Halawa, Hawaii

"Halawa" redirects here. For other uses, seeHalawa (disambiguation).

This article is about the place on the island of Oahu. For the place on the island of Molokai, seeHalawa, Molokai.

Halawa
Census-designated place
Interstate H-3 in Halawa Valley looking towards theKoʻolau crest
Location inHonolulu Countyand the state ofHawaii
Coordinates:21°22′39″N157°55′22″W
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Honolulu
Area
• Total	2.39 sq mi (6.19 km2)
• Land	2.39 sq mi (6.19 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	177 ft (54 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	15,016
• Density	6,285.48/sq mi (2,427.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC-10(Hawaii-Aleutian)
Area code	808
FIPS code	15-10000
GNISfeature ID	1867251

Halawa(Hawaiian pronunciation:[həˈlɐvə]) is acensus-designated place(CDP) in the ‘Ewa District ofHonolulu County,Hawaii,United States. Halawa Stream branches into two valleys: North and South Halawa; North Halawa is the larger stream and fluvial feature. Their confluence is within the H-3/H-201 highways exchange. Most of Halawa Valley is undeveloped. As of the2020 census,the CDP had a population of 15,016.

Camp H. M. Smith,the headquarters of theUnited States Indo-Pacific Command,is located here. TheHālawa (Aloha Stadium) Skyline stationis located at the base of the valley.

Cultural history

The entire ahupuaʻa of Halawa is highly sacred toKanaka Maoli.At the far Makai (ocean) side atPuʻuloaorPearl Harbor,it is, according to Kanaka Maoli beliefs, the home of the shark goddessKaʻahupahau,known as the "Queen of Sharks", who protected Oʻahu and strictly enforced kind, fair behavior on the part of both sharks and humans.Until the late 1890s, the home of Kaʻahupahau was famously lined with beds of pearl oysters, however, according to Kanaka Maoli religious experts who follow the goddess, Kaʻahupahau removed all of the oysters (and some say, herself) because the area was being abused by human misdeeds. Today, the water of Pearl Harbor has been highly contaminated by nuclear defueling and other toxic influences, and has thereby been designated as aSuperfundsite.

The upland, or Mauka, portion of Halawa is sacred toPapahānaumoku,the Kanaka Maoli form ofMother Earth,as it is, according to legend, her birthplace and primary home, as well as one of only two or three known remainingHale o Papa,womenʻs temples where Papa is worshipped. The valley contains many religious and other cultural sites sacred to Kanaka Maoli. Although many sites were destroyed by the invasion ofKahekili IIand especially by the building of the highly controversialH-3 Freeway,many remain and are cared for by Kanaka MaoliAloha ʻAinapractitioners to this day.

In the last two decades, North Halawa has been the site of a very public battle over the religious sites and ecological resources destroyed by H-3, which is the most expensive freeway per mile in human history. At least two species were driven to probable extinction (none have been sighted since construction began), many more are declining rapidly, the main aquifer of the area was badly damaged, and religious sites were seriously impacted. Although the freeway was opened in 1997, many are still fighting for mitigation of these impacts, and some are asking for the freewayʻs closure. In 1993, thirteencultural practitionerswere arrested while conducting a ceremony to pray for the healing of the valley. Their lele (religious altar) was destroyed, and the caretakers of the area were barred from entrance to the sites. Today, some of these caretakers, many of them kupuna (elders), have returned to care for the sites, although they now do so through a layer of soot and with the roar of the freeway as a constant sonic backdrop. Many kanaka maoli do not use the freeway because of these impacts, and because of the lasting belief that the road is haunted—an often-attributed explanation for the high accident rate on the freeway (more generally believed to be caused by the high speeds often used by the motorists who traverse it).

There is evidence in the documentary record that upper Halawa was highly significant to Kanaka Maoli. Most of the evidence may be, however, be in the oral record. The Hale O Papa and luakini are mentioned in the massive collection of Bishop Museum reports that took many years to finally be released. However, there was no archaeological evidence that these structures existed by the time of highway construction. The area has been greatly impacted bysugarcaneplantations,homesteading, and light industrial use. The site of Waipao Heiau, for example, is currently occupied by a food distribution warehouse.

The Papa temples were associated with the great Ku temples (luakini), which demanded human sacrifice and were usually in areas of greater population and state sponsorship. Without a luakini, there would be no Hale o Papa, according to Samuel Kamakau (see Bishop Museum, H-3 project reports).

Neighborhoods

Historically, Halawa was anahupuaʻa,or area of land ruled by chief or king and managed by the members of theʻaliʻi.

"Neighborhoods" of Halawa are very disjointed, in part because of the significant highway exchanges (see below) that now occupy nearly all of the lower end of Halawa Valley between Red Hill andAloha Stadium.Much of the remainder of the valley along both sides ofInterstate H-3is developed into commercial and light industrial properties. On the east side of H-3 are found the State Animal Quarantine Station and the Halawa High and Medium Security Facility (main O‘ahu prison).

Where the valley widens out closer toPearl Harboroccur residential neighborhoods:Foster Villageadjacent toĀliamanu;and the stadium area betweenAloha StadiumandMakalapa.The interfluve (uplands between valleys) on the west comprisesHalawa Heights,extending up toCamp H. M. Smith.Along the lower, western edge, Halawa Heights merges with the neighborhoods of‘Aiea.

The U.S. Postal Code for Halawa Heights is96701(the same as for Aiea). The postal code for Foster Village, the stadium area, and Makalapa is96818(the same asĀliamanu).

Geography

Halawa viaducts, carrying H-3

Halawa is located at21°22′39″N157°55′22″W(21.377633, -157.922759).

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the CDP has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all land.

The route ofH-3extends from its western terminus with east–westMoanalua Freeway(H-201; connecting eastward toHonoluluor westward toH-1andAiea) to the 1100-foot (335-m) elevation entrance into theTetsuo Harano Tunnels,penetrating the Ko‘olau crest. The freeway continues beyond toKaneoheon windward Oahu.

A significant proportion of H-3 within the valley is carried on theWindward Viaducts;although very expensive to construct, the viaduct is the only way to construct a freeway of this magnitude through such a narrow valley without flooding and destabilization concerns; it is also believed to offer some returns in terms of preservation of both archeological sites and stream ecology.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	13,408		—
2000	13,891		3.6%
2010	14,014		0.9%
2020	15,016		7.1%
source:

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 13,891 people, 4,142 households, and 3,276 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 5,974.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,306.8/km²). There were 4,289 housing units at an average density of 1,844.7 per square mile (712.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 15.50%White,1.83%African American,0.20%Native American,50.90%Asian,10.43%Pacific Islander,0.84% fromother races,and 20.31% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latinoof any race were 6.52% of the population.

There were 4,142 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% weremarried couplesliving together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.28 and the average family size was 3.64.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP in 2000 was $63,176, and the median income for a family was $68,519. Males had a median income of $35,764 versus $28,527 for females. Theper capita incomefor the CDP was $21,868. About 7.5% of families and 10.1% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 20.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.7% of those 65 and older.

Recreation

Aloha Stadiumis located in Halawa CDP.

Government and infrastructure

TheHawaii Department of Public Safetyoperates theHalawa Correctional Facilityin an area near Halawa.

Education

Hawaii Department of Educationoperates public schools. Aiea Elementary School, Gus Webling Elementary School, and Aiea Intermediate School are in Halawa CDP.