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County in Hawaii

Kalawao County, Hawaii

Kalawao County is a county in Hawaii with 67 residents, No. 5 of 5 by population. In Kalawao County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $1,299,500. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($2,326 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $44.73 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    Data not available for this county

    The Census Bureau doesn't publish this figure for small places, to protect privacy.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $2,326 a month

    −6% vs. Hawaii +33% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Kalawao
    • Hawaii
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $1,299,500

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Kalawao
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    Data not available for this county

    The Census Bureau doesn't publish this figure for small places, to protect privacy.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Kalawao County today?

This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

There are 2 agencies with HUD-approved housing counselors who speak Spanish near here.

Sources: HUD (2026 data); HUD (Retrieved November 6, 2026).

The homes here

Housing in Kalawao County

What homes there are in Kalawao County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Kalawao County: 97% of homes, more than in Hawaii (54%).

Year built

The typical home in Kalawao County was built before 1940, the oldest group the Census tells apart; 72% of homes date from before 1960.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Monthly rent with utilities

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKalawao CountyHawaiiUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.4%5.5%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate8.8%3.4%
People per household 1.152.852.53
Drive alone Unreliable estimate65%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate14%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate4%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate5%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate10%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Kalawao County has 1.15 people, fewer than in Hawaii (2.85).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Kalawao County?

This county has no typical home value or no typical household income, so we can't measure how heavy the payment is. Put your own numbers in the calculator.

Your numbers

Hawaii data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Hawaii. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $29,369 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$6,302

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$823,901
Total interest
$1,185,401
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $14,170 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

Type your income to see which tier this payment lands in.

Show the result as
per month$6,302
Principal & interest$5,581
Property tax$0
Home insurance$350
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$371

You need at least $29,369 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Kalawao County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Kalawao County compares with Hawaii and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

FHFA does not publish an annual price index in Kalawao County. This usually happens when there are too few sales to measure. According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Hawaii rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

Kalawao County compared with Hawaii and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Data not available for this place

See the full table
Kalawao compared with Hawaii and the United States
MeasureHereHawaiiU.S.
Residents671,445,235334,922,499
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$2,326$2,467$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$44.73$47.44$33.65
FHA limit (1 unit)*$1,299,500$1,110,900$541,287

FHA limit: Hawaii shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Kalawao County

Data not available for this county. The official source doesn't publish this figure for this place.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Kalawao County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Kahului-Wailuku, HI). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($1,299,500 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $1,299,500 $1,299,500
2 units $1,663,600 $1,663,600
3 units $2,010,950 $2,010,950
4 units $2,499,100 $2,499,100

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Kalawao County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

Data not available for this county. The official source doesn't publish this figure for this place.

What Hawaii publishes Each county runs its own property tax (Hawaii Department of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in Hawaii

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Kalawao County. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Kalawao County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Kalawao County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Kalawao County as very low.

FEMA builds that rating from three parts: expected loss, social vulnerability and community resilience.

In Kalawao County, FEMA expects natural hazards to cause $260,404 in losses a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $154,502 in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery low $154,502 a year
  2. EarthquakeVery low $36,647 a year
  3. WildfireVery low $5,741 a year
  4. HurricaneVery low $1,619 a year
  5. TornadoVery low $97 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Kalawao County is climate zone 1A in the home energy code (IECC): hot and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Winter

    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$47.34$22.09 and $64.51
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$37.31$22.97 and $56.67
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$35.92$24.53 and $56.04
Roofers$29.52$22.96 and $39.00
Carpenters$39.47$23.81 and $58.00
Painters, construction and maintenance$35.41$24.50 and $47.89
Maintenance and repair workers, general$30.76$21.52 and $39.12

According to BLS, an electrician earns about $47.34 an hour in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI area; a plumber, about $37.31.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Kalawao County

HUD publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size in Kalawao County: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,621 $31.17 $64,840
1 bedroom $1,778 $34.19 $71,120
2 bedrooms $2,326 $44.73 $93,040
3 bedrooms $2,932 $56.38 $117,280
4 bedrooms $3,630 $69.81 $145,200

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Kalawao County

Programs and counseling in Kalawao County

We didn't find HUD-approved agencies with an office in this county. These are the 6 nearest; many serve by phone or online.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Hawaii down payment programs

  1. Hale Kamaʻāina Mortgage Program

    Hawaii state corporation 30-year fixed mortgage for first-time buyers, with optional down payment assistance whose terms the agency has not yet published

    First-time buyers only. Run by Hawaiʻi Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC).

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Hawaii programs

Help in Spanish in Kalawao County

2 of the 6 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

HUD lists no public housing authority based in Kalawao County. The authority of a nearby county or the state may serve this area.

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These are the nearest agencies, with the distance in miles. Many help by phone or online. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Hawaiian Community Assets, Inc. - Wailuku Branch

    1950 E Vineyard St, Wailuku · 38 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (808) 727-8870

  • LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF HAWAII - Wailuku Branch

    24 N. Church street, Wailuku · 38 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    (808) 244-3731

  • Hale Mahaolu Homeownership/Housing Counseling

    95 Mahalani Street, Suite #28-2A, Wailuku · 39 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (808) 242-7027
See every agency in Hawaii

Places

Cities in Kalawao County

This site has no city pages of Kalawao County. The neighboring counties are below.

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Kalawao County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Kalawao County in 2026?

Kalawao County has an FHA limit of $1,299,500 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $1,663,600, for 3 it's $2,010,950 and for 4 it's $2,499,100. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Kalawao County?

Kalawao County has a conforming limit of $1,299,500 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does it cost to rent in Kalawao County?

HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,326 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Kalawao County?

About $44.73 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $93,040 a year, so the fair market rent of $2,326 stays under 30% of income.

What is the income limit for housing assistance in Kalawao County?

For a family of 4, HUD sets $97,500 a year as “low income” (80% of area income) and $60,950 as “very low income” (50%). The area median income is $121,400 (Fiscal year 2026). Each program uses its own limits.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).