Wahiawa is a census-designated place in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States, on the island of Oahu. It is located in the Wahiawa District, on the plateau or "central valley" between the two volcanic mountains that comprise the island. In Hawaiian, wahi a wā means "space of the wa people". The population was 17,821 at the 2010 census. Lakes and reservoirs are rare in Hawaii, and Wahiawa is at once unique in being surrounded on three sides by Lake Wilson. The town must be accessed by either of two bridges on Kamehameha Highway across the narrow north and south arms of the reservoir. Outside of the reservoir, the town used to be surrounded by military bases and agricultural fields, but development is making its way up from the increasingly urbanized southern portion of the central plain. Still, there are significant U.S. Army facilities here, including Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and East Range, an Army training area extending into the hills south and east of town. Schofield Barracks alone is larger than Wahiawa. Wahiawa is also the home of the U.S. Navy's Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific. The U.S. postal codes for Wahiawa are 96786 and 96857.
Geography
Wahiawa is located at . Vehicular routes heading towards the North Shore from Wahiawa are Kamehameha Highway to Haleiwa and Kaukonahua Road to Waialua. Wheeler and Schofield are reached along Wilikina Drive , which bypasses Wahiawa from the south bridge, a road that eventually connects to both Kamehameha Highway and Kaukonahua Road northwest of town. Kamehameha Highway continues south past Wheeler to Mililani Town. However, the Interstate H-2 terminates at Wilikina Drive near the Kamehameha Highway intersection, and is a less congested route southward to Mililani and beyond to Pearl City and Honolulu via Interstate H-1. Kunia Road runs from Wilikina Drive, between Schofield and Wheeler, then southward along the mostly still agricultural western side of the plain to Kunia and Waipahu beyond. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of, of which is land and, or 11.34%, is water. Kaʻala, the highest peak on Oahu, is located west of Wahiawa, overlooking Schofield Barracks. Wahiawa Reservoir or Lake Wilson is located in Wahiawa, the second largest reservoir in Hawaii. It is used to irrigate agricultural fields, including the Dole Pineapple Plantation fields located at the northern part of Wahiawa, all the way towards Oahu's North Shore where it empties.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,151 people, 5,376 households, and 3,956 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 7,642.8 people per square mile. There were 5,900 housing units at an average density of 2,791.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 11.31% White, 2.02% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 45.77% Asian, 9.62% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from other races, and 29.14% from two or more races. 11.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 5,376 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.45. In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,257, and the median income for a family was $46,524. Males had a median income of $32,018 versus $25,287 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,366. 16.7% of the population and 13.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.8% of those under the age of 18 and 9.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education operates the public schools. Elementary schools in the CDP include ʻIliahi, Kaʻala, Samuel K. Solomon, and Wahiawā. Major Sheldon Wheeler is inside the CDP, while Wahiawā Middle School is adjacent to the CDP. Leilehua High School is inside the CDP.
