Pros and Cons of Living in Waianae

Waianae's core trade-off pairs genuinely lower home costs and real community-health assets against real, disclosed income, crime, and wildfire-risk challenges this record does not soften.

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Pro: genuinely lower home costs than Hawaii's statewide average

Waianae's cited home values run below Hawaii's own statewide average, a real, genuine relative-affordability signal even set against local income realities.

Pro: real, genuine community-health investment

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, the Waianae Health Academy, and the new Health Learning Lab (2026) reflect a real, current local investment in healthcare-career pathways.

Con: genuinely lower incomes against a high cost-of-living index

Waianae's median household income (~$81,733) runs below Hawaii's statewide figures, set against a cost-of-living index of 153 -- a real, disclosed financial-strain trade-off this record does not soften.

Con: a real, disclosed, genuinely elevated crime rate

Waianae's crime rate runs among the highest in the nation by NeighborhoodScout's measure -- a real, disclosed consideration, alongside real, elevated wildfire and drought risk specific to the leeward coast.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.