Waipiʻo, Hawaii

{{short description|Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States}} {{For|the valley on the island of Hawaii|Waipi{{okina}}o Valley}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement  |official_name = Waipi{{okina}}o |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type = [[Census-designated place]] |motto =  |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = Honolulu_County_Hawaii_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Waipio_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location in [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|Honolulu County]] and the state of [[Hawaii]] |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map =  |pushpin_label_position =  |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize =  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Hawaii]] |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 =  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_15.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 3.23 |area_land_km2 = 3.23 |area_water_km2 = 0.00 |area_total_sq_mi = 1.25 |area_land_sq_mi = 1.25 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi =  |population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 12082 |population_density_km2 = 3742.05 |population_density_sq_mi = 9688.85 |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  |timezone = [[Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone|Hawaii-Aleutian]] |utc_offset = −10 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|21|25|5|N|157|59|53|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 116 |elevation_ft = 381  |postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] |postal_code = 96797 |area_code = [[Area code 808|808]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 15-79860 |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 1867265<ref>{{cite gnis| id=1867265 | name=Waipiʻo | access-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref> |website = |footnotes = |pop_est_as_of = |pop_est_footnotes = |population_est = }}

'''Waipi{{okina}}o''' ({{IPA|haw|vɐjˈpiʔo|audio|LL-Q33569 (haw)-Noaius Paticus-Waipiʻo.wav}}) is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) located on the island of [[Oahu|O{{okina}}ahu]] in the [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|City & County of Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], United States. In [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], ''wai pi{{okina}}o'' means "curved water". As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the CDP had a population of 12,082.

The U.S. [[ZIP Code]] for Waipi{{okina}}o is '''96797'''.

==History== In [[ancient Hawaii]], the [[Battle of Kīpapa Gulch]] was said to have taken place at [[Kīpapa Gulch]] in Waipi{{okina}}o. [[Maʻilikākahi]] was the [[Alii|mō{{okina}}ī]] of O{{okina}}ahu at the time. The battle began at Waikakalaua Gulch in the adjacent [[Ahupuaa|ahupua{{okina}}a]] of [[Waikele]]. It eventually made its way into Kīpapa Gulch. The raiding party was defeated, and it is said that the gulch was "paved with the corpses of the slain."<ref>{{cite book |title=Sites of Oahu |last=Sterling |first=Elspeth |author2=Catherine Summers |year=1978 |publisher=Bishop Museum Press |location=Honolulu}}</ref>

==Geography== Waipi{{okina}}o is located at {{Coord|21|25|5|N|157|59|53|W|type:city}} (21.418050, -157.997988),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> south of [[Mililani Town, Hawaii|Mililani Town]] via either [[Interstate H-2]] or Kamehameha Highway ([[Hawaii Route 99]]). The town is immediately east of Waikele, separated by Kamehameha Highway, the road that leads southward to Farrington Highway ([[Hawaii Route 90]]) with connections then to [[Pearl City, Hawaii|Pearl City]] to the east and [[Waipahu, Hawaii|Waipahu]] to the west. In this same area south of Waipi{{okina}}o is the interchange between Hawaii Interstates [[Interstate H-1|H-1]] and H-2 at Waiawa. Neighborhoods include Crestview.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.2|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1990= 11812 |2000= 11672 |2010= 11674 |2020= 12082 |footnote=source:<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Waipio CDP, Hawaii| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000) |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=2010-07-31}}</ref> }} As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 11,672 people, 3,974 households, and 2,873 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|9,700.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,110 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3,415.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 14.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.82% [[African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 54.66% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 5.45% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.86% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 21.62% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.76% of the population.

There were 3,974 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,276, and the median income for a family was $69,282. Males had a median income of $41,943 versus $31,840 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $24,451. About 3.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older.

==Climate==

Waipi{{okina}}o has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Aw'').

{{Weather box | width = auto | location = Waipi{{okina}}o | metric first = yes | single line = yes | Jan mean C = 22.0 | Feb mean C = 21.7 | Mar mean C = 22.0 | Apr mean C = 22.8 | May mean C = 23.8 | Jun mean C = 24.7 | Jul mean C = 25.3 | Aug mean C = 25.6 | Sep mean C = 25.6 | Oct mean C = 25.0 | Nov mean C = 23.8 | Dec mean C = 22.7 | year mean C = | Jan high C = 24.8 | Feb high C = 24.5 | Mar high C = 24.8 | Apr high C = 25.6 | May high C = 26.8 | Jun high C = 27.7 | Jul high C = 28.2 | Aug high C = 28.6 | Sep high C = 28.7 | Oct high C = 28.0 | Nov high C = 26.5 | Dec high C = 25.3 | year high C = | Jan low C = 19.8 | Feb low C = 19.6 | Mar low C = 20.0 | Apr low C = 20.7 | May low C = 21.5 | Jun low C = 22.5 | Jul low C = 23.1 | Aug low C = 23.5 | Sep low C = 23.4 | Oct low C = 22.9 | Nov low C = 21.9 | Dec low C = 20.8 | year low C = | Jan precipitation mm = 32.5 | Feb precipitation mm = 34.0 | Mar precipitation mm = 47.3 | Apr precipitation mm = 25.5 | May precipitation mm = 23.5 | Jun precipitation mm = 20.6 | Jul precipitation mm = 19.3 | Aug precipitation mm = 20.9 | Sep precipitation mm = 18.1 | Oct precipitation mm = 29.1 | Nov precipitation mm = 37.7 | Dec precipitation mm = 44.1 | year precipitation mm = | source 1 = Weather.Directory<ref name="Weather.Directory"> {{cite web|url=https://weather.directory/us/waipio |title= Waipio Weather & Climate Guide |access-date= 16 Apr 2025 |website= Weather.Directory}}</ref> }}

