Windward Oahu has seen a lot of changes in recent years. One of them is how much wealthier Kailua and Kaneohe have become. Pacific Business News editor in chief A. Kam Napier has more.Once a year, PBN ranks the 50 wealthiest zip codes in Hawaii – based on such measures as average home value, household income, disposable income, and more.
The top 3 wealthiest zip codes are the same as last year –AinaHaina, followed by Hawaii Kai and Portlock – then Kailua. But looking back over 5 years, we noticed that the median household incomes in these three areas had grown the most in Kailua. Median household incomes there grew 19% over that time.
In fact, Kailua and the 4th wealthiest zip code- Kaneohe, are closing a wealth gap with East Honolulu. By one measure, Kailua already surpasses the Hawaii Kai and Portlock area and that’s in home values. The average Hawaii Kai home is worth about $857,000. In Kailua, its $876,000.
Kailua?s population is roughly equal to that of the top two zip codes combined. And its median age, at 37, is at least ten years younger than East Honolulu’s. Since measures of wealth typically grow as people get older - we would not be surprised if we see Kailua come in at the top of the wealthiest communities in the near future.
