Kawela Bay is a small community in the Ko'olauloa District on the Island of O'ahu, City & County of Honolulu. In Hawaiian, ka wela means "the heat". As of the 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 410.
Kawela Bay is adjacent to (just west of) Turtle Bay and the Kuilima Resort. These coastal features and shorelines (including Kawela Bay itself) are mostly hidden from the traveler along Kamehameha Highway, although access to the shore can be found at Waiale'e Beach Park with scenic Kukaimanini, an offshore islet. This area (for those travelling west) begins the North Shore of O'ahu. For those travelling east, the road turns inland at Kawela to cross the Kahuku Plain, coming again to the coast at Hukilau Beach in Lā'ie on the windward (ko'olau) side of O'ahu.
The U.S. postal code for Kawela Bay and nearby Kuilima is 96731.
Geography
Kawela Bay is located at 21°42'10" North, 158°0'40" West (21.702767, -158.010997)1. This community is located west of Kuilima and Kahuku and east from the communities of Waiale'e, Sunset Beach, and Pūpūkea along Kamehameha Highway (State Rte. 83).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²). 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is land and 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 71.14% water, a statistic that can only be described as meaningless in as much as it is that portion of the census tract drawn out into the Pacific Ocean (possibly large because of Kawela and Turtle bays).
Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, there were 410 people, 189 households, and 113 families residing in the town. The population density was 272.9/km² (701.1/mi²). There were 424 housing units at an average density of 282.3/km² (725.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 73.90% White, 0.98% African American, 0.00% Native American, 8.78% Asian, 2.20% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 12.93% from two or more races. 4.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 189 households out of which 21.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% are married couples living together, 9.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% are non-families. 29.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.65.
In the town the population is spread out with 17.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 35.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 114.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $49,167, and the median income for a family is $58,125. Males have a median income of $35,938 versus $36,625 for females. The per capita income for the town is $28,481. 11.4% of the population and 10.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.9% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.
