli public schools have campuses located on Hawaiian Home Lands. Those public schools are Nānākuli High and Intermediate, Nānā I Ka Pono, and Nānākuli Elementary. Within the last two decades, Native Hawaiian based learning has been offered at the forefront for students of the valley; at Nānākuli Elementary, kids can join a Hawaiian language Immersion program. Aside from the Department Of Education and their strides to be Kanaka Maʻoli inclusive, kids in the valley are also encouraged to try out and apply to Ka Waihona O Ka Naʻoʻao Hawaiian Public Charter School. Once there students from elementary to middle school are found perpetuating Hawaiian practices, infused with forward and innovative learning materials. In recent years, even the neighborhood board acknowledged the long standing history of the valley and DHHL by renaming Nānākuli Beach Park after Kalaniʻanaole; for his legacy, i.e. the gift of roofs over so many families heads, and the ability to instill knowledge within so many students' minds. Other Native Hawaiian organizations that reach out to this small community of approximately 12,000 individuals are The Liliʻuokalani Trust, The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs, and Kamehameha Schools to name a few. And In actuality, only 3,970 reported residents identify with having some sort of Hawaiian ancestry out of the approximate population of 12,000, meaning the spread and influence of Native Hawaiian culture is non-discriminatory, accepted, and welcomed with open minds and open hearts. Nānākuli is a homestead unlike any other.