==Government and infrastructure==

The [[Hawaii Department of Public Safety]] operates the Waiawa Correctional Facility, a minimum security prison near Waipi{{okina}}o.<ref>Thompson, David. "[http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/July-2012/Field-Guide-Honolulu-Behind-Bars/ Field Guide: Honolulu Behind Bars]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160213154954/http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/July-2012/Field-Guide-Honolulu-Behind-Bars/ Archive]). ''[[Honolulu (magazine)|Honolulu]]''. July 9, 2012. Retrieved on February 7, 2016.</ref>

In 2017, the state approved [[NRG Energy, Inc.]], to build a 45.9 megawatt solar farm project north of Costco near Waiawa and H-2 in Waipi{{okina}}o. [[HECO|Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO)]] will buy electricity from this solar farm at 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 22 years.<ref name=SolarFarm>{{cite news | last = Mykleseth | first = Kathryn | title = State approves three Oahu solar farms | url = https://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/07/27/breaking-news/state-approves-three-oahu-solar-farms/ | work = Star-Advertiser | location = Honolulu | date = July 27, 2017 | access-date = July 28, 2017}}</ref> On September 10, 2019, the 45.9 megawatt Waipi{{okina}}o Solar developed by Clearway Energy Group began its operation. Originally started by the developer [[SunEdison]], Hawaiian Electric broke its ties to the firm in February 2016 before SunEdison's bankruptcy proceedings. San Francisco-based Clearway's predecessor the NRG Energy's Community Solar division, took over the project at the end of November 2016.<ref name=Clearway20190911>{{cite news| url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/09/11/hawaii-news/states-largest-solar-block-goes-online/?HSA=24d191bb667ea95f68b3801f1befc2587d384283| title=State's largest solar block goes online| last=Hurley| first=Timothy| newspaper=[[Star-Advertiser]]| location=Honolulu| date=September 11, 2019| access-date=September 11, 2019}}</ref> On January 22, 2019, the Clearway Energy Group obtained NRG Community Solar's assets.<ref name=NRGCommunitySolarNowClearwayEnergyGroup>{{cite news| url=https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/nrg-community-solar-is-now-clearway-community-solar-2019-01-22| title=NRG Community Solar is Now Clearway Community Solar: Clearway Community Solar Will Continue Providing Clean Energy through an Ever-Expanding Portfolio of Local Community Solar Farms | work=MarketWatch.com| date=January 22, 2019| access-date=September 11, 2019}}</ref>

In March 2019, the Public Utilities Commission approved Clearway Energy Group to build a 36 megawatt with 144 megawatt-hour storage solar farm plus battery storage project near Waipi{{okina}}o called Waiawa Solar. HECO will buy electricity from this solar-plus-storage project at 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).<ref name=SolarPlusBattery>{{cite news | last = Wu | first = Nina | title = PUC approves 6 additional solar-plus-storage systems in Hawaii | url = https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/03/27/hawaii-news/puc-approves-6-additional-solar-plus-storage-systems-in-hawaii/ | work = Star-Advertiser | location = Honolulu | date = March 27, 2019 | access-date = March 28, 2019}}</ref> The Waiawa Solar project is expected to be completed by Clearway and go online at the end of 2021.<ref name=Clearway20190911/>

==Education== [[Hawaii Department of Education]] operates public schools. Kanoelani Elementary School is in the Waipi{{okina}}o CDP.<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1579860&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Waipio CDP, Hawaii]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Retrieved on May 21, 2009.</ref>

==Recreation==

===Little League World Series=== In 2008, the team from Waipi{{okina}}o LL, representing Hawaii and the United States, captured the [[Little League World Series]] crown, beating Matamoros LL, Mexico 12–3 in 6 innings. {{okina}}Iolana Akau started with a solo blast earlier in the game and Tanner Tokunaga added two homers later in the game. Waipi{{okina}}o is the second team from the {{okina}}Ewa District to win the world championship; {{okina}}Ewa Beach representing West O{{okina}}ahu won the title in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/llws08/index |title=ESPN - 2008 Little League World Series - Sports |access-date=2008-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.littleleague.org/series/2008divisions/llbb/gamestories/24Sunday/game32/game32.htm |title=Hawaii Rides Wave of Offense to World Series Title |access-date=2008-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/26/editorial/editorial01.html |title=Little League title retains baseball pride in Hawaii | starbulletin.com | Editorial | date=2008-08-26 |work=Star Bulletin |access-date=2008-08-27}}</ref>

In 2010, the Waipi{{okina}}o LL team won the U.S. championship of the Little League World Series, defeating Pearland White LL from [[Pearland, Texas]] on August 28, 2010, by a score of 10-0 after 5 innings, which invoked the Little League "mercy rule" where a team is leading by 10 runs or more after 4 innings. They lost in a close 4–1 game to Edogawa Minami LL of [[Tokyo, Japan]] on August 29, 2010, in the Series final.

==See also== *[[Central Oahu Regional Park]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Honolulu County, Hawaii]]